Euresys – Belgium – Cross-Platform Machine Vision

Euresys, a pioneer in the field of machine vision, empowers manufacturers worldwide with advanced imaging libraries and hardware components. With software deployed in environments that demand zero downtime, securing their intellectual property and managing licenses efficiently across Windows, Linux, and embedded platforms became a strategic imperative.

The Challenge

Euresys’ machine vision libraries are mission-critical in production lines from semiconductors to medical devices. As the company expanded its software portfolio, especially with Open eVision Studio, it faced a twofold challenge: securing valuable IP against tampering or piracy, and offering flexible, perpetual licenses tailored to customer-specific configurations. The legacy approach, which involved disparate tools and limited platform coverage, no longer matched the demands of a global, increasingly Linux-oriented market.

The Solution

Wibu-Systems’ CodeMeter technology was adopted to deliver a unified, highly secure, and flexible solution. AxProtector encrypts Euresys’ code on both Windows and Linux platforms, protecting it from reverse engineering. CodeMeter License Central, hosted by Wibu-Systems Operating Services (WOPS), streamlines the provisioning of modular licenses – including perpetual, feature-based, and offline configurations – via both hardware dongles and software-based CmActLicenses. A custom license manager ensures only genuine Euresys dongles interact with the software, safeguarding production-grade IP even in offline environments.

The Results

Euresys now delivers future-proof licensing with support cycles extending over 15 years. Around 80–90% of its licenses are deployed via hardware dongles, a format still preferred for its unmatched security and ease of replacement in industrial settings. With CodeMeter, Euresys meets the need for resilience, flexibility, and cross-platform support while consolidating IP protection and license automation under one strategic roof.

Stéphan Hausoul, Vision System Supervisor, Euresys
“With CodeMeter, we finally have a unified solution that protects our software on both Windows and Linux while enabling a flexible licensing model that matches our customers’ needs. Whether online or fully offline, using dongles or software licenses, the system just works – reliably, securely, and for the long haul. It’s a cornerstone of how we deliver trust and longevity in industrial automation.”

The Company

Founded in 1989 in Liège, Belgium, Euresys is a leading designer and provider of image and video acquisition components, including frame grabbers, image analysis software, and FPGA IP Cores. Active in computer and machine vision, factory automation, and medical imaging, the company offers expertise in analog and digital video acquisition, FPGA programming, high frequency electronics, video compression, and camera control. Euresys operates globally, with its subsidiary Sensor to Image specializing in FPGA-based vision IP.

From IP Security to Modular Licensing: How Euresys Future-Proofed Vision Software with CodeMeter

As a trusted supplier to the semiconductor, factory automation, and medical imaging industries, Euresys has built its reputation on delivering reliable, high-performance tools that form the backbone of modern machine vision. Over the decades, the company has transitioned from camera hardware to advanced software libraries like Open eVision Studio, offering critical functions such as pattern recognition, measurement, and image analysis to industrial clients worldwide.

These software solutions are deployed in demanding environments where unplanned downtime is not an option. In such contexts, licensing and protection mechanisms must not only guard against IP theft but also enable smooth, resilient, and flexible operation – even in offline or long-life machinery. The need for a consolidated, cross-platform solution became especially urgent as Euresys expanded support to Linux and other embedded industrial platforms.

Before adopting Wibu-Systems’ CodeMeter technology, Euresys relied on a fragmented approach involving multiple external tools. While this setup had served its purpose in the Windows-only era, it began to show its limitations with the company’s growing ambitions and shifting market dynamics. A single system that could offer comprehensive IP protection and robust licensing workflows – on Windows, Linux, and beyond – was essential.

Unified Protection and Licensing Across Platforms

Wibu-Systems delivered that exact convergence. With AxProtector, Euresys gained a means of encrypting and shielding its software binaries, and with two dedicated lines of CodeMeter License Central – one for testing and one for production – they ensured a seamless path from development to operational delivery. The integration of CodeMeter License Central, hosted by WOPS, enabled centralized, automated license creation and distribution, reducing overhead and increasing responsiveness.

Equally important was CodeMeter’s ability to support both donglebased and software-based licenses. While CmActLicense covers software-bound use cases, the industrial sector – especially in Asia – still favors hardware dongles. For good reason: They offer unmatched resilience in mission-critical environments. In the event of a failure, a replacement dongle can be shipped and used immediately, minimizing operational risk. Euresys today ships between 10,000 and 20,000 dongles annually, with most licenses delivered as feature-based modular packages or perpetual licenses valid for 15 to 20 years.

Meeting the Demands of Offline and Security-Critical Environments

The licensing system also had to accommodate strict offline requirements. Many of Euresys’ customers operate air-gapped systems. To meet their needs, Euresys established a secure two-stage process: a machinespecific fingerprint is generated offline, the license is retrieved via a connected system running CodeMeter License Central, and the activation is completed locally via a protected dongle. This design ensures that even in disconnected environments, the software remains secure and only available to authorized users.

To further streamline operations, Euresys developed a custom license manager via CodeMeter Software Activation Wizard (SAW), providing a tailored interface for managing license activation and transfer. This system enforces that only Euresys-issued dongles are compatible, maintaining a closed, secure ecosystem while avoiding reliance on generic web portals. With Wibu-Systems, Euresys has successfully unified software protection and license management, gaining the agility and robustness required to support innovation in the industrial automation space. This long-standing collaboration illustrates how advanced IP protection, thoughtful licensing strategies, and long-term product vision can come together to drive lasting success – for both technology provider and customer.