Plant/Machine Builder

Take advantage of modern communication technologies

The increasing integration of machines, and production plants and their components into communication networks opens up all kinds of new possibilities for monitoring industrial processes. With smart communication and IoT solutions, you can tap into unused potential and benefit from previously unmined data. The consolidated aggregation and analysis of information reveals many unimagined insights that can be used to create new business models. Based on our many years of market-leading expertise, we have a broad portfolio of industrial communication solutions. We provide the necessary tools and expertise to help you aggregate, coordinate and utilize your data — whether in new or existing plants. From IO-Link solutions to multi-protocol network interfaces and smart edge devices to remote management and network analysis tools, we have the right solutions for every machine and plant.

Challenges facing machine and plant builders

Flexibility and variability

Your IPCs and HMIs must be able to support many different protocols across different markets and regions. With our multi-protocol solutions, you can turn this into a competitive advantage for your business. Respond flexibly to customer requests. Using a single piece of hardware, your systems are compatible with all protocols.

Brownfield systems

Add IoT functionalities to existing plants without negatively affecting your networks: our Edge IO-Link Master solutions make it possible. Our network analysis solutions deliver data filtering and protocol logging.

Remote management

As a machine builder, you need to serve a global market. But manual monitoring and management of on-site systems is expensive and outdated. Our netFIELD ecosystem offers you a wide range of solutions to centrally monitor and manage your IoT projects.

Hilscher: Empowering Communication

As a communication specialist, it is Hilscher's mission to support plant and machine builders with innovative solutions. We give you the freedom to focus on your core competencies while relying on over 35 years of experience in industrial communication and cutting-edge technologies. From standard gateways, and protocol conversion to combined edge and cloud solutions, our portfolio offers everything you need to prepare your production systems and plants for modern Industry 4.0 infrastructures. Our solutions also enable you to easily integrate existing systems into fieldbus, Real-Time Ethernet and Industry 4.0 environments. Together with you, we can implement every application. Numerous machine and plant manufacturers across a wide range of industries already rely on our communication solutions, including industries such as industrial image processing, device and system testing, packaging, F&B, maintenance and process automation.

Learn more about Hilscher products in action

CANopen Master Gateway for drive control of AGVs in semiconductor manufacturing

Korean cobot and AGV specialist Hanwha Robotics controls drives of AGVs in CANopen networks for semiconductor manufacturing with Hilscher’s netHOST Controller gateway. Read more in our success story!

Enabling PROFINET S2 redundancy for Yokogawa's CENTUM VP

Yokogawa Electric, a leading company in integrated plant production control systems, has implemented S2 redundancy for their PROFINET IO controller by adopting Hilscher's comX embedded module, thereby improving the operation rate of the plant.

Translating from POWERLINK to EtherNet/IP in robotics

What needs to be done if a robot is to be integrated into an existing automation environment, but they speak different languages? Then a gateway is used to ensure secure data transmission - in this application implemented by robotics specialist More Robots from Austria from POWERLINK to Ethernet/IP with Hilscher's netTAP gateway.

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

Seamless connectivity for optical inspection systems in the pharmaceutical industry

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 with multiple protocols on netX 90

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.

Making access to industrial apps more democratic with smart licensing

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.

Plug and play device management for thermal spray systems

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.

Quickly creating versatile automation solutions

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.

Connected drive technology for critical applications

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.

From Condition Monitoring to Unified Namespace with netFIELD

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.

IIoT communication for pneumatic components

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.

Accelerated development through maximum proficiency

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.

Detecting complex anomalies in industrial networks

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

IIoT networking: simple and flexible

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.

Integration of pharmaceutical Process Skids into a Distributed Control System

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.

PC-based Automation with unified Interfaces for all Formats and Protocols

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.

Product Development based on the netX 90

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.

Flexible integration of industrial protocols in IPCs

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.

Multiprotocol Stack Secures Competitive Advantage

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

Worker inspecting an electrical Installation at a Leadec plant.

On the Hunt for Errors in Real-Time Ethernet Networks

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.

Multiprotocol connectivity for Optical Inspection Systems

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

The right solutions for every application

You'll be able to collect extensive data from your OT devices using our powerful edge gateways. Via Docker applications you can process your data locally or transfer them to a cloud instance. Our netFIELD Cloud with its user-friendly interface provides you with a wide range of containerized applications as a service. This allows you to remotely manage your IoT devices and deploy your own applications globally.

With our netFIELD IO-Link Wireless Master, you can also connect up to 16 IO-Link devices bidirectionally in fieldbus or Real-Time Ethernet networks. An OPC UA server and an MQTT client are also integrated into the rugged IP67 device for IoT connectivity. The device enables you to aggregate, diagnose, and configure data in demanding environments independent of their network. On request, we also offer the device as a white-label product for your own rebranding.

The netTAP gateways serve as data converters for countless fieldbus and Real-Time Ethernet protocol conversions. This allows you to flexibly integrate your machines and plants into any production network—without incurring your own development costs.

We also deliver proven tools for data acquisition and analysis of the data gleaned from Real-Time Ethernet networks. Our netANALYZER lets you analyze your communication networks, minimizing downtimes and the associated costs, while our netMIRROR gives you a completely passive and permanent test access point for your communication.

Your advantages with our solutions at a glance:

Gain access to our comprehensive know-how based on years of experience
Custom solutions for highly individual projects
Lower development costs
Fast time to market
Easy integration
Comprehensive portfolio for industrial communication
Support and additional services throughout the entire lifecycle
Long-term product availability

Industrial clerk (Apprenticeship)

IT specialist for systems integration (Apprenticeship)

Head of Human Resources (m/f/d)

Industrial clerk (Apprenticeship)

IT specialist for systems integration (Apprenticeship)

Head of Human Resources (m/f/d)

Plant/Machine Builder

Take advantage of modern communication technologies

Challenges facing machine and plant builders

Hilscher: Empowering Communication

Learn more about Hilscher products in action

Related links