Industrial robot systems range from small cobots to mobile robots to large plants, e.g. in automotive manufacturing. For labelling, to all of them the same legal and standard requirements apply. These are, for example, markings on the type plate or warning signs.
Why is marking so important? Marking allows the maintenance personnel, for example, to identify the machine precisely and assign it to the corresponding documents such as instructions or circuit diagrams. Correct machine marking should therefore be a focus during machine examination before putting into service.
According to the Machinery Regulation, all written or oral information and warnings shall be given in a language that can be easily understood by users, as defined by the Member State concerned.
The information given at the type plate shall be the same as given in the EU declaration of conformity und instructions for use.
Table 1: Marking requirements for industrial robot systems
| Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (until 2027-01-19) | Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230 (from 2027-01-20) | EN ISO 10218-2 | EN 60204-1 |
| Business name of manufacturer* | Manufacturer’s name* or registered trade name or trademark | Integrator business name* | Supplier’s name or logo |
| Full address of the manufacturer* | Manufacturer’s postal address* | Full address of integrator* | |
| Website, e-mail address or other digital contact | |||
| CE marking | CE marking | ||
| EU identification number of the notified body, if involved (e.g. EU type examination) | EU identification number of the notified body, if involved (e.g. EU type examination) | ||
| Year of construction | Year of construction | Year of manufacture | |
| Series or Type | Series or Type | Type of robot application (e.g. robot welding system) | Type designation or model, if applicable |
| Designation of the machinery | Designation of the machinery or related product model | Robot application series name or designation, if applicable | |
| Serial number, if applicable | Batch or serial number, if available | model number or reference number, if any | Serial number, if applicable |
| Supply data for electrical and, where applicable, hydraulic and pneumatic systems (e.g. minimum and maximum pneumatic pressures) | Nominal voltage, number of lines and frequency (with AC power supply) and full load current for each supply | ||
| lifting points for transportation and installation purposes, where applicable | |||
| Main Documentation Number, if applicable | |||
| Reference marks according to the technical documentation at the units |
*alternatively, authorized representative, if available. Integrator can be called a manufacturer..
All information and warnings at the machine shall be preferably given in the form of easily understandable symbols or pictograms.
Marking at the machine shall be visible, clearly legible and durable in accordance with both the Machinery Regulation and EN ISO 10218-2. According to EN 60204-1, this refers to the intended life time of the machine.
Unfortunately, the above-mentioned regulations and standards do not provide a verifiable interpretation of this requirements. Whether a marking is visible, clearly legible and durable the so-called rubbing or wiping test according to EN 60335-1 can be applied.
Table 2: Rubbing test according to EN 60335-1
| Rubbing with water | Rubbing the marking by hand 15 s with a cloth soaked in water |
| Rubbing with gasoline | Then rub by hand for another 15 s with a cloth soaked in gasoline. The gasoline to be used for the test is the aliphatic solvent hexane. |
| The test is considered passed if, after the test, the marking is still clearly legible and the signs or stickers have not come off or can be easily removed. Furthermore, they shall not show any curling. | |
Note: This article is a translation of German websites
