Manufacturing sector blog - industry news and advice

The international specification on how to design and assess safety control systems for machinery – BS EN ISO 13849-1 – has undergone a technical revision that’s clarified and expanded the document.

Would you like a common, easy-to-understand basis for deciding and discussing fusion weld joint quality? Then look no further than the newly revised international standard BS EN ISO 5817:2023.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can yield strong results for the manufacturing organizations that implement it – except when the implementation is wayward. Usefully, a new standard has been produced to help organizations adopt TPM in the correct way, as this blog post explains.

We’ve updated the European standard on safety requirements for mechanical equipment that handles unit loads - BS EN 619:2022. This mainly means conveyor rollers, chains and belts as well as mobile conveyors and conveyor systems.

BSI recently sat down with FM Conway to discuss all things UKCA Marking; their drivers behind it, how they found the experience and what advice they would give to other organizations considering UKCA.

According to a Gartner report, 78% of consumers don’t trust smart home technology.

Technology can build better lives. Of this, there can be no doubt. From ancient man’s invention of the wheel to modern scientists’ development of recent vaccines – plus the many thousands of technological innovations in between – the evidence is conclusive. But sadly, it is equally apparent that technology brings the potential for bad as well as good. History is littered with unsavoury examples of its malign use and, as recent rises in cybercrime attest, the latest digital technologies are no exception.

Right now, if you’re leading a manufacturing business, you may feel you have enough on your plate without worrying too much about the future. In the last few months, you’ve not only had to work through 'routine' business challenges across a multitude of areas, from production and pricing to recruitment and regulation, including supply chain disruption, such as semiconductors getting stuck all over the world.

Despite a year extension to the CE marking deadline, manufacturers and importers are advised to get prepared early to avoid potential disruptions that can occur by not achieving UKCA in advance of the deadline.

Product marking and certification in the UK are changing. Following the UK’s departure from the European single market, the UKCA mark is a new product marking for use on certain products sold in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland).

New and improved products are the lifeblood of manufacturers, large and small. They work in a competitive environment, where the need to differentiate their offering is key. To continue to stay relevant and succeed, they must keep innovating.

In our latest article we look at how we can move towards net zero by taking a new approach to engineering and design, underpinned by digital transformation.

The model is revolutionizing how consumers and organizations are approaching new products and materials. So what have manufacturers got to gain from embracing this model? We explore the challenges and opportunities in this area, including exciting examples of companies leading best practice.

We spoke to David Reynold, Technical Director for AGA Rangemaster and asked him about their experience in achieving UKCA certification; from drivers to the process itself.

Manufacturers can build supply chain resilience through self-challenge, screening, and standards.

The future growth and success of the UK manufacturing sector depends on investment in the latest digital technologies.

If, as a manufacturer, you could benefit from reinventing your relationship with your industry regulator, BSI can help you with the trust-building tools you’ll need.

Over the past few months, most business leaders will have become increasingly aware of the UK’s target for all businesses to achieve ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

The fact is that manufacturing, like every other area of our lives, really is going through a technological industrial revolution.

BS 8666 is the British Standard specifying requirements for steels used to reinforce concrete in the built environment. This standard is widely used in the construction industry – and has now been brought into alignment with Eurocode 2. This blog post explains more.

A series of four European standards set down safety and environmental requirements for refrigerating systems and heat pumps. This blog post discusses why they matter and the recent amendments to Part 1 in the series.

The European standard detailing the requirements that apply to the installation site of refrigerating systems has just been amended. This blog post outlines what’s in the standard, and what’s covered in the amendment.  

The medium and long-term future presents electronic manufacturers with opportunities from growing markets within emergent areas such as electric vehicles. Read the article and discover the key standards needed to ensure they reach expected quality, safety and efficiency levels.

We’ve updated the European standard that details inspection requirements for shell boilers. This blog post describes the standard and explains what’s new in the revision. 

After a prolonged delay, the third in the series of European standards on cold-formed welded hollow section structural steel has been published. This blog post explains where Part 3 sits within the series and how it differs from Part 1.

Due to the dangers of radiation emitted, regulatory bodies around the globe have placed restrictions on the levels of emissions that electrical products can produce. Therefore, manufacturers have to do due diligence to follow key standards in safeguarding the safety of customers. Read the article and discover the process of EMC testing.

We’ve now published the third in a series of European standards on hot-finished hollow section structural steel. This blog post explains the genesis of Part 3 and what’s covered.

Regardless of size or focus, digital manufacturing will impact all sectors and supply chains largely powered by IoT connectivity. What opportunities will this present electronic manufacturers within the medium and long term? Read the manufacturing blog for key details.

ISO has now revised and consolidated six pre-existing standards into one clear and consistent document covering all of the requirements for how to present lines on technical drawings. This blog post explains the details. 

We’ve revised the international standard on how paint coatings resist separation when cut. This blog post reviews how the test has changed. 

The international standard that specifies calliper depth gauges has been updated to make it more user-friendly. This blog post describes its contents and lists what’s new.

BS EN ISO 14341:2020 is the revised international standard setting out how to classify specified wire electrodes and weld deposits. This blog post explains what the standard contains and what’s new about the updated version.

Trade associations sit at the heart of industry and play a vital role in the development of both national and international standards. Therefore, it is imperative that BSI builds strong relationships with trade associations to ensure UK business are fully represented in the standards development process. Read the blog article by BSI Senior Standards Manager, Dawn Hunter outlining why she sees trade associations a vital part within the development of industry standards.

Achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions is a major goal across all industries, but for those sectors with products that have a long life, such as aviation, the window for designing products that meet this goal is very small indeed. Could ‘Reflexive Engineering Design’ be the answer?

With 75% of UK businesses with below-average productivity compared to international competitors, has the time now come to move towards digital technologies? Read the blog article by BSI Manufacturing Sector Lead, Ben Sheridan who discusses how manufacturers can adopt digital technologies and assess what different parts of the business would be affected and where to focus their attention.

With the number of successful smart grid projects steadily growing. What opportunities does this present companies across the electronics industry? Read the manufacturing blog article and discover the significant opportunity for manufacturers across the electronics industry.

Operating in an industry with a global supply chain presents many challenges to businesses looking to operate sustainably. For Peter Hodgson, Manager for Product Sustainability at Tata Steel, standards are a valuable tool in the armoury of any business looking to establish its sustainability credentials. Read the blog article and discover how Tata Steel, one of the world's largest producer of steel tackles sustainability using a standards-based approach. 

As global energy demand continues to grow, manufacturers must work hard to continually monitor to maintain their sustainability responsibilities, while keeping up with technological advances and meeting the needs of consumers. Read the blog article and discover how a standards-based approach can help in improving energy efficiency and sustainability within manufacturing.

Ben Sheridan, Sector Lead outlines how small scale manufacturers took on the challenge through better collaboration and technology adoption. Read the blog article for key findings.

The factory of the future is set to take advantage of several developing technological fields, such as machine learning, data processing, cloud computing, automation, the internet of things (IoT) and robotics. Each of these converging areas presents different integration, safety and security challenges, and manufacturers can use standards to help navigate the path towards efficient and reliable digital production. Read the blog article and discover the latest developments.

BS EN 1706:2020 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Castings — Chemical composition and mechanical properties specifies the chemical composition limits for aluminium casting alloys and the mechanical properties of separately cast test pieces for these alloys. It includes an annex on the selection of alloys for a specific use or process. This standard was first published in 1998 and then revised in 2010. The 2020 standard is its second revision.

BS EN 1676:2020 covers the grades, classifications, designations, conditions, properties and identification marks of alloyed aluminium ingots intended for remelting. Last published in 2010, the standard has now been updated. This blog post explains what’s in the standard and what’s new.

Manufacturers of electrical products, as well as their suppliers, importers and distributors, are legally obligated to ensure those products are safe for consumers to use. This includes complying with relevant laws, showing regulatory compliance marks and meeting essential safety requirements. Read the manufacturing blog ‘Safety first: protecting the consumer’ on how you can demonstrate compliance, minimize risk and protect consumers.

Machine tools can be understood as "machines that help people to make things" or as “the mother of all machines”. The machine tool industry is a global multi-billion-pound industry and a fast-moving industry sector. As technology advances in both hardware and software, growth is inevitable. Read Delme Stephenson’s blog article from a Standards Development prospective.