The extraction and processing of raw material, metals and minerals is heavily mechanised, with equipment potentially subject to several CE marking directives, in particular the Machinery Directive. Additionally, site and operator safety are important aspects of any extraction operation, with requirements for work equipment (PUWER) and protection from physical agents (noise, vibration, electromagnetic fields, optical radiation, etc.).
Conformance can advise and guide you on all the product safety requirements likely to apply to your equipment or process.
- Initial consultation to assess your requirements and decide how we can help.
- Identify the directives and standards which apply to your product.
- 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 when you need it.
Our Recent Experience in the Industry Includes:
- Mineral conveyors
- Powder production and milling
- Steel casting, rolling & processing
- Kiln control systems
- Metal powder manufacturing
- Underground machinery
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need to CE Mark my machinery?
Potentially, any piece of equipment with powered moving parts will need to be CE marked under the Machinery Directive. Our free initial consultation will confirm which directives apply to your products.
How do I know if my product complies?
In most cases the best way to judge whether or not a machine complies with the Directive is to check it against the relevant Harmonised standards. We can perform an assessment of the machinery 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 product?
There are many thousands of standards, some of which are for specific types of machine but others which are for general machinery safety or give guidance on how to deal with particular hazards or common machine features. There will always be some standards which can be applied. We will help you to identify which are the best ones to use.
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 machinery to make it comply but there are some circumstances where you can ignore the content of the standards and focus solely on the Essential Requirements of the Directive. We will advise which approach is best for your circumstances.
Do I need to get my product approved?
Most products can be self-certified without needing to be inspected or tested by an external body. We will identify whether your product needs notified body 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 need us to fill it in for you, 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?
The Directive says that 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 machine 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.
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.