{"id":5482,"date":"2023-06-15T12:17:27","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T10:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maschinenkanzlei.de\/manufacturer-in-the-sense-of-the-machinery-directive\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:14:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:14:32","slug":"manufacturer-machinery-directive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maschinenkanzlei.de\/en\/manufacturer-machinery-directive\/","title":{"rendered":"Manufacturer in the sense of the Machinery Directive"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What is this article about?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A manufacturer within the meaning of the Machinery Directive<\/a> 2006\/42\/EC plays a central role in ensuring that machines and safety-related components placed on the market in the European Union comply with the specified safety requirements. The Machinery Directive, which came into force in 2006, is designed to protect users<\/a> from potential hazards associated with the use of machinery. It defines clear responsibilities for manufacturers and other economic operators such as importers and distributors. <\/p>

This article explains who is considered a manufacturer within the meaning of the Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC<\/a> , what obligations they have and the importance of this role for the safety of machinery and compliance with EU law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Who is a manufacturer within the meaning of the Machinery Directive?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to the definition in the Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC, a manufacturer<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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any natural or legal person who is responsible for the development, design or manufacture of machinery or an incomplete product and places it on the market under his own name or trademark.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This means that the person or company that places the machine or component on the market is considered the manufacturer \u2013 regardless of whether they manufactured the product themselves or had it manufactured by a third party.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Key points of the definition<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  1. Natural or legal person: A manufacturer can be either an individual (natural person) or a company (legal person). Thus, anyone who designs, manufactures or places machinery on the market can fall within the scope of the Machinery Directive. <\/li>
  2. Own brand or name: It is crucial that the machine is brought to market under the manufacturer’s name or brand. Even if a company has the machine produced by a third party, as the brand owner it bears full responsibility for compliance with safety requirements. <\/li><\/ol>

    3. Placing on the market: ‘Placing on the market’ means the first distribution of the machine in the European Union. The moment a machine is made available – whether by sale, rental, leasing or any other distribution model – it is considered to be ‘placed on the market’ and the manufacturer must ensure that all relevant safety requirements are met. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Obligations of the manufacturer under the Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The Machinery Directive sets out extensive obligations for manufacturers to ensure that machines are placed on the market safely and in accordance with legal requirements. The most important obligations include: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    safety requirements<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The manufacturer must ensure that the machine meets all the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive. These requirements cover various aspects of the machine design, including: <\/p>