CE Marking 
for Machines

Machines with a CE marking comply with the requirements of the European Union directives. This marking is a prerequisite for the sale and operation of machines, which is why this regulation applies in all EU countries.

According to Article 114 of the EU treaties, the manufacturers of the products mentioned in the following directives are affected:

• Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
• Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EC
• ATEX Directive 2014/34/EC
• EMC Directive 2014/30/EC
• Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC
• Simple Pressure Vessels Directive 2009/105/EC
• Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC

... and, according to Article 153, the operators with regard to the aspects of the

• Occupational Health and Safety Framework Directive 89/391/EEC
• Work Equipment Directive 89/655/EEC
• ATEX Operating Directive 1999/92/EC

In addition to protection targets for machinery, the EU Machinery Directive also defines areas of application and assessment procedures. Harmonized standards help with implementation.

Suitable standards exist, among other things, for

• the risk assessment procedure (assessment, mitigation, evaluation),
• the evaluation of safety functions and
• the implementation of safety requirements.

The prerequisite for CE marking is a manufacturer's declaration of conformity. This officially confirms that the product (in our case the machine) complies with the requirements of all EU directives applicable to the product. The declaration of conformity must be documented in detail by the manufacturer. In the case of the Machinery Directive, this includes the risk assessment, the technical documentation and the operating instructions for the machine.

In Germany, the Product Safety Act (ProdSG) applies. According to this law, the "person placing the product on the market" is liable. According to § 2 ProdSG, persons or companies who make a product or machine available on the market for the first time are those who place it on the market. Operators can also become manufacturers if they substantially modify machines, assemble systems or complete machines. Anyone who imports machines from outside the EU is also responsible for conformity with the directive and is liable accordingly.

Basically, the EU Directive 2006/42/EC applies to

• Machinery
• Replaceable equipment
• Safety components
• Load handling attachments
• Chains, ropes and belts
• Removable cardan shafts
• Incomplete machines