EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
Machinery Regulation 2027: from 20 January, digital documentation becomes mandatory.
The new EU Machinery Regulation replaces Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Operating instructions may be provided digitally – but they must remain available in a stable form over the long term.
01
Digital instructions permitted
Operating instructions may be provided digitally. A paper version only has to be supplied free of charge on explicit request.
02
Long-term availability
The digital instructions must remain available for the expected lifetime of the machine – not only at the time of purchase.
03
No special software
Access must be possible without proprietary software or a user account. A QR code that opens in the browser meets this requirement.
Your obligations
What you must provide
- Digital operating instructions in a common, printable format
- A download and save option for the user
- A stable access path that remains valid long-term (URL / QR code)
- Verifiable availability over the expected machine lifetime
How docks helps
Infrastructure instead of a makeshift solution
- Stable URLs & QR codes that will still resolve in 2036
- Hosting in Germany, GDPR-compliant, no end-user login
- Documents can be updated at any time – the QR code stays
- Contractual 10-year availability
Note: This page is a practice-oriented overview and does not replace legal advice. The authoritative source is the text of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 in its currently applicable version.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When does the new Machinery Regulation take effect?
The EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 takes effect on 20 January 2027 and replaces the previous Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. From that date, new machinery must comply with the requirements of the regulation. The regulation was already published in the Official Journal of the EU in June 2023, giving manufacturers a transition period of three and a half years.
Do I have to provide digital operating instructions?
Yes. For the first time, the regulation permits providing operating instructions in digital form only. The condition: access must be possible without special software and throughout the machine's entire lifecycle. At the customer's request, a paper version must still be delivered within 30 days and at no additional cost.
What happens if the URL no longer works after a few years?
That is exactly the problem docks solves. Many existing solutions such as SharePoint links, cloud drives or self-hosted web servers offer no long-term stability. docks contractually guarantees URL stability for 10 years. The QR codes on your machines permanently lead to the right documents, regardless of IT migrations or restructuring.
Do technicians need an app to view the documents?
No. docks is a purely web-based solution. Every QR code leads to a normal website that works on any smartphone, tablet or laptop. No download, no login, no user account. This is a central requirement of the regulation and a key advantage over proprietary DMS solutions.
What does implementation with docks cost?
docks offers three plans: Starter at 129 EUR/month for up to 100 machines, Professional at 369 EUR/month for up to 250 machines with versioning, and Enterprise (on request) for unlimited machines with SSO and API access. Each plan has a one-time setup fee.