Communication solutions for machine and plant construction

Empowering Communication

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 But manual monitoring and management of on-site systems is expensive and outdated.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.

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