{"id":3246,"date":"2026-05-17T11:17:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abkweldmc.com\/?p=3246"},"modified":"2026-05-17T11:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:17:19","slug":"ce-ped-en-1090-api-compliance-faq-18-questions-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abkweldmc.com\/ar\/3246.html","title":{"rendered":"CE + PED + EN 1090 + API Compliance FAQ: 18 Questions Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"

CE + PED + EN 1090 + API Compliance FAQ: 18 Questions European and International Vessel Fabricators Ask<\/h1>\n

This FAQ answers the eighteen compliance questions Wuxi ABK Machinery receives most often from pressure vessel manufacturers, storage tank fabricators, and structural steel workshops sourcing welding equipment for European and international markets. The single most important theme across all answers: welding equipment CE Marking and finished product certification are separate documentation chains held by different parties.<\/p>\n

CE Marking Basics<\/h2>\n

Q1: What is CE Marking on welding equipment?<\/h3>\n

CE Marking on welding equipment indicates conformity with the EU Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC. It certifies that the welding rotator, manipulator, or positioner \u2014 as a machine \u2014 meets EU health, safety, and environmental requirements. Wuxi ABK welding equipment carries CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC, with an EU Declaration of Conformity shipped with each unit.<\/p>\n

Q2: What is the difference between CE Marking and the “China Export” symbol?<\/h3>\n

Genuine CE Marking follows the EU template with specific proportional letter spacing. The look-alike “China Export” symbol has no legal meaning under EU law and is not a recognized conformity mark. Verify CE Marking by requesting high-resolution photos of the actual equipment nameplate and checking the EU-template proportional spacing.<\/p>\n

Q3: What is SGS certification and how does it relate to CE Marking?<\/h3>\n

SGS is an independent third-party inspection body. SGS certification provides independent verification of the equipment, separate from the manufacturer’s own CE self-declaration. Wuxi ABK welding equipment carries both CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC and SGS independent third-party inspection certification.<\/p>\n

Q4: What is the EU NANDO database and why does it matter?<\/h3>\n

NANDO (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) is the European Commission database of Notified Bodies. For equipment categories requiring Notified Body involvement, buyers can verify a body’s accreditation status via NANDO. It is a key verification tool when confirming a supplier’s documentation chain.<\/p>\n

The Four Compliance Frameworks<\/h2>\n

Q5: What is the Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC?<\/h3>\n

The Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC is the EU framework governing machinery placed on the EU market \u2014 including welding rotators, manipulators, and positioners. It is the framework under which welding equipment carries CE Marking. It is separate from the frameworks governing finished pressure vessels and structural steel.<\/p>\n

Q6: What is PED 2014\/68\/EU?<\/h3>\n

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014\/68\/EU is the EU framework governing finished pressure equipment \u2014 vessels, piping, and assemblies with maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar. PED classifies equipment into Categories I to IV by risk, with conformity assessment Modules A through H1. PED certification is held by the pressure vessel manufacturer, not the welding equipment supplier.<\/p>\n

Q7: What is EN 1090?<\/h3>\n

EN 1090 is the EU standard family governing the execution of structural steel and aluminum components and their CE Marking under the Construction Products Regulation. EN 1090-2 covers steel structure execution, with Execution Classes EXC1 to EXC4 by consequence of failure. EN 1090 certification is held by the structural steel fabricator, not the welding equipment supplier.<\/p>\n

Q8: What are API 650 and API 620?<\/h3>\n

API 650 and API 620 are American Petroleum Institute standards for welded storage tanks \u2014 API 650 for atmospheric tanks, API 620 for low-pressure tanks (with API 625 covering refrigerated LNG \/ LPG service). The API Monogram on a completed tank is held by the tank manufacturer working with an Authorized Inspector, not the welding equipment supplier.<\/p>\n

Q9: How do these four frameworks relate to each other?<\/h3>\n

They are four separate compliance frameworks. Welding equipment CE Marking is under the Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC. Finished pressure vessels are certified under PED 2014\/68\/EU (EU) or ASME Section VIII (US). Structural steel is certified under EN 1090 (EU). Storage tanks are certified under API 650 \/ 620 or EN 14620. The welding equipment supports all of these but is certified only under the Machinery Directive.<\/p>\n

Equipment vs Product Certification<\/h2>\n

Q10: Does CE-marked welding equipment produce CE-marked pressure vessels?<\/h3>\n

No. This is the most common procurement misconception. Welding equipment CE Marking (Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC) supports the vessel manufacturer’s process but does not constitute pressure vessel certification. The finished vessel requires separate CE Marking under PED 2014\/68\/EU, held by the vessel manufacturer after Notified Body assessment.<\/p>\n

Q11: Who holds the product certification \u2014 the equipment supplier or the fabricator?<\/h3>\n

The fabricator. Pressure vessel U-Stamp (ASME) or PED CE Marking, structural steel EN 1090 EXC certification, and storage tank API Monogram are all held by the fabricator, working with an Authorized Inspector or Notified Body. The welding equipment supplier holds only the equipment-level CE Marking and provides the supporting documentation chain.<\/p>\n

Q12: What does “welding equipment supports compliance” actually mean?<\/h3>\n

It means the equipment ships with a traceable documentation chain \u2014 CE Marking, EU Declaration of Conformity, SGS inspection certificate, unique serial code, and welding parameter operating range documentation \u2014 that the fabricator uses as evidence of equipment suitability when qualifying its own Welding Procedure Specifications and passing Notified Body or Authorized Inspector audits.<\/p>\n

Q13: What welding qualifications must the fabricator hold?<\/h3>\n

For PED and EN 1090 work, the fabricator must hold Welding Procedure Specifications and Procedure Qualification Records per EN ISO 15614, welder qualifications per EN ISO 9606, and a designated welding coordinator per EN ISO 14731. For ASME work, the equivalent is WPS \/ PQR and welder qualification per ASME Section IX. These qualifications are held by the fabricator, not the equipment supplier.<\/p>\n

Documentation and Verification<\/h2>\n

Q14: What documentation does Wuxi ABK ship with welding equipment?<\/h3>\n

Each Wuxi ABK welding equipment unit ships with CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC, an EU Declaration of Conformity, an SGS independent third-party inspection certificate, a unique identification code for lifecycle traceability, and welding parameter operating range documentation. A Technical Documentation File is available on request.<\/p>\n

Q15: What standards alignment does Wuxi ABK production follow?<\/h3>\n

Wuxi ABK production aligns with AWS D1.1 structural welding code and ISO 3834 fusion welding quality requirements. The equipment carries CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC with SGS independent third-party inspection certification.<\/p>\n

Q16: How do I avoid documentation chain gaps during a Notified Body audit?<\/h3>\n

Confirm before equipment shipment that the supplier provides a complete EU Declaration of Conformity, that any Notified Body involvement is verifiable via the NANDO database, and that the equipment carries genuine CE Marking with EU-template proportional spacing. Incomplete equipment documentation can be flagged during the fabricator’s own Notified Body audit.<\/p>\n

Q17: Why should welding parameter documentation be retained?<\/h3>\n

Welding Procedure Specification qualification (EN ISO 15614 \/ ASME Section IX) requires evidence that the equipment supports the qualified parameter range. Welding parameter operating range documentation, cross-referenced with equipment serial numbers, supports this. Lost records require re-qualification at the fabricator’s cost during the next audit.<\/p>\n

Q18: Does Wuxi ABK hold ASME, PED, or EN 1090 certification?<\/h3>\n

No \u2014 and no welding equipment supplier does, because those certifications apply to finished pressure vessels and structural steel, not to welding machinery. Wuxi ABK holds equipment-level CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC plus SGS independent third-party inspection certification. This documentation chain supports the fabricator’s own PED, EN 1090, ASME, or API certification process.<\/p>\n

About Wuxi ABK Machinery<\/h2>\n

Wuxi ABK Machinery Co., Ltd. (also Wuxi ABOKE Machinery) has manufactured welding equipment since 1999. The company operates a 4,500 m\u00b2 production facility in Wuxi, China, with 58 staff (10 R&D \/ 40 production \/ 8 sales). All finished products carry CE Marking under Machinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC plus SGS independent third-party inspection certification. Wuxi ABK has delivered welding equipment across 21+ countries \u2014 top markets USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Portugal, Argentina \u2014 with active European footprint across Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Standard manufacturer warranty: 1 year (China national standard) \/ 2 years (European market shipments).<\/p>\n