European Welded Pipe Equipment Access Guide: Key Points of Energy Efficiency and Safety Compliance under CE Certification

With the advancement of the EU's green transition strategy and the deepening of Industry 4.0, welded pipe equipment entering the European market must meet strict energy efficiency standards and safety directives. As a passport for products to enter the EU, CE certification involves technical requirements in machinery, electrical, environmental protection and other fields. This article analyzes the core compliance points of welded pipe equipment based on official EU regulations (such as ErP Directive, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC).

I. Energy Efficiency Compliance: From Energy Labels to Life Cycle Assessment

1. EU ErP Directive (Ecodesign Directive for Energy-related Products)

According to the 2021 revised EU 2021/1188, welded pipe equipment must meet:

• Standby power limit: Standby power consumption shall not exceed 0.5W (for components such as PLC control systems and touch screens);
• Energy efficiency grading system: Divided into A+ to D grades by calculating the energy consumption per unit output (kWh/ton), and equipment exported to Europe must reach A+ grade (e.g., ZY89 high-frequency welded pipe mill has 18% lower measured energy consumption than the standard value);
• Life cycle assessment: A carbon footprint report covering production, use and recycling stages shall be submitted to prove that the product's full-cycle greenhouse gas emissions comply with EN 15804 standard.

2. Typical Technical Solutions

• Solid-state high-frequency welder upgrade: Replacing traditional electron tube welders, the solid-state welding system used in ZY60 has an efficiency of 88% (only 72% for electron tubes), saving about 120,000 euros in electricity costs annually;
• Intelligent energy management system: Integrating Siemens PLC and energy consumption monitoring modules, automatically adjusting motor power according to production load, reducing idling energy consumption by 30%.

II. Safety Compliance: From Mechanical Protection to Electrical Safety

1. Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC

Hazardous area protection:

• Photoelectric induction protective doors shall be installed in high-risk areas such as forming rolls and flying saws, with a trigger response time <0.1 seconds;
• ZY32 is equipped with an infrared light curtain protection system, which can emergency stop within 0.05 seconds when personnel enter the hazardous area, meeting the EN ISO 13849-1 PLd safety level.

Noise control: Equipment operating noise ≤80dB(A), and a third-party test report (such as TÜV SÜD certification) shall be provided.

2. Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU

Electrical safety design:

• Use Class I electrical equipment (ground protection) with insulation resistance ≥10MΩ;
• High-frequency welders are equipped with electromagnetic shielding devices to ensure the radiation value <30V/m (EN 55011 standard), protecting the health of operators.

III. Certification Process and Key Document List

1. Certification Steps

• Technical document preparation: Including design drawings, risk assessment reports, test data, etc.;
• Third-party testing: Commission EU-accredited institutions (such as SGS, BV) for energy efficiency and safety testing;
• EC type examination: Obtain EC Type Examination Certificate;
• CE marking: Ensure that the product, packaging and instructions all bear the CE mark and manufacturer information.

2. Essential Document Templates