In response to the technological evolution trend of digital interconnection and intelligent Machinery in Europe, the European Union has issued a new machinery safety Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which will replace the current EU machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and become the most important laws and regulations in terms of machinery safety. After a 42-month transition period, the regulation will be enforced in January 2027.

REM545AG228AAAA After the transition period, the new machinery regulations will apply to all companies that design, manufacture and sell machinery within the EU, and machinery exported to the EU must also meet the requirements of the machinery regulations.

It’s a regulation, not a directive

(EU) 2023/1230 Machinery Regulation, please note that it is the Machinery Regulation!

Compared to the current Machinery Directive, it is clearly “upgraded”, increasing legal certainty and facilitating the interpretation and implementation of EU-wide consistency.

Changes to the EU’s new machinery regulations

The Machinery regulations provide a clearer scope for machinery manufacturers on how to REM545AG228AAAA deal with major changes to their machines and which machines are subject to inspection, in addition to taking into account the growing importance of digitization and industrial information security, the machinery regulations set out requirements for the cybersecurity of products and digital instructions. On the basis of the original machinery, the machinery regulations also cover “relevant products”.

• Machines that require third-party inspection

The list of machines to be inspected has been “transferred” from Appendix IV of the original Machinery Directive to Appendix I of the Machinery Regulation, and for high-risk machines included in the list in Part A, mandatory inspection and certification by a third party is required. In the future, there will be six types of machines that need to be inspected, and due to the current development of artificial intelligence, even models with harmonized standards are not exempt from the obligation of inspection. For the six listed products, machine manufacturers can no longer self-declare compliance with harmonized standards as before, and a designated certification body must be involved.

• Major changes

REM545AG228AAAA The scope of application of machinery legislation is extended to include the definition of substantial modifications to machinery and the legal consequences of such modifications. If the machine is significantly modified or changes occur that affect the machine’s compliance with the statutory provisions of the CE marking, a conformity assessment procedure for the safety of the machine is required. If a major modification of the machine occurs, the user becomes the manufacturer and assumes all obligations.
• Safety components

The definition of security components in addition to the traditional sense of hardware, software is also covered.
• The emergence of new digital technologies

With the advent of artificial intelligence, network and robotics, product safety is facing new challenges. Safety risks arising from the advent of new digital technologies are also mentioned in the machinery regulations.

It’s never too early to adapt to mechanical regulations

Although the mechanical regulations will not be enforced until 2027, for users, the REM545AG228AAAA earlier they plan, the smaller the cost of transition, especially for some projects with longer processes and cycles. If you can take into account the requirements of mechanical regulations when the machine is designed, prepare for the fulfillment of after-sales tracking obligations and later maintenance (such as security patches), then when the deadline comes, you can easily achieve “painless connection”, and your heart is naturally happy…

In order to help our users better adapt to the requirements of mechanical regulations, PILZ has taken early action. From 2024 onwards, all training courses involving CE related content, such as CECE-Certified Expert of CE Marking or CMSE-Certified Machinery Safety Expert, etc. Both will be trained in the relevant new expertise required to complete CE certification in accordance with EU machinery regulations, and for the first time PILZ will also offer CECE recertification courses based on the latest content.

In addition, in the risk assessment, safety verification and other businesses, Pierre magnetic will also consider the new requirements of mechanical regulations, and users to explore potential solutions.