Bonn, Germany - April 22, 2024 - In an era where data-driven optimization of automation technology, industrial production, and logistics is paramount, Hilscher and Tomorrow Things are pioneering a groundbreaking solution. The collaboration aims to simplify and accelerate the vital step of connecting physical assets to the cloud securely.

Closing the gap between assets and AI optimization

While numerous solutions and products exist for data-driven optimization, a crucial intermediate step is often overlooked: ensuring a qualified and secure connection of physical assets to the cloud. Furthermore, only relevant data points essential for process optimization should be transmitted and structured in the cloud. However, achieving this in practice is typically cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring a systems integrator with specific IIoT expertise.

To simplify and expedite this crucial step, Hilscher is partnering with Tomorrow Things. Utilizing machine learning, Tomorrow Things specializes in revolutionizing the connectivity of industrial assets to the internet. With Cloud Connect, generating the Digital Twin of these assets is now achievable with just one click. Machine operators can now seamlessly integrate machines and other technical equipment without the need for a systems integrator. How is this possible? Behind Cloud Connect lies the Blueprint Technology. "Through Artificial Intelligence (AI), we capture the fingerprint of industrial assets and provide it as a Blueprint to our customers. From this, they can then generate the Digital Twin of the technical equipment with just one click," explains Oliver Habisch, CEO of Tomorrow Things.

This time- and cost-saving approach also offers another advantage: the ‘Cloud Connect’ edge agent can be installed based on container technologies and thus be deployed automatically worldwide as a Docker application, regardless of machine type or manufacturer.

Hilscher IoT devices and container management platform netfield OS

In this endeavor, Hilscher provides IoT devices as well as the state-of-the-art container management platform netfield OS to orchestrate the deployment and operation of millions of devices installed in the field.

Sebastian Hilscher, CEO at Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH, expressed his enthusiasm, "With Tomorrow Things' Blueprint Technology, we can offer end-to-end IIoT applications for various kinds of industrial sectors by effortlessly bringing insightful process data into the cloud with the push of a button. This opens up many new opportunities for our customers as well as for us."

Strong partnership

Through the partnership of Hilscher and Tomorrow Things, the technical foundation for the much-anticipated Industry 4.0 is established. The intelligent networking of machines and processes in the industry using information and communication technology is now easily accessible, cost-effective, and available in minutes rather than days.

Both companies will showcase their collaboration live at the Hannover Messe, demonstrating the practical application using a BOLE injection molding machine. Visit the showcase at the IT’S OWL booth of owl maschinenbau e.V., Hall 7, Booth D27, in collaboration with Fraunhofer IOSB-INA.

Uwe Schnepf, Head of Product Management Industrial IoT at Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH, and Oliver Habisch, CEO of Tomorrow Things, announce the partnership between the two companies at Hannover Messe 2024.

Tomorrow Things GmbH
Martin-Luther-King-Straße 24
53175 Bonn
Email: info@tomorrowthings.com

Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH
Rheinstraße 15
65795 Hattersheim
Email: de.info@hilscher.com

About Tomorrow Things: Tomorrow Things is an intelligent automation platform that creates Digital Twins of technical assets. Complex, error-prone, and cost-intense manual integrations are being substituted by technology. Blueprints connect assets with the click of a mouse, so customers can collect and stream data for enhanced decision-making, improved operational efficiency, and optimized sustainability. The blueprint technology supports plug-and-produce and drives interoperability within the entire ecosystem. It allows for seamless integration of third-party applications on top of digitalized assets.

About Hilscher: Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH is a leading provider of hardware and software components for industrial communication. With a commitment to innovation and reliability, Hilscher's Edge Gateways serve as the backbone of IoT connectivity solutions, facilitating seamless data exchange between industrial assets and the cloud.