CE Marking & EU Machinery Directive for Roll Forming Equipment

Complete Compliance Guide for Roll Forming Machines in the European Union

Roll forming machines placed on the market or put into service within the European Union must comply with European machinery safety legislation. CE marking is not optional — it is a legal requirement for new machinery entering the EU market.

If you manufacture, import, modify, or resell roll forming equipment within the EU, you may carry legal responsibility for compliance.

This guide explains:

What CE marking means
The EU Machinery Directive framework
Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSR)
Risk assessment requirements
Technical documentation obligations
Conformity assessment process
Responsibilities of manufacturers and importers
Common compliance failures

This applies to roofing panel lines, purlin machines, decking systems, stud & track lines, slitting lines, and cut-to-length equipment.

1. What Is CE Marking?

CE marking indicates that machinery complies with applicable European Union legislation and meets required safety, health, and environmental standards.

For roll forming machines, CE marking confirms:

A risk assessment has been completed
Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSR) have been met
A technical file exists
A Declaration of Conformity has been issued
The machine is safe when properly installed and used

CE marking allows free movement of machinery within the EU single market.

2. The EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC)

The primary legislation governing roll forming machines in the EU is:

Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC

This directive sets out:

Essential Health & Safety Requirements
Conformity assessment procedures
Manufacturer obligations
Documentation requirements

It applies to:

New machinery
Substantially modified machinery
Imported machinery placed on EU market

Roll forming machines clearly fall within its scope.

3. Who Is Legally Responsible for CE Compliance?

Responsibility depends on role.

Manufacturer

Must:

Design machine safely
Conduct risk assessment
Compile technical file
Issue Declaration of Conformity
Affix CE marking

Importer

If importing from outside the EU:

Must ensure machine complies
May assume manufacturer liability if documentation absent

Modifier / Integrator

If significantly modifying machine:

May be considered “new manufacturer”
Must re-assess and potentially re-certify

Liability can shift depending on circumstances.

4. Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSR)

The Machinery Directive requires machines to meet Essential Health & Safety Requirements including:

Mechanical Safety

Guarding of moving parts
Prevention of access to hazard zones
Safe stability and structural integrity

Electrical Safety

Protection against electric shock
Proper grounding
Safe control systems

Hydraulic & Pneumatic Safety

Pressure relief systems
Hose protection
Controlled movement

Control System Safety

Safe start/stop functions
Emergency stop systems
Prevention of unexpected restart
Safety-related control systems

Ergonomic & Environmental Safety

Noise reduction
Safe access points
Maintenance access considerations

5. Risk Assessment Requirements

A formal risk assessment is mandatory under the Machinery Directive.

Risk assessment must:

Identify hazards
Estimate risk level
Implement risk reduction measures
Verify residual risk

Hazards must include:

Coil handling
Rotating shafts
Shear blade systems
Hydraulic pressure
Electrical panel exposure
Maintenance access

Risk assessment must be documented and retained.

6. Harmonised Standards for Roll Forming Machines

Compliance is often demonstrated by applying harmonised European standards such as:

EN ISO 12100 – Risk Assessment & Risk Reduction
EN 60204-1 – Electrical Equipment of Machines
EN ISO 13849 – Safety-related control systems

Applying harmonised standards provides presumption of conformity.

7. Technical File Requirements

The manufacturer must compile a technical file including:

General machine description
Design drawings
Circuit diagrams
Risk assessment
Calculations
Test results
Instruction manual
Declaration of Conformity

Technical file must be available for authorities upon request.

It does not need to be submitted automatically but must exist.

8. Declaration of Conformity

A legally required document that includes:

Manufacturer details
Machine identification
Applicable directives
Harmonised standards used
Signature of responsible person

Without this declaration, CE marking is invalid.

9. CE Marking Plate Requirements

Machine must display:

CE mark
Manufacturer name
Serial number
Year of manufacture
Model identification

Marking must be permanent and visible.

10. Used & Imported Roll Forming Machines in the EU

If a used machine is:

Sold within EU without major modification → May not require new CE marking
Imported from outside EU → Must comply before being placed on market
Substantially modified → May require re-certification

Common issues with imported machines:

Inadequate guarding
No safety relay
No technical file
Poor documentation
Missing Declaration of Conformity

Importers can assume full legal liability.

11. Common CE Compliance Failures in Roll Forming Equipment

No documented risk assessment
Missing technical file
No Declaration of Conformity
Safety circuits wired through standard PLC
Inadequate guarding
No emergency stop reset protocol

These are serious legal risks.

12. Interaction with National Authorities

Each EU member state has enforcement authorities responsible for machinery safety inspections.

They may:

Request documentation
Inspect machine on site
Suspend operation
Impose penalties

Non-compliant machinery can be removed from market.

13. Control System Safety in CE Context

Safety-related parts of control systems must:

Be designed to appropriate performance level (PL)
Include redundancy
Include fault detection

Emergency stop and interlocks must not rely solely on standard PLC logic.

14. Maintenance & CE Compliance

CE compliance is not one-time certification.

Ongoing obligations include:

Maintaining safety features
Not bypassing interlocks
Updating documentation after modification
Conducting periodic risk reviews

Significant modification may require re-certification.

15. CE Compliance Checklist for Roll Forming Machines

Before placing machine on EU market:

☐ Risk assessment completed
☐ Essential Health & Safety Requirements addressed
☐ Harmonised standards applied
☐ Technical file compiled
☐ Declaration of Conformity signed
☐ CE marking affixed
☐ Instruction manual provided

16. Differences Between CE & Other Regions

CE marking:

Focuses on manufacturer conformity
Requires technical file
Requires Declaration of Conformity
Allows EU-wide market access

Unlike U.S. OSHA system, CE focuses heavily on pre-market conformity assessment.

17. Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance

Penalties may include:

Market withdrawal
Sales prohibition
Financial penalties
Criminal liability in severe cases

Liability can extend to importers and distributors.

18. How Machine Matcher Supports CE Compliance

Machine Matcher provides:

CE compliance gap analysis
Risk assessment documentation support
Used machine inspection reports
Retrofit safety upgrade guidance
Technical documentation assistance

We assist manufacturers and importers across the EU in ensuring roll forming equipment meets Machinery Directive requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CE marking mandatory for roll forming machines in the EU?

Yes. New machinery placed on the EU market must carry valid CE marking.

Does CE apply to used machines?

Used machines already within the EU may not require new CE marking unless significantly modified.

Who is responsible if documentation is missing?

The importer or entity placing the machine on the market may assume legal responsibility.

Is a risk assessment required?

Yes. A documented risk assessment is mandatory.

Does CE guarantee machine safety?

CE indicates conformity with legal requirements, but ongoing maintenance and safe use are still required.

Can a distributor affix CE marking?

Only the manufacturer or authorized representative can legally issue CE marking and Declaration of Conformity.

What happens if a machine fails inspection?

Authorities may prohibit use or remove the machine from the market.

Is technical file submitted automatically?

No, but it must be available upon request by authorities.

Final Summary

CE marking and compliance with the EU Machinery Directive are mandatory for roll forming machines placed on the EU market.

Compliance requires:

Formal risk assessment
Application of harmonised standards
Technical documentation
Declaration of Conformity
Proper machine marking
Ongoing safety maintenance

Failure to comply can result in legal liability, financial penalties, and removal from the market.

A structured CE compliance system protects:

Workers
Manufacturers
Importers
Business operations