The new Machinery Regulation requires EU type examination of all vehicle lifts from January 2027

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  6. The new Machinery Regulation requires EU type examination of all vehicle lifts from January 2027
Frits Fynbo

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The new Machinery Regulation requires EU type examination of all vehicle lifts from January 2027

Auto repair shops risk operational shutdowns if new vehicle lifts do not comply with the stricter requirements in the new Machinery Regulation, which takes effect from January 2027. Danish Technological Institute urges the shops to carefully check documentation when purchasing equipment.

Auto repair shops must be vigilant when purchasing new vehicle lifts.

From 20 January 2027, a new EU Machinery Regulation will come into force. The regulation requires that in the future, all vehicle lifts – from motorcycle lifts to truck lifts – must be type-examined by a notified body before they may be sold and put into use in the EU. This is a significant change compared with the previous Machinery Directive, under which manufacturers could self-certify lifts if they complied with harmonized standards.

- The change will have direct consequences for all Danish auto repair shops that purchase vehicle lifts in the future. However, vigilance is already required now, and shops that order new lifts this year for delivery in 2027 or later must ensure that the lift is CE-marked and type-examined in accordance with the new rules. Otherwise, they risk the Danish Working Environment Authority stopping the lift at the next inspection, explains Frits Fynbo, team manager and specialist in the Machinery Regulation at Danish Technological Institute.

Type examination becomes mandatory

The type examination must be carried out within the EU by a so-called notified body. The notified body then issues a type-examination certificate, on which the manufacturer can base its CE marking. Once all other requirements have also been met, the manufacturer may affix the CE mark and issue a declaration of conformity, which must accompany the lift.

The type examination must be carried out by a notified body established in the EU. It cannot be a Chinese testing institute

- Frits Fynbo, Danish Technological Institute

In Denmark, so far only Danish Technological Institute’s certification body, Dancert, is able to carry out such a type examination.

Responsibility is shared - but the consequence affects the workshop

Responsibility for ensuring correct CE marking and type examination lies with the manufacturer. However, if the manufacturer is located outside the EU, the responsibility passes to the importer. For the auto repair shop, this means that when purchasing, it must check that a declaration of conformity is included, documenting that the lift has been type-examined. If an auto repair shop has purchased a lift that is not CE-marked and type-examined in accordance with the new regulation, and the Danish Working Environment Authority discovers this, use of the lift may be stopped. In that case, the shop cannot use the lift until the documentation is in order.

Keld Grønne, consultant in automotive technology and specialist in failure investigations at Danish Technological Institute, confirms:

- When the Danish Working Environment Authority visits the auto repair shop, they review everything – naturally including lifts. And if it is new in the regulation, then it is definitely part of their review. And if it is stopped, should it just stand there for several weeks, or should it be dug up so that a new lift can be installed? That has financial implications for the auto repair shop, so this must be taken into consideration when entering into a contract with a lift supplier.

The rules don't apply until 2027 – but a bottleneck can be expected

The new Machinery Regulation enters into force on 20 January 2027. Vehicle lifts delivered before this date may still follow the old rules. However, lifts delivered after 20 January 2027 must comply with the new requirements.

In this connection, Danish Technological Institute expects that the new Machinery Regulation will trigger a massive number of type examinations, which may lead to longer delivery times than usual.

 

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