1 Fluid power components and their classification with regard to the Machinery Directive
This CETOP Position Paper refers to the following products which are covered by the Machinery Directive:
- Machinery
- Partly completed machinery
-Safety components
Insofar as they fall into the above-mentioned categories, fluid power components are to be classified as described in chapters 1.1 – 1.3. Chapter 1.4 describes the fluid power components which are not covered by the Directive.
1.1 Machinery
The fluid power components listed below are to be treated as machinery within the meaning of the Machinery Directive:
- Vacuum pumps
- Modules (e.g. feeder units, rotary indexing tables, hydraulic test benches, preassembly machines, hose swaging/crimping machines) if they are placed on the market as ready to use units for a special application
- Ready to use (stand-alone) hydraulic power units for a specific application (e. g. filling or cleaning) designed for temporary coupling to fluid systems.
1.2 Partly completed machinery
The fluid power components listed in 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 are not machinery, because they are not assembled for a special application.
They are, however, partly completed machinery, as they are nearly machinery and fulfil the criteria of the first bullet point in article 2, para. a) except for being assembled for a special application, i.e.:
- They consist of several parts, at least one of which moves
- They are fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system
- They cannot in itself perform a specific application
- They are intended only to be incorporated into (partly completed) machinery
1.2.1 Partly completed pneumatic machinery
A partly completed pneumatic machine is an arrangement of several modules or components with frame, actuator and power control valve which is not ready to be used, e. g. feeder units and rotary indexing tables intended to be incorporated into or assembled with other machinery or other partly completed machinery to build an assembly line.
1.2.2 Partly completed hydraulic machinery
In accordance with article 2 g) a drive system is partly completed machinery. Accordingly, a hydraulic power unit, e. g. consisting of tank, prime mover, pump, hydraulic controls and possibly a hydraulic accumulator, is to be treated as partly completed machinery.