Success Story: Optimized Cheese Production with Digital Twins at Jermi Käsewerk GmbH
Securing a competitive advantage by leveraging real-time data
Jermi Käsewerk is a respected name in the cheese industry, with a proud history dating back to 1889. What began as a small family-run business has grown into a global leader known for its exceptional and distinctive cheese specialties. To maintain its competitive edge, Jermi Käsewerk continuously embraces cutting-edge technologies and innovations.
When the company identified a gap in the digital integration of certain machinery and production lines, it proactively partnered with Tomorrow Things to address the challenge.
This strategic move marked a key step in Jermi Käsewerk’s broader commitment to digital transformation. The goal was clear: enhance operational efficiency and streamline production processes. In particular, the company saw the need for a robust, plug-and-produce digital twin solution that would provide access to live, real-time data.
This solution delivers valuable insights and optimization potential, which is key to driving innovation and securing a long-term competitive edge.
Prior to implementing a comprehensive digitalization solution, Jermi Käsewerk faced several key challenges:
Monitoring of entire production lines
Jermi Käsewerk required a scalable solution to monitor entire production lines in real time, ensuring smooth operations and enabling proactive and preventive maintenance.
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
Equipment Effectiveness over entire lines needed to be enhanced by reducing unplanned downtime and preventing breakdowns.
Cost-effective solution
Jermi Käsewerk aimed to optimize resource usage with a solution that offered low integration costs while delivering long-term profitability through improved operational efficiency.
Access to data
Production data needed to be fully accessible and easy to retrieve for analysis and optimization.
Implementing the Things Twin with Things OS and Hilscher Edge Gateways
To successfully implement the Things Twin solution at Jermi Käsewerk, it was essential to account for the diverse technological landscape across the company’s production facilities. The machine environment includes a heterogeneous mix of cutting-edge, highly automated systems with modern OPC UA interfaces, as well as older production areas that rely heavily on manual processes and lack standardized data interfaces.
Tomorrow Things began by preparing and configuring Hilscher’s netFIELD Compact X8M edge gateways for each machine, ensuring the flexibility required to collect data across different systems. Each gateway was configured for Ethernet connectivity, allowing them to communicate reliably with the machines. Thanks to adherence to widely recognized industrial standards, the collected data is securely transmitted to the Tomorrow Things platform, Things OS.
About Things Twins and the Things OS by Tomorrow Things
Things OS, developed by Tomorrow Things—a Bonn-based AI startup—is ushering in a new era of digital manufacturing. The platform enables OEMs to offer AI-enabled machines with seamless cloud connectivity.
Things OS enables remote control, AI-driven process optimization, and instant MES (Manufacturing Execution System) integration.
OEMs gain a unique digital selling point, enhance machine value, and unlock new revenue sources. For operators, the benefits include reduced downtime, optimized production, and simplified machine management. Things OS delivers a secure, scalable, and future-ready foundation for smart manufacturing.
What is a Things Twin?
- Digital twin as the foundation
Physical machines are mirrored in Things OS as data-driven digital twins.
- Virtual machine interface
At the same time, the Things Twin offers virtually unlimited virtual access to any machine interface.
About Hilscher’s netFIELD Compact X8M Edge Gateway
The netFIELD Compact X8M from Hilscher is a high-performance, ARM-based computing platform designed for containerized applications. As an edge gateway, it collects, processes, and transmits data between the operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) layers of automated systems. The device operates independently and in parallel with existing production processes.
In addition, Hilscher offers a centralized edge management platform and IIoT apps for device management and data acquisition in industrial manufacturing environments.
Scope and Timeline
Future Expansion of Things Twins at Jermi Käsewerk
“Things OS from Tomorrow Things has transformed our operations at Jermi Käsewerk. The real-time insights provided by their platform empower us to make fast, informed decisions aiming to boost our operational efficiency. We’re excited to continue driving improvements with their solutions.”
Leon Jerg
Head of Solution Engineering
Jermi Käsewerk GmbH
Related links
With netFIELD, you benefit from Hilscher’s deep expertise in industrial communication—empowering reliable IT-OT convergence and Industry 4.0 implementations. The platform enables you to efficiently operate, manage, and scale edge gateways and IIoT applications—whether cloud-connected, hybrid, or fully on-premise.
Hattersheim, 10. Mar. 2025 – Hilscher has partnered with the German digitization expert Tomorrow Things to create a test offering for digital twins in industrial production. The try & buy bundle combines hardware and software of the two companies enables cloud connection for machines and systems risk-free at the touch of a button – without large project planning or external system integrators. Learn more!
