Hilscher: Sensors - Industrial communication solutions

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.

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.

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

Account Manager: Sales Team Germany

Software Developer for Embedded Systems and Development Tools

Combined work and study model in information technology and IT security: bachelor’s degree in KITS

Account Manager: Sales Team Germany

Software Developer for Embedded Systems and Development Tools

Combined work and study model in information technology and IT security: bachelor’s degree in KITS

Sensors