According to the European Commission (EC), the regulation also sets out to integrate provisions for machinery with safety functions that are AI-powered, cybersafety for compliance-relevant software data, and safety control systems. It also aims to address the conformity assessment of machinery with higher risk factors.<\/p>\n
The EC adds that the regulation updates certain product category-specific provisions and clarifies conditions under which the instructions for use and the declaration of conformity can be provided in a digital format.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Sealpac\u2019s perspective, the new Machinery Regulation is a substantial but logical evolution rather than a disruptive overhaul,\u201d says Veenstra. \u201cIn practice, this brings clearer expectations around topics that are already highly relevant to modern packaging machinery, such as safety, digital controls, and cybersecurity aspects.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the core safety principles remain familiar, the regulation better reflects today\u2019s connected, automated, and data-driven production environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Industry preparedness\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Veenstra says that, overall, the packaging machinery industry is reasonably well prepared, particularly manufacturers that already design machines according to the latest standards of the International Organisation for Standardisation and European Norm.<\/p>\n At IFFA 2025 in Germany, Sealpac launched<\/a> its F-series thermoformer. Recently, the company also introduced<\/a> its FlatSkin concept, its Amax and M-Flex traysealers, and F-series thermoformer range for seafood packaging.<\/p>\n Many of the forthcoming harmonized standards are updates or refinements of existing ones, rather than entirely new concepts, Veenstra points out.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Sealpac, we have always designed equipment to the highest safety standards. In fact, next to the mandatory EU CE marking, our traysealers are additionally tested according to the strict German Gepr\u00fcfte Sicherheit (GS) quality mark. This guarantees maximum safety for operators.\u201d<\/p>\n The scope of the GS, or \u201cTested Safely,\u201d mark includes essential product characteristics, such as electrical safety, ergonomics, and noise, but also covers an evaluation of Sealpac\u2019s factory production.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cInitially designed for the German market, it is now a worldwide recognized mark of quality and safety, which ensures that our packaging machines adhere to the highest possible standards,\u201d he adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as other companies are concerned, the pace at which the updated standards will be referenced and applied will be critical. There will likely be a transition period in which old and new standards coexist, requiring manufacturers to carefully document their choices.\u201d<\/p>\n Manufacturers should prepare\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Sealpac expects an initial increase in the administrative and technical workloads for packaging and packaging machinery producers, especially during the transition phase.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cManufacturers will need to revisit risk assessments, particularly for software-related and digital safety aspects, as well as update technical documentation and declarations of conformity. They should review internal procedures for software changes and lifecycle management,\u201d Veenstra suggests.<\/p>\n Once these processes are embedded, however, he expects the ongoing workload to stabilize.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSmaller suppliers may feel the impact more strongly, as they often have fewer dedicated compliance and engineering resources. The new emphasis on documentation, software safety, and traceability can pose challenges if processes are not yet formalized.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, smaller manufacturers that collaborate with suppliers, integrators, and external experts, and that start preparing early, can remain fully competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n Veenstra further says that the Machinery Regulation should be seen not only as a compliance exercise, but as an opportunity, as it supports safer interaction between people and increasingly automated machines.<\/p>\n It is also said to support greater transparency across the supply chain and a level playing field within the EU internal market.<\/p>\n \u201cManufacturers that embrace the regulation proactively can turn compliance into a competitive advantage, rather than viewing it as an administrative burden,\u201d concludes Veenstra.\u00a0<\/p>\nMarcel Veenstra, Marketing and Communications manager at Sealpac International\u201cFor companies that have already invested in high safety standards and structured compliance processes, like us at Sealpac, the transition should be manageable. All our product lines are manufactured in Germany according to the latest machine regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n