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Sensors

Industry 4.0 requires a wide range of sensor data

The smart factory of tomorrow requires a wealth of data for networked production. It's the only way to intelligently control the production process and enable maintenance tasks in a predictive and decentralized manner. Countless networked sensors collect the required data, which serve as the backbone for Industry 4.0. As a sensor manufacturer, you ensure the implementation of innovative production processes and systems through your products' modern communication interfaces. Our market-leading solutions enable you to integrate any type of sensor easily and flexibly into industrial communication networks.

Challenges for industrial communication

Different data rates

While many conventional sensors do not require high data rates, data-intensive applications such as image sensors are dependent on a much stronger connection performance. With Hilscher, you ensure seamless integration of both high and low data rate applications into multiple higher-level systems.

Space-sensitive applications

Since sensors are usually designed to be as small as possible, space-saving solutions are required for industrial communication—especially for complex sensors with high data rates. Our portfolio contains compact components for every application, including even the smallest the market has to offer.

Flexibility and variability

Global markets require a wide range of communication protocols. Keeping protocol conversions as simple as possible is your key to serving new target markets quickly and efficiently. With multi-protocol-capable components as well as standardized interfaces, drivers and tools, we ensure maximum compatibility with other components and devices.

Whether it is a wired or wireless IO-Link component, our proven netX communication controllers or embedded modules based on them, Hilscher's product and service portfolio for industrial communication has just what you need to integrate any sensor into modern fieldbus and Real-Time Ethernet networks. These include, for example:

  • Flow meters
  • Level meters
  • Pressure sensors
  • Temperature measuring devices

Learn more about Hilscher products in action

Numerous empy vials lined up in a production machine. The first vial is illuminated by a small glimmer of light.

An Indian technology company, specializing in the design, development and manufacture of tailor-made automation solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, connects optical inspections systems for medicinal vials using Hilscher's cifX 50E-RE PC card for PROFINET. Read more!

Three black and silver devices on a white background. CODA is written on the devices in large red letters.

Orange Precision Measurement implements PROFINET, EtherCAT, and EtherNet/IP as well as DeviceNet using Hilscher's netX 90 multiprotocol communication controller, enabling the American manufacturer of precision measurement tools to supply its products to various customers.

A man and a woman in high visibility vest are looking at a notebook, Both are wearing white helmets. In the background are machines.

 

Hilscher’s Flagship Store for the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance (OI4) Community brings the ease of app stores to the industrial world. Powered by Wibu-Systems' CodeMeter licensing, the store gives users access to a library of apps and solutions for their shop floor automation needs.

Thermal spray coating machine by Oerlikon.

Surface solution specialist Oerlikon Metco AG uses netFIELD to enable real-time data collection from industrial applications, such as thermal spray painting machines, from around the world.

netX 90 communication controller mounted on a circuit board.

From motor controllers to the consolidation of entire control cabinet contents, dieEntwickler Elektronik (dEE) implements innovative netX 90 projects and opens up the entire internal periphery of the small multiprotocol controller. Read more about our integration partner here!

An actuator by SCHIEBEL painted in black on white background with a red spring incorporated on the left side.

With the embedded modules netIC52 and netRAPID 90 from Hilscher, SCHIEBEL connects its actuators to industrial communication networks and sets standards with a new control board.

A clean and bright inside of a factory with several machines lined up left and right. On two white rails at the upper half of the picture Güdel is written in red large letters. In the foreground, a sheet of metal lays on a conveyor belt.

Industrial systems specialist Güdel uses netFIELD to implement advanced IIoT solutions, ranging from monitoring specific wear points to a more holistic Industry 4.0 approach.

A pneumatic valve application with many cables and lines going about, disappearing into a cabinet on the bottom. On the far right side, AVENTICS is written on the device. In the background, you can see some green and blue boxes. The valve application is mounted on a sheet of metal.

Emerson, a world leading provider of automation technology and software, has enabled integrated OPC UA in their AVENTICS™ valve systems, simplifying IIoT integration and analysis capabilities with netX 90.

Titleimage Systemtechnik Leber

Based on Hilscher’s netX 90 multiprotocol processor, Systemtechnik LEBER and E-T-A developed an ultra-compact and price-sensitive bus controller for monitoring electronic circuit breakers.

A man with a blue hard hat and safety glasses is working on a orange robot arm.

netANALYZER delivers reliable support for the service specialist Leadec in troubleshooting industrial Ethernet networks.

A packaging machine from MULTIVAC.

MULTIVAC, the leading manufacturer of integrated packaging solutions, develops customer-oriented services with netFIELD, enabling higher machine availability

A female factory worker in pharmaceutical clothing standing beside a large fluid machinery.

netTAP 151 provides a flexible and scalable solution for an easy integration of independent processing systems into one industrial communication network.

A pneumatic test bench with several cables going in and out, placed in a production environment.

müller+krahmer GmbH realizes pneumatic test benches with the capability to change protocols on the fly with the help of Hilscher cifX PC cards.

A grey box with several connectors up front.

The engineering firm kumkeo GmbH is one of the first companies to rely on the netX 90, the world‘s smallest multi-protocol chip from Hilscher, for the development of innovative products.

 

2 panel PCs facing each other, another IPC with netJACK highlighted blue in the foreground.

IPC specialist ADS-TEC Industrial IT uses the netJACK option module as a universal solution to equip its Industrial Box PCs and HMIs with master and slave functionalities on demand, flexibly and without tools.

Front view of a NORD inverter standing upright with connectors on bottom.

Drive manufacturer NORD DRIVESYSTEMS realizes more compact frame sizes and facilitates servicing with netX.

Worker inspecting an electrical Installation at a Leadec plant.

netMIRROR facilitates quick and reliable troubleshooting in RealTime Ethernet networks at factory service specialist Leadec.

Close-up view of a VITRONIC machine vision component attached to a robotic arm in an industrial setting.

cifX PC-Cards integrate Automated Weld Seam Inspection Systems to numerous Real-Time Ethernet and Fieldbus networks at German machine vision specialist VITRONIC.

Design the smart production of tomorrow with sensors

Sensors and the data they provide are essential for industry 4.0. Since sensors are not usually dependent on high-performance Industrial Ethernet connections, IO-Link has established itself  as a simple but effective connectivity technology. In the IO-Link wireless area, our master and bridge let you communicate bidirectionally with up to 16 sensors. The master is also available as a white-label product on request. We also have a wired IO-Link master version that you can rebrand as a white-label product. Both versions are available either as a finished product in their native design (device branding) or the printed circuit board as PCB branding for more personalization options.

For more complex sensors with direct bus interface or increased data traffic, our netX communication controller or the stamp-sized embedded module netRAPID are ideal. Based on our long-term know-how and the proven netX technology, sensors can be integrated easily and reliably into conventional networks.

Your advantages with our solutions at a glance:
  • Extensive portfolio for every application
  • Current and future standards such as SPE or APL are supported
  • Multi-protocol solutions
  • Easy retrofitting of existing systems
  • Lower development costs
  • Fast time to market
  • Easy integration
  • White-label solutions
  • Support and additional services throughout the entire lifecycle
  • Long-term product availability

Related links

Two Hilscher employees discussing a contract.

Are you looking for an integration partner for your industrial communication project? From multi-protocol capable netX chips to IIoT applications - our network of partner companies offers you the support you need!

cifX PC cards are the easiest way to integrate your systems into an industrial network.

Our solutions enable machines all over the world to communicate autonomously and securely with each other. From communication controllers, PC cards and embedded modules to network analysis and Industry 4.0, we make industrial communication possible. Read more in our success stories.

Communication controllers and printed circuit boards are extensively tested at Hilscher in Germany.

We make industrial communication possible. From legacy fieldbus to Real-Time Ethernet and the cloud. Our solutions are multi-protocol capable, flexible and reliable. Learn more about how our netX software and hardware technologies work and how we make machine data accessible for you with our IIoT platform netFIELD.