Develops and manufactures digital amplifier and control electronics for fluid power, hydraulics and embedded control.
HCS Hydraulic Control Systems GmbH
Frickenhausen (Baden-Württemberg) · HeadquartersNew on Amplifa
Expertise in Electronics Development for Fluid Power
HCS Hydraulic Control Systems GmbH, based in Frickenhausen near Nürtingen in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, has been developing and manufacturing digital electronics for fluid power systems and equipment as well as embedded control solutions for all industries since 1997. The product range includes digital amplifier and control cards (DAC-4x(A)), amplifier and control modules (DMA-22(A)), on-board amplifiers (DAP) and bus interface electronics for PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and CANopen – for controlling proportional and servo valves. The electronics are manufactured, among other things, for the Ex area (ATEX/IECEx, Zone 1) and are designed for sub-sea use down to a water depth of 3,000 m. In addition to standard electronics, the company offers complete hardware and software development, custom adaptations, commissioning support, training and retrofit solutions for discontinued valve amplifiers. With more than 80,000 electronics units in the field, over 3,000 installed bus nodes, an export share of more than 70 percent and partners in 13 countries on five continents, HCS serves industries ranging from the offshore and marine industry to press and plant engineering, mobile applications, measurement and testing laboratories and OEM customers.
- Site
- Frickenhausen
- Processes
- Development and manufacture of digital amplifier and control modules (DMA), Development and manufacture of digital on-board amplifiers (DAP), Custom hardware and software development (embedded control), Analog and digital circuit design / electronics development, Semi-automatic calibration and controller adaptation of module amplifiers, Brokerage and support for electronics manufacturing including series production with partners, Training in electronics and hydraulics (in-house, on-site, at partner, online), Manufacture of bus interface electronics (PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, CANopen)
- Materials
- Plastic (housing material DAP), Aluminium die casting (lid material DAP), Electronic assemblies (printed circuit boards)
- Certificates
- ATEX/IECEx approval on-board electronics (OPAT), ATEX/IECEx approval (OPAT), PROFINET certification (PNO), German Lloyd EMC
- Founded
- 1997
- Employees
- 10
- Industries
- Automation systems, Offshore and marine, Industrial applications, General mechanical engineering, Chemical industry, Presses/plant engineering
- 01
Custom hardware and software development (embedded control)
- 02
Development of analog and digital circuit design
- 03
Manufacture of electronic assemblies (with series production partners)
- 04
Semi-automatic calibration and controller adaptation
- 05
Commissioning and project support
- 06
Training in electronics and hydraulics
Materials and Processes
Electronic assemblies (printed circuit boards)
Base material of the DAC amplifier and control cards and DMA control modules for valve control and bus interfaces.
Plastic (housing material DAP)
Housing material of the digital on-board amplifier DAP with IP65 protection rating.
Aluminium die casting (lid material DAP)
Lid material of the on-board amplifier DAP for robust protection in field use.
Locations
Frickenhausen
DEHeadquarters / development and manufacturing
- Materials
- Electronic assemblies, plastic housings, aluminium die-cast lids
- Development of analog and digital circuit design
- Semi-automatic calibration and controller adaptation
- HCSTool parameterization and analysis tool
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies (printed circuit boards) |
| Development and manufacture of digital amplifier and control modules (DMA)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies (printed circuit boards) |
| Development and manufacture of digital on-board amplifiers (DAP)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Plastic (housing), Aluminium die casting (lid) |
| Custom hardware and software development (embedded control)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Analog and digital circuit design / electronics developmentEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Semi-automatic calibration and controller adaptation of module amplifiersTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brokerage and support for electronics manufacturing including series production with partnersAssembly | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies |
| Training in electronics and hydraulics (in-house, on-site, at partner, online)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of bus interface electronics (PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, CANopen)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies |
| Manufacture of electronics for ATEX/IECEx Ex area (Zone 1)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies |
| Electronics for sub-sea use down to 3,000 m water depthEngineering | – | – | – | – | Electronic assemblies |
Additional services
Quality and Approvals
According to the company, product reliability and the best possible delivery quality are key success factors; the on-board electronics are approved with ATEX/IECEx certification (OPAT) by NEMKO/Presafe for the Ex area Zone 1, and the PROFINET interface has been tested and certified by the PNO. Delivery reliability is stated as 99% to the customer's requested date.
| Evidence | Frickenhausen |
|---|---|
| ATEX/IECEx approval (OPAT) | |
| PROFINET certification (PNO) | |
| German Lloyd EMC |
History and Milestones
- 1997
Founded as an engineering office by Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Peter Deuschle in Frickenhausen.
- 1999
Two-year development project for a control board for high-speed tilting trains.
- 2000
Registered as a GmbH (Peter Deuschle shareholder and managing director); launch of the company's own product line with the DAC-4x series.
- 2002
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Volker Bremauer joins as shareholder and managing director; move into the company premises in Frickenhausen.
- 2005
Launch of the DMA-22 module amplifier series.
- 2006
Start of activities in the offshore sector with a Norwegian partner.
- 2008
Deployment of devices with PROFIBUS.
- 2011
DAC with PROFIBUS interface available; successful testing of the electronics for deep-sea applications down to 3,000 m water depth.
- 2013
Prototypes with PROFINET interface in customer trials; start of direct activities in the USA with sales partner Servi Houston Inc.
- 2014
On-board electronics with ATEX/IECEx approval (OPAT) by NEMKO/Presafe.
- 2015
Implementation of PROFIDRIVE Profi in PROFIBUS devices.
- 2016
PROFINET interface tested and certified by the PNO.
- 2017
Start of development of the ODC on-board electronics for non-ATEX applications.
- 2020
Introduction of the new DAC-4x(A) generation; the digital connector amplifier DAP reaches series maturity.
- 2023
Introduction of the new DMA-22(A) generation.
- 2024
DAC-42(A) released for PROFINET; DMA-22(A) released for CANopen.
- 2026
New company website; PpQ pump control tested with various variable displacement pumps.