PlantStream – Japan – Plant Design

PlantStream is transforming the industrial plant design process through its innovative 3D CAD system with automatic piping routing. By integrating precise automation and robust software protection, PlantStream accelerates engineering workflows while safeguarding intellectual property.

The Challenge

PlantStream faced both commercial and technical hurdles as they prepared for their global launch. Commercially, the company aimed to expand beyond the domestic Japanese market, necessitating robust security measures to prevent unauthorized use as product adoption grew. Technically, PlantStream’s automatic routing tool is often deployed across multiple users within organizations, many of which could not–or would not–install a traditional license server due to internal security policies or lack of dedicated IT support. Additionally, the team needed to monitor license consumption accurately, simplify license distribution and activation, and integrate license management seamlessly with PlantStream’s internal systems to automate workflows from deployment through invoicing.

The Solution

To address these challenges, PlantStream implemented Wibu Systems’ CodeMeter technology, leveraging both cloud-based and file based licensing to provide flexible, secure protection. By using CmCloud along with CodeMeter License Central and WebDepot, PlantStream offered instant demo licenses to prospects, monitored feature usage with daily (T-1) reports, and extended evaluation periods on demand. For organizations unable to maintain continuous connectivity, CmActLicense provided an offline alternative. AxProtector .NET ensured comprehensive encryption of PlantStream’s C# application, while seamless integration with CodeMeter License Central streamlined license lifecycle management, from issuance to renewal and invoicing.

The Results

The deployment of CodeMeter delivered immediate benefits. PlantStream reduced the Feasibility Study (FS) and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phases by approximately 75% thanks to its automatic routing–processing around 1,000 pipes in a minute-while ensuring enterprise grade protection against unauthorized use and tampering. License reporting via CodeMeter License Reporting enabled the team to propose additional licenses based on usage data, driving upsell opportunities. Global customers received instant, hassle free activation without server installation, increasing satisfaction and accelerating time to revenue. By automating renewals and leveraging cloud based reporting, PlantStream eliminated manual steps and achieved a more efficient, scalable licensing operation.

Kazuhisa Horita, Customer Success Manager, PlantStream
“PlantStream is a 3D CAD software with automatic piping routing, so expectations were high from domestic and international designers. CodeMeter’s cloud licensing let us see which features and how much each prospective customer used during evaluations, enabling us to extend demos, issue extra seats, and optimize pre sales. Looking ahead, we plan to use cloud cache to maintain offline access, ensuring seamless workflows even without connectivity.”

The Company

PlantStream Inc. was founded in Japan in 2020 as a joint venture between Arent Inc. and EPC contractor Chiyoda Corporation. Since April 2025, it has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Arent Inc., dedicated to developing and distributing the 3D CAD software PlantStream. Built in C#, this Windows-based system automates piping routing, streamlines plant design workflows across industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, and empowers engineers to focus on creative tasks.

Automated Routing Meets Enterprise Level Protection: Combined PlantStream and CodeMeter Advantage

Overview of PlantStream and Its Core Innovation

PlantStream Inc. represents a strategic partnership between EPC contractor Chiyoda Corporation and CAD engineering startup Arent Corporation. As a Windows based application developed in C#, their PlantStream software offers an intuitive interface that caters to plant designers across multiple industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, and pharmaceuticals. Its core innovation–automatic piping routing–can process approximately 1,000 pipes per minute, reducing the FS/FEED phase by roughly 75% and enabling engineering teams to focus on high value design decisions. The integrated 3D model grants a holistic view of complex piping networks, fostering real time collaboration among design teams and with procurement, construction, and safety departments.

Hybrid Protection and Licensing Model

To secure this cutting edge tool and support global distribution, PlantStream turned to Wibu Systems’ CodeMeter technology for comprehensive encryption and flexible licensing. AxProtector .NET encrypts the C# application binary to guard against reverse engineering and tampering, all without requiring changes to PlantStream’s source code. On the licensing front, PlantStream implemented a hybrid model: CmCloud licenses delivered via CodeMeter License Central and WebDepot for instant cloud based activation, and CmActLicense for file based licenses in low connectivity environments. This approach addressed internal IT policies that preclude on premise license server installations, as well as organizations lacking dedicated IT staff. License distribution is as simple as drag and drop, and customers receive immediate access, boosting satisfaction and accelerating time to revenue.

Streamlined Operations and Business Impact

Usage reporting via CodeMeter License Reporting empowers PlantStream’s licensing administrators to monitor feature level utilization and seat counts, driving targeted upselling and accurate license inventory management. Automated renewal workflows reduce administrative overhead by seamlessly extending subscription licenses without any customer action. Integration with PlantStream’s internal ERP and CRM systems lays the foundation for end to end automation of license issuance, renewal invoicing, and revenue recognition.

PlantStream relied on CodeMeter to provide enterprise grade protection, intuitive licensing, and seamless global deployment. By combining cloud-based CmCloud licenses with filebased CmActLicenses in a single source codefree configuration, PlantStream reduced development overhead. Customers activate licenses by drag and drop; administrators handle renewals via CodeMeter License Central’s web portal. CmCloud’s cache feature ensures offline access, and Daily (T-1) usage analytics drive targeted upsell opportunities. The implementation also utilized Web-Depot for secure license file delivery.

By integrating CodeMeter License Central with PlantStream’s ERP and CRM systems, PlantStream automated license issuance, renewal invoicing, and analytics reporting, further simplifying operations. No end user intervention is required for subscription extensions, ensuring continuous productivity and minimizing support inquiries.

CodeMeter’s reliability boosted PlantStream’s confidence. The synergy between PlantStream’s high performance 3D design capabilities and CodeMeter’s proven security infrastructure yields an unparalleled solution for industrial plant design. Users benefit from accelerated workflows, robust protection against unauthorized use, and the flexibility to operate both online and offline.

From a commercial perspective, PlantStream now confidently addresses global markets with scalable licensing and top tier security. Technically, the solution overcomes licensing server constraints and simplifies operations for both vendors and end users. Ultimately, the combined PlantStream and CodeMeter solution not only enhances productivity but also strengthens software asset management for plant designers worldwide.