Digital transformation at HÖRMANN: from on-premises to a cloud platform

Rudolf Hörmann GmbH & Co. KG is a leading provider of barn, hall and control systems, as well as modern energy solutions for agricultural businesses. For years, the company has been developing its innovative HÖRMANN Concept Control (HKS) and Photo-Voltaic (PV) control systems, using digital technologies to improve efficiency, security and ease of use for customers.

Over time, HÖRMANN has moved from a decentralized on-premises infrastructure to a centralized cloud-based platform, enabling more consistent remote access, improved operational efficiency and a higher level of security across its HKS and PV control systems.

Challenge

For years, HÖRMANN operated a decentralized infrastructure consisting of various routers and on-premises servers to monitor systems and provide customers with remote access.

However, this setup created several challenges:

• High administrative effort for router and certificate management
• No mobile access and limited usability for customers
• VPN systems that no longer met current security requirements
• Time-consuming commissioning with lengthy configuration processes
• Increasing complexity due to new regulatory requirements for IoT security and PV systems
  

As the business around HKS controls and PV systems continued to grow, it became clear that a modern, secure, and scalable platform was needed to ensure long-term service quality and efficiency.

Solution

With a small, highly specialized team, HÖRMANN developed the HÖRMANN Portal, a fully web-based platform built on IXON Cloud and the IXrouter.

The IXrouter plays a central role in this setup. HÖRMANN installs between 60 and 100 devices each year in HKS control systems and PV communication cabinets. Originally designed for industrial IoT, the IXrouter became a universal building block at HÖRMANN for secure remote access, clear network segmentation and fast support.

The added value becomes especially visible in the “Rudolf Hörmann” app, which is also based on IXON. The app not only provides operator views for HKS systems, but also enables technicians to access systems through a secure VPN tunnel. Existing visualizations and local web interfaces can easily be integrated via port forwarding.

The portal has also become a central component of the company’s energy management strategy. HÖRMANN stores five years of EMS data on IXON servers and is developing AI-based optimization models together with its subsidiary Enop AI. The edge gateway simplifies remote access to components such as displays and custom solutions, an area that previously relied on older and less secure open VPN structures.

Key elements of the solution

• IXrouter implemented in all new HKS and PV projects
  60–100 units per year, plus around 80 devices for existing customer migrations
• Web-based branded customer portal
  Including the “Rudolf Hörmann” app with mobile access via browser or smartphone
• Simplified commissioning
  Router preconfiguration via USB in just 5 minutes (previously around 30 minutes for VPN configuration)
• Modular design
  Clear structure, intuitive user experience and direct integration with existing control technology
• Compliance with security requirements
  Network segmentation, secure tunnels, centralized management and no need to manually distribute or manage security certificates
• Foundation for energy management and AI
  Integration of EMS projects from subsidiary Enop AI, including five years of data storage
  
  

Result

The introduction of the HÖRMANN Portal led to a noticeable optimization of internal processes and a significant improvement in the customer experience.

The commissioning process alone has changed considerably. Instead of lengthy VPN configurations, technicians can now use a USB stick to preconfigure and deploy a router within minutes. This eliminates much of the customer training and security coordination that was previously required. At the same time, the security level has increased significantly, since the new system no longer requires sending sensitive certificates and automatically ensures proper network segmentation.

"Since working with IXON, we haven’t experienced any failures of IXrouters in the field. That level of reliability is very important for our operations."

- Sebastian Huber, Team Leader Electrical Operations / Communication Systems / PV Service at HÖRMANN 

The benefits are also clear in daily operations. Many common service issues can now be resolved remotely. For example, if a sliding gate system stops because a motor protection switch has tripped, technicians no longer need to spend hours traveling to the site. A quick check in the portal is often enough. This reduces costs, shortens response times and allows technicians to use their time more efficiently.

In the PV sector, the IXON platform provides the foundation for modern requirements such as direct marketing, EZA control, and integration with virtual power plants. At the same time, HÖRMANN is developing its own EMS solutions internally, which can be seamlessly integrated thanks to the robust data foundation and open architecture of the IXON system.

"In the past, managing our router and server systems was time-consuming and only possible internally. With the new portal, both we and our customers can securely access all relevant data on the go. This saves time, reduces effort and takes our service to a whole new level."

- Sebastian Huber, Team Leader Electrical Operations / Communication Systems / PV Service at HÖRMANN 

Main Advantages

With this approach, HÖRMANN has established a strong digital foundation for delivering modern, highly available control and service solutions in the future.