HMS Industrial Networks

HMS Industrial Networks, commonly referred to as HMS Networks, is a Swedish industrial information and communication technology company headquartered in Halmstad. Its business is built around connecting industrial equipment to the communication networks and software environments used in factories, infrastructure, buildings, energy systems, vehicles, and other technical installations. The company name HMS is associated with the phrase “Hardware Meets Software,” reflecting its role at the boundary between physical industrial devices and information systems. Founded in 1988 by Nicolas Hassbjer, HMS developed its position by addressing a persistent problem in industrial automation: machines and control equipment often communicate through different fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet standards. HMS products function as communication bridges, gateways, embedded interfaces, and remote-access systems, allowing equipment such as robots, programmable logic controllers, motors, sensors, generators, and other machines to exchange data across otherwise incompatible networks. The company also supplies wireless and web-based solutions for monitoring and controlling distributed equipment. The company’s principal product brands are Anybus, Ixxat, Ewon, and Intesis. Anybus provides multi-network connectivity for industrial devices, covering fieldbus, Industrial Ethernet, and wireless use cases. Ixxat focuses on embedded communication and interfaces for industrial control, energy applications, automotive testing, and communication between components inside machines. Ewon provides secure remote-access and remote-management solutions that allow authorized users to monitor and service industrial equipment over networks. Intesis supplies communication products for building automation, helping building-management equipment interoperate with different control systems and protocols. HMS organizes product development across several specialized locations. Anybus development is associated with the Industrial Network Technology Division in Halmstad, while Ixxat development is handled by the Vehicle Communication organization in Ravensburg, Germany. Ewon development is based in the Industrial Data Solutions Division in Nivelles, Belgium, and Intesis development is connected with the Building Automation organization in Igualada, Spain. Manufacturing has been identified in Sweden, the United States, Latvia, and China. HMS serves customers through its own international operations and a distributor network covering approximately 50 countries. Its operations include locations in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. The company’s products are used in industrial automation, machine building, energy, transportation and vehicle testing, remote infrastructure management, telecommunications facilities, and building automation. In 2024, the company reported sales of EUR 268 million and approximately 1,100 employees according to the cited Wikipedia reference. HMS is listed on Nasdaq Nordic. Its competitive role is that of a specialist connectivity and industrial-data supplier rather than a general-purpose enterprise software company.

HMS Networks was founded in 1988 in Sweden by Nicolas Hassbjer. Its original and continuing business problem is the fragmentation of industrial communications: automation equipment from different vendors may use different fieldbus, Industrial Ethernet, wireless, or embedded communication technologies. HMS built products intended to make these systems interoperable, allowing industrial devices and controllers to exchange data without requiring every component to use the same network standard. The company’s identity is summarized by the expression “Hardware Meets Software.” This describes its role as an intermediary between physical industrial assets and the software systems used for configuration, supervision, analysis, and remote operation. Rather than producing the machines themselves, HMS supplies the communication infrastructure that enables robots, programmable logic controllers, motors, sensors, generators, and other equipment to participate in industrial networks and connected-data environments. HMS developed a portfolio organized around several specialist brands. Anybus became the company’s multi-network connectivity offering for fieldbus, Industrial Ethernet, and wireless applications. Its products are designed to connect industrial devices to different network standards and are used by machine builders and automation-system developers. Ixxat addresses communication inside machines and embedded control environments, with applications including industrial control, energy systems, automotive communication, and vehicle testing. Ewon extends the portfolio into remote access and management, enabling online monitoring and servicing of geographically distributed machinery and infrastructure. Intesis serves building automation, where gateways and communication interfaces help different building-control systems exchange information. Product development is distributed across the company’s international organization. Anybus development is associated with Halmstad, Sweden; Ixxat development with Ravensburg, Germany; Ewon development with Nivelles, Belgium; and Intesis development with Igualada, Spain. The company has also maintained operations in multiple European, North American, and Asian markets, supported by distributors in about 50 countries. Manufacturing has been identified in Sweden, the United States, Latvia, and China. HMS has been described as an international Industrial ICT company and has received recognition as an Export Company of the Year from the Swedish Trade Council. Its products support industrial automation, machine communication, energy, transportation and automotive testing, telecommunications infrastructure, remote equipment management, and building management. By 2024, the cited reference described HMS as employing about 1,100 people and generating EUR 268 million in sales. The company is listed on Nasdaq Nordic and remains active as a focused supplier of industrial networking and connected-equipment technology.

1. 2024HMS reports 2024 sales of EUR 268 million

   The cited reference reports sales of EUR 268 million and approximately 1,100 employees in 2024.

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2. 1988HMS is founded in Sweden

   Nicolas Hassbjer founded the company that became HMS Networks, establishing its focus on industrial communication and connectivity.

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A specialist industrial connectivity provider that translates between automation networks, embedded devices, remote equipment, and software or cloud systems.

• AnybusIndustrial network connectivity

  Anybus is HMS’s multi-network connectivity brand. Its products connect industrial equipment to different fieldbus, Industrial Ethernet, and wireless networks. They are intended for machine builders, automation developers, and system integrators that need equipment to communicate across network standards. Anybus products can serve as gateways, interfaces, or embedded communication components between industrial devices and control or IoT systems.

• IxxatEmbedded and vehicle communication

  Ixxat provides communication solutions for embedded control, industrial equipment, energy applications, and automotive or vehicle testing. Its products support communication inside machines and between technical components, including applications involving CAN-based systems and other industrial or vehicle communication environments. The brand’s development activities are associated with HMS’s Ravensburg organization in Germany.

• EwonIndustrial remote access and management

  Ewon supplies remote-access and remote-management solutions for industrial equipment. The products allow authorized users to monitor, diagnose, and control distributed machinery and field installations through network-based interfaces. Example use cases include programmable logic controllers, electric generators, machines, telecommunications base stations, and building-management systems. Ewon development is associated with HMS’s Industrial Data Solutions Division in Nivelles, Belgium.

• IntesisBuilding automation communication

  Intesis provides communication interfaces and gateways for building automation. Its role is to help equipment and control systems using different protocols exchange data within building-management environments. The brand extends HMS’s industrial-network expertise into facilities and building systems, including applications where heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and other building equipment need to interact with supervisory controls.

• 2024HMS Networks reported 2024 sales of EUR 268 million

  The cited reference identifies 2024 sales of EUR 268 million and approximately 1,100 employees for HMS Networks.

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1. HMS Networks