CE Marking
All machines sold in the European Economic Area (EEA) from January 1st 1995, must comply with the Machinery Directive and be safe.
There are few exclusions to the Directive making this one of the most significant of all the New Approach Directives.
The scope of the Machinery Directive defines a machine as the following:
- An assembly of linked parts of components, at least one of which moves, with the appropriate actuators, control and power circuits, joined together for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving or packaging of a material.
- An assembly of machines which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole.
- Attachments that are sold separately from the main machine and designed to be changed regularly by the operator.
Safety components for machinery, described as:
- Components which are supplied separately to fulfill a safety function when in use and the failure or malfunctioning of which endangers the safety or health of exposed persons.
There are 5 main steps to CE Marking a machine.
For most machinery (other than those listed in Annex IV of the Directive), the compliance route is Self-Declaration. Machinery that is listed in Annex IV has to be approved by a Notified Body.
Laidler Certification is a Notified Body for the Machinery Directive and can complete the conformity assessment procedure.
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