Automatic Layout for Technical Manuals

On December 29, 2009, the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC came into force, introducing important updates in scope (including accessories, lifting machines, and partly completed machinery), design requirements, and the content of instruction manuals for operation and maintenance.

Highlights of the directive:

• Every machine must include instructions in the official language(s) of the EU Member State where it is marketed or put into service.
• Mannuals must comply with updated structure and content requirements.
• Additional instructions are required for machines used in the food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical sectors, for hand-held machines, and for impact or fastening machines.
• Manuals must provide information about vibrations transmitted by the machine.
• For machines with multiple uses depending on the equipment, instructions must explain how to safely assemble and use the machine and any interchangeable equipment.
• Accessories (chains, ropes, belts), lifting machines, and partly completed machinery must also include instructions for assembly, use, maintenance, and installation.

FrameEditor Technical Manuals is an integrated CMS-based solution for automatic content management and layout of instruction manuals. It includes a sample manual structured according to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and, with its translation management system, significantly reduces the time and costs required to produce multilingual manuals.

Automatic output for:

Adobe InDesign
Adobe FrameMaker