codemeter usecase: intelligent devices
B&R: Shaping the Future of Automation with CodeMeter
CodeMeter is a native part of the B&R business model and user experience
The Challenge
For over four decades, B&R Industrial Automation has been a pioneer in machine automation, driven by relentless innovation and strong customer partnerships. This commitment has resulted in a vast and diverse product portfolio encompassing both cutting-edge and legacy technologies, delivered as hardware or software, and sold through one-time purchases or subscription models.
Moreover, B&R’s customer base includes technology leaders who develop proprietary solutions on the B&R platform and seek to license them to their own customers.
To effectively manage this complex ecosystem and provide a consistent, reliable protection framework for its entire product range, B&R sought a robust and sustainable solution. This led to a partnership with Wibu-Systems.
The Solution
Technology Guarding empowers B&R and its clients to create flexible business models, safeguard intellectual property, and control technology usage. By enabling feature-based licensing, machine users only pay for necessary functions, while B&R customer engineers can unlock additional features post-sale, boosting revenue. This streamlined approach simplifies configuration management for engineers.
The solution is seamlessly integrated into B&R Automation Studio, leveraging CodeMeter technology and a custom CmStick for secure license management. A central license server hosted by B&R oversees license distribution.
The Success
Upon initial machine installation, a USB dongle containing the Technology Guarding system is provided with the B&R hardware. Customers can expand functionality by purchasing and adding necessary licenses to this dongle. Field replacements of control hardware are seamless, as the CmStick simply transfers to the new component, automatically restoring protection.
For comprehensive license management, the license server is integrated with B&R’s SAP system. Customers can conveniently monitor license status through the Technology Guarding portal or directly within B&R Automation Studio.
The Company
B&R Industrial Automation is a global leader in industrial automation, headquartered in Austria and part of the ABB Group since 2017. Combining cutting-edge technology with advanced engineering, B&R delivers comprehensive solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI, and integrated safety across diverse industries.
Leveraging Industrial IoT standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK, and openSAFETY, as well as the powerful Automation Studio software, B&R is at the forefront of redefining automation engineering. A steadfast commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations drives B&R’s innovation.
Do you need protection and licensing inside your products?
We invite you to explore how CodeMeter can protect your IP and execute flexibile license mangement for your end-users.
© Wibu-Systems B.V.
Hazenweg 80 – 7556 BM Hengelo
The Netherlands
Get in touch
info@wibu.systems
+31 (0) 74 750 14 95