STANDARD & LEGISLATION - UCIF Informs
The Machinery Directive and the Update of the Guideline Marcello Zinno UCIF – Italian Surface Treatment Equipment Manufacturers’ Association, Milan, Italy
O
info@ucif.net
ne of the most important
description in the Directive) and of all
The recipients of the guide are
European directives for
other cases, like, for example, with ‘almost
therefore all subjects interested in the
the member companies of
machines’.
application of the Machinery Directive:
the ANIMA Federation and the UCIF
This is why the guideline written and
manufacturers, importers, distributors,
association within it is certainly the
published by the Machinery Working
notified bodies, standardisation bodies,
Machinery Directive, which aims at
Group of the European Commission is of
and national authorities.
ensuring the safety of machines placed
fundamental importance for companies.
In particular, this new update of the
on the market within the borders of
Aimed at clarifying the interpretation
second edition of the guide contains a
the European Union. The social cost
of the directive and now in its second
series of corrections and clarifications
linked to the high number of injuries
edition, the document is being constantly
relating to “safety components”. Some
caused directly by the use of machines
updated precisely due to the complexity
changes have also been introduced to
can be reduced by integrating safety
of the matter. In fact, two years after
ensure consistency with the LVD guide
in the design and construction of
the publication of the Version 2.1 of the
relating to the Low Voltage Directive
plants themselves and by carrying out
“Guide to application of the Machinery
2014/35/EE (§90). Finally, two new
correct installation and maintenance
Directive 2006/42/EC,” in October 2019
paragraphs have been added about
operations. Obviously, there is a great
a new update, i.e. the Version 2.2, was
machine control units (§417) and safety
variety of machines on the market and
published. This guide helps understand
components considered as logical
the developments in the mechanics
the concepts and requirements of the
units (§418).
sector have made it more complicated
Directive 2006/42/EC and standardise its
The guideline is available for free:
to define the concept of ‘machine’ for
interpretation and application throughout
please contact UCIF or ANIMA to
legal purposes (despite the very clear
the European Union.
receive a copy.
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N. 60 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 - international PAINT&COATING magazine