The food and drink industry relies heavily on electro-mechanical equipment and production lines for both manufacturing and packaging. As with most other machinery, CE marking is required to ensure machine safety and operator protection.
We can help ensure your food processing machinery complies with the applicable directives, from the individual machine level right through to the entire processing and packaging operation.
- Initial consultation to assess your requirements and decide how we can help.
- Identify the directives and standards which apply.
- Conduct a design review to verify compliance with the applicable requirements.
- Provide you with a report outlining areas of non-compliance and advice to help you rectify them.
- Help to compile a Technical File which contains the information required by the directives.
- Provide a draft Declaration of Conformity and help you complete it.
- Offer follow up advice, as and when required.
Our recent industry experience includes:
- Snack food production
- Industrial meat processing
- Canteen equipment
- Coffee vending machines
- Beverage dispensers
- Bottling machinery
- Pumps for foodstuffs
- Form, fill and seal machines
- Kitchen machines
- Band saws for meat processing
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need To CE Mark My Equipment?
Very likely. Equipment with powered moving parts and/or electrical systems will need to be CE marked under one or more directives, which covers most food production equipment. Our free initial consultation will confirm which particular directives apply.
How do I know if my product complies?
In most cases, the best way to judge whether or not equipment complies with the directives is to check it against the relevant Harmonised Standards. We can perform an assessment of the equipment for you, or we can provide you with checklists and other resources so you can do your own assessment.
What do I do if there aren't any standards for my equipment?
There are many thousands of standards, some of which are for specific types of equipment but others which deal with general equipment safety or give guidance on how to deal with particular hazards or common features. There will always be some standards that can be applied, which we will help you to identify.
What do I need to do if my product does not comply with the standards?
Usually, the best thing to do is to modify the equipment to make it comply. In some circumstances you can focus on the Essential Requirements of the Directives, as long as you provide an equivalent level of safety to the approach of the standards. We will advise which approach is best for your circumstances.
Do I need to get my equipment approved?
Most equipment can be self-certified without needing to be inspected or tested by an external body. However, some types of hazardous equipment (e.g. band saws for meat processing) may require notified body approval. We will identify whether your equipment needs approval and assist you in getting the certification if you need it.
How can I get a declaration of conformity for my product?
You can buy formats for your Declarations in our online shop. If you would like us to help you complete it, please contact us.
How do I complete a Technical File?
Technical Files need to contain all the information which shows that your claim to comply with the directives and standards is justified. We can identify what you need for your technical file and can even compile it for you if you need us to.
How do I apply the CE mark to my product?
In general, the CE mark must be “affixed in the immediate vicinity of the name of the manufacturer or his authorised representative, using the same technique”. Generally, we'd advise that it goes on the equipment's data plate, alongside the manufacturer's name and address. We will advise on the contents for the data plate and any other machine markings.
You can find the answers to many more CE marking questions in our knowledgebase.
Other relevant products and services we offer
Online shop
Our shop allows you to purchase a range of useful resources such as self-certification packs, checklists and declaration formats.
Prepaid Consultancy Time
You can purchase consultancy from our online shop in blocks of 30 or 60 minutes to provide quick help when you need it.
Training
Our machinery training covers the requirements of the Machinery Directive and how to ensure your machinery complies. We also do more basic 'introduction to CE marking' courses.
Design assistance
We can assist with interpreting the requirements of the directives and standards and applying them to your products. We can also draft instruction manuals, check the content of product labels, data plates, and packaging.
Technical files
If you are unsure what technical documentation you need to show compliance with the Directives we can provide contents lists and formats for compiling and storing the information.
Self-assessment materials
You will find checklists and formats for risk assessment in our online shop. We have many other checklists and report formats which are not in the shop - please contact us if you are looking for something specific and can't find it.
On-site inspection/assessment
We will visit your works to inspect and assess your machinery and identify any areas which do not comply with the applicable directives and standards.
Self certification guides
We provide guides which identify the applicable directives and standards for your product and all the other information you will need to do your own assessments. Every guide is tailored to your specific requirements and includes detailed information on how to do the assessment, checklists and formats for recording the results and a draft of the Declaration of Conformity you will need to sign when the process is complete.
Control system analysis
Analysis of the reliability of controls (e.g. emergency stops and guard interlocks) can be complex and difficult, particularly where there are significant numbers of safety-related control functions. Our machinery experts are experienced in conducting functional analysis of machines and systems and can help you navigate complex standards such as EN ISO 13849 and EN 62061 which apply to machinery.