In 1987, Prof. Dr.-Ing. K. Etschberger founded the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Process Automation (stzp). With the availability of the first CAN chips, the activities of the transfer center focused on tasks related to the CAN technology. Among other things, the stzp implemented the new CAN technology in industrial automation systems and developed own products. 

With the founding of Ixxat Automation GmbH in 1998, and the gradual transfer of the products from stzp to Ixxat Automation GmbH, the stzp tried to meet the increasing product and services’ requirements of the market. As pioneers of CAN technology, stzp and Ixxat have made important contributions to the successful development of CAN in industrial applications. They were e.g. from the very beginning involved in the development of the internationally recognized CANopen standard. Ixxat Automation GmbH has been able to significantly expand its product portfolio over the years and, in addition to CAN, has developed other technologies, such as Safety, Industrial Ethernet, Automotive/FlexRay and IEEE 1588.

In 2013, Ixxat Automation GmbH was taken over by the Swedish HMS Industrial Networks AB. In addition to a restructuring of the sales structure, the company name was also changed to HMS Technology Center Ravensburg GmbH. The products of the HMS Technology Center Ravensburg were introduced under the Ixxat brand within the HMS product portfolio - now consisting of Anybus, Ixxat and Ewon.

Primary applications
Today, our industrial communication solutions are based on CAN, Industrial Ethernet and Safety. Furthermore, we provide solutions for automotive data communication. The development of optimal solutions at the application and system level is another focus. Our customers benefit from our experience in the area of embedded systems and data communications.

The Ixxat solutions are developed at the HMS Technology Center in Ravensburg, Germany. With a focus on innovative, powerful, qualitative and cost-effective products, we strive for long-term partnerships with our customers. We continually invest a considerable amount of our resources in research and development of new technologies and products.