Many companies regard CE Marking of Machinery as further legislative and financial burdens, to be ignored if possible.  This is a mistake - CE marking of Machinery is primarily about safety, and in practice should not only protect people using and maintaining the equipment but it should save companies money.  In simple terms, it is about placing a different emphasis on safety than existed prior to CE marking.  The 'pre-CE marking way' was to focus on the functionality, then design and build the machine, and only on completion to begin thinking about 'bolting on' some guards to safeguard against all the hazards which had been created.  The CE marking way is to define the functionality, then to use hazard and risk assessment throughout the design process with the objective of eliminating (or reducing to an acceptable level), hazards at the design stage before they are created. By referencing the relevant conformance standards and by the use of calculation where appropriate, the machine technical file will be complied to demonstrate compliance with relevant directives. This more enlightened approach produces not only a safer machine but is much more cost effective.  With regard to new machinery, attempting to 'bolt-on' safeguarding as an afterthought will never be as effective, let alone being illegal, with severe penalties for those foolish enough to continue with this outdated method.

Equipment designed and manufactured by IDESS Ltd complies with current relevant safety legislation, and is CE marked accordingly. In practice this usually means compliance with:

The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC, The Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, (amended by 93/68/EEC), other relevant Directives (such as the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC [currently being replaced by the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Regulations 2005]).

Note: The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC has been implemented in the UK via The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/3073) as amended by The Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/2063), and the Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/831). The Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC (amended by 93/68/EEC) has been implemented in the UK via The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 SI 1994 No. 3260. The LV directive applies to all electrical equipment for use between the voltages of 50-1000Vac or 75-1500Vdc.

This legislation is fully in force and is mandatory throughout the UK and EEA (i.e. EU plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland)  for all products supplied after 1st January 1996, including equipment designed and built 'in-house' for 'company internal' use. In the UK the HSE are increasing enforcement action against companies who choose to ignore this legislation, and those 'getting caught', are finding that claiming ignorance is no defence.

To view the HSE's web site follow these links: www.hse.gov.uk/   or   http://www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions/default.asp