Hilscher and Schwarz Digits launch edge-to-cloud platform

Schwarz Digits Cloud, a provider of sovereign and GDPR-compliant cloud solutions, and Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation, a provider of industrial communication solutions, have announced a cooperation for the provision of cloud-based services in the industrial environment. Together, the companies aim to build a sovereign edge-to-cloud platform that securely connects industrial machines and systems with European cloud resources.

The goal is an open, scalable infrastructure that enables industrial companies, machine manufacturers and OEMs to roll out digital services more quickly – without giving up control over sensitive operational, process and product data.

The platform addresses two of the biggest hurdles to industrial digitalisation:

1. Reliable connectivity of heterogeneous OT networks and machine environments
2. Cloud usage under European sovereignty, security and compliance requirements

As part of this partnership, Schwarz Digits and Hilscher are combining their respective strengths: with Netfield, Hilscher contributes an edge and device management platform that enables central management of hardware and software in the industrial IoT.

Schwarz Digits provides the cloud infrastructure (also known as Stackit Cloud) to deliver these services securely, scalably and with high availability – in public or private cloud infrastructures, all the way through to on-premise installations at the customer’s site.

“Europe needs industrial digitalisation that does not have to choose between innovation speed and data sovereignty,” explains Christian Tepper, chief sales & marketing officer at Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH. “With Netfield, we are contributing 40 years of industrial experience, the necessary OT proximity, industrial robustness and a proven concept for the central management of large device fleets. We are now combining this with a European cloud foundation that takes the industry’s sovereignty requirements seriously.”

“The partnership with Schwarz Digits opens up new opportunities for us to provide our device management solution Netfield securely, scalably and with high availability in public or private cloud infrastructures,” says Thomas Rauch, chief technology officer at Hilscher. “Together with Schwarz Digits, we can offer a solution portfolio for the German and international markets that sets new standards in terms of technological capabilities for secure cloud-based networking of production.”

Daniel Traub, head of manufacturing & automotive at Schwarz Digits, adds: “Sovereign cloud is not a buzzword, but a prerequisite for competitiveness. With this initiative, together with Hilscher we are creating a continuous path from the machine to the cloud – under the European legal framework, with strong security standards and with a clear focus on open interfaces instead of vendor lock-in.”

What does the edge-to-cloud platform actually deliver?

The solution is provided as an integrated modular toolkit – from the edge device to the cloud:

Secure OT connectivity and data capture directly at the machine (Hilscher Netfield)

• Edge gateways as “data routers” between OT and IT that capture, pre-process and transmit production data in parallel to ongoing control processes.

• Container-based applications (for example for protocol/data conversion, pre-processing, anomaly detection, condition monitoring, remote access) that run on the edge device.

• Supplemented by high-performance hardware such as edge gateways with container environments as well as IIoT apps for Profinet, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP and other industrial protocols.

Centralised device and software management at scale (Hilscher Netfield)

• Remote management for machine fleets: secure commissioning, monitoring and software-based rollouts over the air (OTA) across globally distributed sites.
• Standardised, containerised updates reduce on-site deployments and create the basis for new service models.

Sovereign cloud infrastructure and data storage in Europe (Stackit Cloud)

• Operation and data processing within Europe, aligned with stringent requirements for data protection and data sovereignty, security and auditability.
• Building multi-tenant industrial workloads (for example data platforms, digital twin services, AI/analytics pipelines) with the aim of enabling flexible scaling without dependence on individual proprietary ecosystems.

Open ecosystem, open interfaces, “trust by design”

• The joint solution offering is designed as a partner ecosystem: machine builders, software vendors, system integrators and industry associations can contribute their own applications, connectors and industry-specific solutions.
• The initiative thus creates a robust foundation for industrial data usage – including across company boundaries (for example supply chains, maintenance, quality data spaces) as well as reference architectures for typical IIoT use cases (for example remote service, predictive maintenance, energy and quality monitoring).

Need for digitalisation and the introduction of digital services

Industrial companies are not only digitalising in greenfield settings: there are established machine fleets, long life cycles and different industrial protocols – and at the same time, pressure is increasing to operate plants efficiently and securely, to scale services and to provide software and security updates securely over the entire service life.

This is exactly where both companies come in: modular, industrial-grade and scalable – and thus suitable for the secure, simple and cost-effective digitalisation of machines and systems as well as the development of new digital services.

Closer technical integration and joint market initiatives

The solution offerings of both companies will in future be more closely integrated in order to provide users with easy-to-use and at the same time secure solutions for networking machines and systems.

This is the basis for new digital services such as smart remote services, virtual commissioning, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance – through to shopfloor device management to support a cyber-secure operation of networked components on machines and in production, among other things with a view to future requirements such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Also with the use of modern AI technologies in the Stackit Cloud.

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In addition to closer technological collaboration, Schwarz Digits and Hilscher will also carry out joint marketing and sales initiatives – such as trade fair appearances and marketing campaigns. Target markets include in particular machine builders, system integrators and operators of machine fleets who are looking for competitive, future-proof automation solutions. With their joint solutions, both new machines and existing machine fleets and brownfield plants should be easy to integrate into modern, IT-based infrastructures.

Hilscher and Schwarz Digits are now making the Netfield solution available for use on the Stackit Marketplace. Software providers and system integrators who are interested are also invited to collaborate and make use of it.

Automation NEXT Conference 2026

Date: 30 September 2026

Location: CU.BE Ulm by Bosch Rexroth, Ulm

The Automation NEXT Conference is the specialist conference for industrial automation, digitalisation and AI in mechanical and plant engineering.

It is aimed at decision-makers, production and automation managers, as well as developers who want to make their manufacturing future-ready. The focus is on practical presentations, best practices and exchange between industry, technology providers and research.

Key topics:

• Artificial intelligence and generative copilots in engineering and production

• Cobots and cognitive robotics to address the shortage of skilled workers

• Smart factory, IIoT, industrial networks and MES systems

• Energy efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness

Participants:

Specialists and managers from industrial automation, production and mechanical engineering, as well as experts from research and technology companies.

Special features:

• Top-class speakers from industry and research

• A compact conference day with a strong practical focus

• Intensive networking and direct exchange as equals

Further information and the option to register can be found here.