Mechanical Engineering

  • Some 3 million people are employed in the sector in the EU.
  • Mechanical engineering is responsible for 9.5% of all the production in EU manufacturing industries.
  • Europe is the world’s largest producer and exporter of machinery with an estimated 36% share of the world market.
  • The European mechanical engineering sector is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 3.8% over the next 10 years.
(data pre-Covid19)

Brussels,

In Europe, mechanical engineering companies are characterized in general and apart from contingencies (COVID-19, sanctions and international tensions) by a relatively high production intensity.

This is mainly explained by three factors:

  1. predominantly small-batch and single-item production
  2. high qualification requirements for staff in manufacturing departments
  3. large, relatively complex communication requirements between the manufacturing, engineering, and design departments.
​Due to ever greater internationalization, the market entry of emerging countries and more aggressive and competitive economies, the improvement of innovation and research is vital for the competitiveness of the sector in Europe.

Furthermore, it is essential to protect European businesses from unfair competition, which manifests itself in many forms.

Finally, but it is a top priority, Europe needs a stable regulatory environment, predictable and consistent that embraces "smart" principles and is as lean as possible.

The EU has chosen a 'new approach': legislation lays down the essential requirements and detailed technical solutions are laid down in standards.

Competitiveness of the Mechanical sector

The European Commission promotes the global and sustainable competitiveness of the mechanical engineering sector by taking the necessary actions to help it face challenges. This includes the drafting of regulations regarding key aspects of the sector including Directives to harmonise standards in key areas

Mobile machinery

Mobile machinery (also known as NRMM: non road mobile machinery), includes a wide range of machinery designed to perform specific operations in off-road environments

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) are products that the user can wear or hold, to be protected against risks either at work, at home or whilst engaging in leisure activities. Statistics on fatal and major work accidents underline the importance of protection and prevention, for which personal protective equipment plays an important role.

Lifts

Lifts provide an essential means of comfortable and safe access to different floors in buildings. The installation of lifts in new or existing buildings has an increasingly important role to play in an ageing society. It supports the social integration of people with special needs and offers freedom of access to people with reduced mobility.

Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX)

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) cover a range of products, including those used on fixed offshore platforms, petrochemical plants, mines, and flour mills, amongst others.

Machinery

The machinery sector is an important part of the engineering industry. Machinery consists of an assembly of components, at least one of which moves, joined together for a specific application. The drive system of machinery is powered by energy other than human or animal effort.

Cableways

Cableways mainly consist of funicular railways, cable cars, gondolas, chairlifts, and drag lifts. They are designed, manufactured, put into service, and operated with the objective of carrying people safely.

Noise emission by outdoor equipment

Noise emissions is one of the most pressing problems in urban areas across Europe and stressed the need to take action on various sources of noise, as part of its environmental action plan in 1993. The subsequent ‘future noise policy’ sets out steps for the development of a directive to specifically regulate noise created by outdoor equipment.

Rail supply industry

The rail supply industry (RSI) is a crucial component of European industrial growth, jobs and innovation.