New embedded plug-in module for secure connectivity

Hilscher releases netRAPID 90 IC

Hilscher has released the new netRAPID 90IC embedded module for secure industrial communication. The plug-in module is based on the proven netX 90 communication controller and allows device manufacturers to integrate industrial communication into compact field devices without soldering.

By using a standard pluggable system instead of a fixed soldered design, manufacturers reduce integration effort, lower production risk, and avoid costly rework in the event of defects. The module supports all major Industrial Ethernet and fieldbus protocols — including PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, and CC-Link IE Field Basic — on a single hardware platform.

Plug in instead of solder

The compact form factor — just 18mm x 45mm — combined with the plug-in mechanism, makes netRAPID 90IC particularly well suited to field devices with limited installation space, such as welding, drive technology, measurement and control technology, weighing, and laser technology.

Compared to soldered communication modules, the plug-in design simplifies both development and maintenance. Manufacturers can integrate communication interfaces without redesigning the baseboard. In the event of defects or manufacturing errors, the module can be replaced independently of the device hardware. This reduces downtime, lowers lifecycle costs, and improves overall production efficiency.

Built on Hilscher's netX 90 network controller, netRAPID 90IC supports all major protocol technologies as a device (formerly slave): PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, CC-Link, CC-Link IE Field Basic, MQTT, OPC UA, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, POWERLINK, Modbus, Sercos, and CANopen.

The new netRAPID 90IC module also comes with Industrial IoT functionality built in by default. Integrated firmware stacks enable OPC UA and MQTT communication alongside established Industrial Ethernet protocols. Device data can be transferred from the field to IT and cloud systems without the need for additional hardware — creating a consistent communication path from sensor to cloud and enabling use cases such as condition monitoring and asset management.

Security readiness

Based on netX 90, the netRAPID 90IC module includes hardware-based encryption via CryptoCore, Secure Boot, and comprehensive key and certificate management. This provides a reliable foundation for meeting current and future security requirements.

With the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), cybersecurity becomes a mandatory requirement for connected products. Manufacturers must ensure secure configurations, provide updates throughout the product lifecycle, and protect devices against known vulnerabilities. By building security mechanisms in at the hardware level, netRAPID 90IC helps device manufacturers meet these requirements early in the design phase and reduces the effort required for compliance.

Manufacturers who factor in CRA requirements early gain a clear competitive advantage: shorter development cycles, fewer costly redesigns, and reduced certification risk in the later stages of a project. At the same time, they build customer trust by offering products that are secure and maintainable from the outset — turning cybersecurity from a regulatory obligation into a market differentiator.

The Hilscher platform: everything from a single source

As part of the Hilscher platform strategy, the module integrates seamlessly into Hilscher's coherent ecosystem of hardware, software, configuration tools, and support services. Developers benefit from standardized interfaces, proven protocol stacks, and a coordinated toolchain — reducing development effort, accelerating time to market, and ensuring long-term availability for industrial applications.

With netRAPID 90IC, Hilscher gives device manufacturers a practical way to implement industrial communication efficiently and with long-term reliability, combining plug-in convenience, multiprotocol capability, built-in security, and IIoT connectivity.