Wibu-Systems’ CmStick/B wins iF DESIGN AWARD 2019

Wibu-Systems is a winner of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2019, the prestigious design prize organized each year by the world’s oldest independent design organization, the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH. Wibu-Systems won the award for its secure hardware element CmStick/B, in the Computer category of the Product discipline.

The competition was intense: over 6,400 entries were submitted from 50 countries in the hopes of receiving this respected seal of quality. At the end of the selection process, the jury consisting of 67 international independent experts awarded CmStick/B the prize for its unique innovation, functionality, and aesthetics traits.

CmStick/B is the most elegant, compact, and sturdy license and cryptographic key container of the entire CodeMeter portfolio. The pared-down, yet sophisticated design meets the rising demand for software monetization and cybersecurity solutions generated by Industrie 4.0. The use of SIP (System-in-Package) technology allows the USB connector to be integrated into the metal housing of the dongle itself, making the unit more resilient to mechanical shocks in rugged environments. All components (security controller, optional flash memory and its controller) are qualified for use on the shop floor.

CmStick/B belongs to a subdivision of Wibu-Systems’ comprehensive spectrum of hardware secure elements, which includes CmStick/BMC, the variant with MLC (multi-level-cell) flash memory, and CmStick/BMI, the version with pSLC (pseudo-single-level-cell) flash memory. While all three units have their robust and stylish metal casing in common, each of them serves a specific market niche, from commercial to industrial use. The three products are part of a highly diversified lineup of license containers that comprises several other USB sticks, secure memory cards, and ASICs.

CmStick/B can be seen first-hand at Wibu-Systems’ exhibit (hall 4, booth 360) at the forthcoming edition of Embedded World, Nuremberg, Germany, February 26 to 28. Immediately following the award ceremony, taking place on March 15th at BMW Welt, Munich, Germany, CmStick/B will go on display for three months at the iF Design Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, and will be featured in the “Design Excellence” section of the iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE.

Oliver Winzenried, CEO and co-founder of Wibu-Systems, explains why design should never be underestimated: “The design phase of a new product is one of the most exciting moments in the lifetime of any new device: market expectations and technological constraints are paired with usability, functionality, and aesthetics. Dongles have been around for three decades. With CmStick/B and the other variants of this series, we wanted to reinvent the concept of dongles, find the ideal compromise in terms of size, and offer durability and robustness to business and industrial customers alike. Winning the iF DESIGN AWARD 2019 fills us with pride and underlines the importance of always investing into research and development”.