HMS bridges protocol gaps for global-ready manufacturing systems

By Staff Report June 6, 2025 7:09 pm IST

Under the Anybus brand, HMS offers a comprehensive range of products for safe and fast industrial communication, supporting any device – whether wired or wirelessly. Anybus also provides products and services that offer insights into industrial networks, ensuring their health and reliability. Sameer Mudhalwadkar, Managing Director of HMS Networks India, highlights the role of HMS in supporting global OEMs in navigating complex protocols and standards across different regions through these offerings.

How does HMS help OEMs and factories transition towards globally interoperable systems?
We are at the forefront of industrial interoperability by bridging communication gaps between field buses and industrial Ethernet standards. Our Anybus Embedded solutions enable OEMs to integrate multi-protocol connectivity directly into their products, supporting protocols such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and others. This operates seamlessly across different regions without requiring the redesign of hardware, ensuring global readiness from the outset.

Our Anybus Communicator Gateways and Wireless Bolt/Bridge enable legacy and hardwired systems to connect with modern PLCs, SCADA systems, or cloud platforms without requiring code rewriting. This drastically shortens the transition timeline and costs for factories looking to modernise or adopt Industry 4.0 practices. Anybus Diagnostics gives real-time network health monitoring solutions such as EtherTAP and ProfiTrace, which are essential for maintaining interoperability and uptime in complex environments.

What role does HMS play in supporting global OEMs navigating complex protocols and standards across different regions?
Global OEMs often struggle with region-specific standards, and that’s where we come in. Our Flexy and Cosy+ remote connectivity products from Ewon allow secure and protocol-agnostic access to machinery worldwide, providing engineers with a uniform platform for monitoring, troubleshooting, and updating equipment.

With Intesis, we assist building automation OEMs in connecting HVAC systems to various BACnet, KNX, and Modbus protocols, ensuring compliance with European and global Building Management System (BMS) standards. Similarly, Ixxat supports motion control, functional safety (SafeT100), and electric vehicle applications, enabling OEMs to launch products globally with confidence.

Cybersecurity is a growing concern in connected factories. How does HMS maintain data integrity and security across its communication platforms?
Cybersecurity is at the heart of our solution. Our products are designed following secure development lifecycle (SDL) processes. Ewon Cosy+ and Flexy routers are ISO 27001 certified and follow end-to-end encryption, role-based access, and multi-factor authentication for secure remote access. The Anybus Secure Gateway series provides deep packet inspection (DPI) firewalls, ensuring that OT networks are shielded from potential threats.

Our N-Tron switches further ensure network segregation and resilience by integrating Layer 2 and Layer 3 features tailored for industrial environments. Anybus Diagnostics solutions proactively monitor PROFIBUS/PROFINET network health, alerting users before faults disrupt operations, an essential component of cybersecurity and predictive maintenance.

How are your solutions helping Indian manufacturers become more globally competitive and aligned with international digital manufacturing standards?
In India, manufacturers are under pressure to meet global benchmarks. Our solutions are helping them leapfrog legacy systems. With our Anybus wireless and gateways, Indian factories are digitising their brownfield operations without massive overhauls. The FlexEdge platform enables edge intelligence, local data processing, and protocol conversion, all from a single device.

Ewon Flexy’s ability to push operational data to Azure, AWS, or Mindsphere is helping Indian OEMs offer smart services and predictive maintenance globally, thus moving up the value chain from just product sales to service-based business models. Meanwhile, N-Tron’s managed industrial Ethernet switches deliver high-speed, rugged networking tailored for Indian manufacturing environments facing harsh conditions. By enabling smart connectivity, remote diagnostics, and seamless integration into MES/ERP systems, we help Indian manufacturers adopt international standards such as OPC UA, MQTT, and IIoT protocols.

What are some real-world examples of how HMS has helped a customer streamline operations or enter new global markets?
One notable example is our work with an Indian OEM in the textile machinery sector. They were struggling to export to Europe due to compatibility issues with communication. We integrated the Anybus Communicator into their systems, enabling their machines to connect seamlessly with European PLCs using PROFINET. This solution led to a 25% increase in their export orders.

Another example involves a global pharmaceutical company that used Red Lion’s industrial automation panels and Ntron secure switches in their cleanroom operations. This deployment helped them achieve GMP compliance while maintaining robust, real-time communication between IT and OT networks.  

We’re more than just a technology provider; we’re a strategic partner for OEMs and manufacturers to scale globally, adopt Industry 4.0, and secure their connected operations. With our broad brand portfolio and deep global expertise, we’re uniquely positioned to support the future of smart manufacturing in India and the world.