CECE calls for compliance crack-down

The Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) has highlighted the continuing problem of non-compliant construction equipment being sold in the EU. The trade association has used Bauma to launch a series of simple guides to help enforcement authorities and buyers identify rogue machines.

According to Thomas Lyckvall, chairman of CECE's trade policy commission, the issue of non-conformity poses serious safety hazards to construction workers, as well as putting manufacturers of legitimate equipment at an unfair disadvantage. "About 75% of R&D spend goes on meeting compliance requirements. How can we fund this if non-compliant machines can easily be sold in Europe," he said.

There are eight core European directives that machines must comply with if they are to be sold and used legally in Europe, covering issues such as engine emissions, noise and other technical areas. Compliance with these requirements is indicated by the presence of a CE mark, which is backed by a declaration of conformity.

Despite this being a legal requirement, MR Lyckvall said there were worrying numbers of non-compliant machines on display at Bauma. He told khl.com that out of 26 wheeled loader manufacturers at the show, eight had models on their stand with no CE mark. He added that in some cases a CE mark had been put on machines that did not comply with regulations.

"This is an international show, and it is OK to show products that are not for the EU, but they have to be clearly labelled as such," he said.

CECE has published three brief guides on excavators, mini excavators and wheeled loaders, highlighting how to spot non-compliance. There are eight key areas, from the lack of a CE plate, to decals in foreign languages, operating manuals in foreign languages and the absence of crucial safety features such as hose burst protection valves on hydraulic cylinders.

"We are calling on the national compliance authorities to put the resources in place so we can rid the EU of non-compliant machines," he concluded.