Machine builders supplying customers in the European Union will already be aware of the Machinery Directive. Its replacement, the Machine Regulation, comes into force in January 2027 and introduces requirements relating to cybersecurity. However, there is another new piece of European legislation that already has implications for machine builders and system integrators. This is Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data – which can be shortened to the Data Act. Although the Data Act covers a wide range of products, this present article is concerned solely with how the legislation impacts machine builders and system integrators; for simplicity, we will just refer to machine builders.

What is covered?

Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 has been applied since 12 September 2025, though some aspects do not apply until September 2026 or September 2027. It covers ‘connected products’ and, for the avoidance of doubt, this includes products with on-device access, products with wireless connectivity, and products that require a physical connection to be made when needed. ‘Data’ includes data generated by use of the product or related service, metadata necessary to interpret and use the data, and data created when users interact with the product. Even if data is only stored and not processed, then it still falls within the scope if it can be accessed.

Paragraph 14 of the preamble lists various types of connected product, with industrial machinery being one such type. This paragraph also states that prototypes do not fall within the scope of the Data Act, but machine builders should not assume that a one-off special-purpose machine is exempt, even though it could be argued that it is a prototype. Article 31 excludes custom-built data processing, as well as data processing services provided as a non-production version for test/evaluation over a limited time period.

If any data can be accessed by the machine builder, then it is covered by the Data Act. It must therefore be sharable with the end user and, by implication, third parties. On the other hand, information that has been derived from data is excluded from the scope of the Data Act and does not need to be sharable. If data, such as from sensors, is processed but not stored, then it does not need to be sharable. Personal data is covered by other EU legislation, though the Data Act covers personal data that has been anonymised.

Article 7 states that the Data Act does not apply to products manufactured or designed by microenterprises and small enterprises provided they do not have a partner enterprise or linked enterprise and the enterprise is not subcontracted to design or manufacture the product. The same applies to an enterprise that has qualified as a medium-sized enterprise for less than one year, and to connected products for one year after the date on which they were placed on the market by a medium-sized enterprise.

Why is the Data Act needed?

The Data Act recognises the value of data for businesses, consumers and society, largely as a result of the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). Furthermore, the European Commission believes that high-quality and interoperable data increases competitiveness and innovation and, therefore, ensures sustainable economic growth. Consequently, the Data Act aims to make it easier for users to share data with third parties or use it themselves, rather than having the data restricted to being stored or processed by, for example, a machine builder. The situation is the same, whether the user has purchased, leased or rented the product.

Standardisation

In common with many EU Regulations, the Data Act contains essential requirements that must be met. In this case, the requirements relate to the form of the data and its usability. Data must always be accessible to a user easily, securely, free of charge, and in a comprehensive, structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.

Clauses in the Data Act provide for harmonised standards that, if complied with in full, would provide a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements. In the absence of such standards, ‘common specifications’ can provide a presumption of conformity. At the time of writing, no harmonised standards or common specifications have been published but these may follow in due course.

Contractual arrangements

When a machine is placed on the market in the EU, whether for sale, lease or rent, information about sharable data must be provided before a contract is concluded. This includes the data functions available, how they can be accessed, the type and volume and format of the data, whether data is generated continuously and/or in real time, and the nature, location and retention period of data.

A contract must cover the basis for a manufacturer’s use of product data, and the terms could exclude or limit the user from accessing all or some of the data. Some data might be classified as trade secrets, in which case the data holder can require data users to treat it as trade secrets.

Within the Data Act, there are clauses to prevent product suppliers from imposing unfair contractual terms on customers. The EC has published non-binding model contractual terms in a document ‘Final Report of the Expert Group on B2B data sharing and cloud computing contracts.’ Nevertheless, Article 1, Clause 6 of the Data Act states that it does not apply when voluntary agreements are in place for exchanging data.

Compensation

If a data holder (such as a machine builder) is requested by the user to make data available to a third party, then the data holder can require the third party, not the user, to pay reasonable compensation for the cost of providing the data, but not for the data itself.

The EC has foreseen that levels of compensation might be contentious, so the Data Act sets out arrangements for resolving disputes and lays the foundations for dispute settlement bodies that can decide whether compensation is reasonable.

Initially, providers of data processing services can charge users for switching between different providers. However, these switching charges will be abolished after three years.

Sharing data with authorities

So far, we have focused on situations where, typically, a user wishes to share data with a third party of their choosing. In addition, the Data Act covers the requirement for data holders to make data available to public sector bodies, the Commission, the European Central Bank and Union bodies when there is an exceptional need, such as in the event of a public emergency. Data holders are entitled to compensation for making the data available. Micro and small businesses are exempt from the requirement to share data with authorities.

Legal representation

For machine builders based outside the EU, a key point to note is Article 37, Clause 11: ‘Any entity falling within the scope of this Regulation that makes connected products available or offers services in the Union, and which is not established in the Union, shall designate a legal representative in one of the Member States.’ Clause 12 explains what the legal representative is mandated to do, which is essentially to act on behalf of an entity to cooperate with the relevant authorities and, upon request, demonstrate how connected products and related services are in compliance with the Data Act.

Hold Tech Files Ltd is based in the Republic of Ireland and is therefore established in the EU. Hold Tech Files performs numerous roles for non-EU machine builders in accordance with various EU legislation, including acting as a legal representative in line with the requirements of the Data Act.

Summary

From the perspective of a non-EU machine builder exporting to the EU, complying with the Data Act requires the following unless there are relevant exemptions:

• Certain information about the data and its usability must be made available before a sale, lease or rental contract is concluded;
• There must be an agreement with the data user regarding which data is sharable, the characteristics of that data and how it would be shared, and this agreement must be fair to both parties;
• If harmonised standards or common specifications have been published, then the data should comply with these unless it can be shown to meet the essential requirements (stated in Article 33) another way;
• Data and metadata must be suitable for sharing with the data user or, upon request from the user, a third party;
• Upon request from the user, the data holder must be ready to share the data with the user or a third party;
• A method should be established for calculating the reasonable level of compensation that can be claimed for transferring data to a third party or the authorities; and
• Before placing the product on the market, a machine builder outside the EU must appoint a legal representative who is established in the EU.

For information about appointing an EU legal representative, contact Hold Tech Files.

www.holdtechfiles.eu

The new application release includes:

• Object Detection – Vending Machine: An AI-powered object detection solution tailored for smart vending systems, enabling real-time recognition of products and interactions to optimise inventory.
• Emotion Recognition: A deep learning–based emotion detection system that analyses facial expressions to provide adaptive user experiences, personalised engagement, and human–machine feedback in vending environments.
• Facial Attribute Detection with Qualcomm: An application leveraging Qualcomm AI hardware acceleration to identify facial attributes, offering efficient, privacy-preserving analytics for embedded edge systems.
• Background Removal in Industrial Field: An advanced vision model for precise segmentation and background removal, enabling improved quality control, safety monitoring, and process automation.
• Audio Classification – Industrial Noise Environments: A robust sound classification application that distinguishes between different types of industrial noise, supporting preventive maintenance, anomaly detection, and acoustic monitoring in complex environments.
• Inception – Training Experience: A flexible training experience based on the Inception architecture, allowing users to experiment, retrain, and validate models in their preferred environment, and then deploy them on SECO hardware.

“Our goal is to make AI deployment at the edge as straightforward and reliable as possible,” says Fausto Di Segni, head of IoT and AI at SECO. “By combining a growing portfolio of validated applications with the Clea Framework and the resources of our Developer Centre, we help companies accelerate their AI journey from concept to production, while ensuring full compatibility with existing ecosystems.”

All SECO applications are validated for deployment across platforms from Intel, Qualcomm, NXP, AMD, Rockchip, and MediaTek, supported by enterprise-grade Long-Term Support for operational stability and seamless integration.

The new AI applications are now available on the SECO Application Hub, with technical details and documentation available through the SECO Developer Centre and the opportunity for a free trial of the Clea Framework.

www.seco.com

“Extreme temperatures, high humidity, explosion hazards, or constant vibration – none of thesepose a problem for the 1 kV frequency converters,” says Thomas Zirk-Gunnemann, CEO of AuCom Applied Motor Controls. “Whether in mining, the steel industry, the energy sector,water management, marine applications, or the chemical, oil, and gas industries – companies in these fields benefit from the strengths of the HM Series.”

Offering performance and precision, the HM Series covers a power range from 45 to 1250 W (31–750A, 1000–1300V). The energy-efficient NPC three-level topology achieves a frequency conversion efficiency of up to 98% while reducing harmonics. Available in 2- and 4-quadrant versions, the VFDs allow fast braking as well as regenerative feedback into the grid. The integrated Active Front End (AFE) ensures minimal grid disturbances.

The powerful vector control for synchronous and asynchronous motors – with or without encoder – enables precise control and high torque even at low rotational speeds, making it ideal for drives in conveyors, cranes, and winches.

The robust design of the HM Series, featuring laminated busbars and film capacitors, is also exceptionally compact, allowing installation in pressure-resistant and confined enclosures such as those used in mining. The CAN interface enables master-slave operation for multi-motor systems. In addition to the LED keypad, the optional touch

www.aucom.com

The Government's strategy aims to reduce high industrial energy costs and modernise infrastructure to boost the UK's industrial competitiveness. This aligns with IMI's snapshot poll which found that when asked about the biggest opportunity for improvement in their pneumatic or motion systems, 38% of businesses cited energy efficiency. This was followed by system reliability (29%) and maintenance predictability (24%).

And the importance of sustainability was highlighted when companies were asked what they thought are the most significant opportunities for growth or improvement in the engineering sector. To this end, over one in five (22%) companies identified advancing sustainability as a significant opportunity for growth.

However, while sustainability remains high on the agenda, tackling skills shortages was the strongest opportunity, cited by almost half of all respondents (44%). The other two most popular answers were optimising supply chains (24%) and managing rising costs (9%).

The research also found that when selecting a systems solutions manufacturer, engineering expertise is the most valued quality, cited by 65% of respondents. While customised solutions (25%) and training support (10%) were also noted as important factors.

Daniel Coetzee, vice president: growth, industrial automation for IMI, comments, “Our poll highlights the growing demand for energy-efficient solutions, engineering expertise, and strategies to address skills shortages in the industrial sector. However, against this backdrop it is encouraging to see that sustainability remains a priority for many businesses, with the majority of engineering companies recognising this as a business opportunity for them.”

To support the engineering sector, IMI has produced a suite of materials to help companies tackle the impact of energy use, including how to reduce energy bills through optimised compressed air system solutions, as well as improve productivity outcomes. 
 
www.norgren.com/en/services/energy-saving

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) has revealed its SSRD (Super Speed Reluctance Motor) technology demonstrator for passenger car applications at a critical moment for the UK automotive industry. With it, the firm has also announced that it has secured a major seven-figure contract with a leading global tier one company, to develop SSRD motors for use in high volume passenger car applications.

As global supply chains for rare earth elements are highly concentrated and the UK government's promised Critical Minerals Strategy remaining indefinitely delayed, AEM's demonstration proves that supply chain diversification is not just possible but can significantly boost vehicle performance.

The automotive industry's reliance on rare earth permanent magnet motors has created supply chain concentration that presents strategic challenges for the sector. With over 85% of global rare earth processing concentrated in a single region, manufacturers face potential vulnerabilities from supply disruptions, price volatility, and the natural challenges of highly concentrated supply chains.

AEM's SSRD technology demonstrator addresses these supply chain challenges entirely. Unlike traditional permanent magnet motors that require neodymium, dysprosium, and other elements from concentrated supply chains, the SSRD motor achieves industry-leading performance using only abundant materials available from diverse global sources. The passenger car demonstrator delivers remarkable specifications that match or exceed traditional permanent magnet alternatives. Market-leading performance with up to 30,000 rpm capability, combines with excellent figures on the WLTP drive cycle and superior efficiency in real life driving environments.

The technology's fully recyclable design eliminates permanent magnets entirely, combining simplified construction that enables cost-effective manufacturing with enhanced supply chain resilience. This represents a fundamental breakthrough that proves high-performance electric motors can achieve excellent results using diversified material sources.

"This technology demonstrator proves that British innovation can address one of the automotive industry's key supply chain challenges," said Dr James Widmer, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Electric Machines. "We're demonstrating a path to enhanced supply chain resilience while delivering superior performance outcomes for our customers."

The timing of AEM's demonstration addresses growing industry focus on supply chain diversification. Recent years have highlighted the importance of resilient supply chains, with manufacturers increasingly seeking alternatives that reduce concentration risk and provide greater flexibility in sourcing strategies.

The SSRD technology demonstrator arrives as policymakers work to finalise the UK's Critical Minerals Strategy. While government strategy development continues, AEM is providing tangible proof that British innovation can deliver immediate solutions to enhance supply chain resilience. The passenger car demonstrator represents a crucial milestone in proving the viability of alternative approaches to motor technology.

"We're proving that supply chain diversification is achievable today," emphasised Dr Widmer. "This demonstrator shows passenger car manufacturers that they can achieve superior performance while building more resilient and flexible supply chains."

Founded in 2017 as a spin-out from Newcastle University, AEM's innovations are protected by 46 international patents covering unique motor designs and manufacturing processes, positioning the company at the forefront of supply chain innovation for the global automotive sector.

advancedelectricmachines.com

ACROSS ITS 15 exhibition halls, SPS 2025 will welcome around 1150 companies from the automation industry to showcase advanced smart production solutions and their latest product ranges. Besides such international industry giants as Siemens, Beckhoff Automation, Phoenix Contact and Bosch Rexroth, a great many British companies, such as Analog Devices, Motortronics, and Mechan Controls will also be in attendance with their own exhibition booths.

Artificial intelligence in production technology will be a central theme of this year’s SPS. Industrial AI is being adopted by a wide range of industrial products and processes to support process engineering, control devices through various AI models, or as a component of smart tools for predictive maintenance, quality control, and adaptive production control. These technologies are fundamentally changing automation technology and opening up new potential for efficiency, flexibility, and resource conservation. As Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS, explains, “In many production environments, industrial AI is no longer a topic for the future, it is already a reality. At the SPS 2025, our exhibitors will be showing how AI is already being used in practice today and its potential for future automation applications.”

The twice-daily guided tours offered by SmartFactory Kaiserslautern offer practical insights into this. Guided by experts, the tours take in innovative companies in the hardware and software sector, highlighting the technical challenges currently being faced. According to Dr. Ingo Herbst, press spokesperson for SmartFactory Kaiserslautern, “The aim of our tours is to provide targeted insights into key technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and security in system architecture. A key priority for us is facilitating the transfer of technological expertise into industrial practice.”

The diverse solutions, specialist presentations, and live demonstrations also appeal to an international trade audience, including from the UK. In 2024, for example, the number of UK participants exceeded 460. The SPS helps visitors navigate the changing technological landscape and offers inspiration for driving innovation in their own companies.

In addition to the expansive exhibition area, the SPS 2025 will offer a diverse and future-oriented program of supporting events for trade visitors, industry experts, and young talent alike.

Live on stage

A total of four stages in Halls 1, 3, 3C, and 6 offer an opportunity for discussion, knowledge sharing, and inspiration. A particular highlight will be the Technology Stage powered by VDMA/ZVEI in Hall 3, which is organised by the two leading industry associations. In addition to Industrial AI, its focus will be on current developments, trends, and challenges in automation – from digital transformation to sustainable production. 

In Hall 6, three shared booths combine expertise and creative inspiration:

- Automation meets IT: At this booth, visitors can dive into digitalisation, cybersecurity, and Industry 4.0 topics. Here, the world of traditional automation merges with that of cutting-edge IT

- International Start-up Area: At this hotspot for innovation and networking, start-ups from around the world will present fresh ideas and disruptive technologies

- young INNOVATORS: This shared booth, which is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), offers young, innovative German companies an opportunity to present their developments to a broad trade audience.

Nurturing talent

With the SPS Makeathon and the Young Talents Day, the event also has a clear focus on nurturing young talent. Aimed at school pupils, students, apprentices, and young professionals, the Makeathon, which will run on all three days of the exhibition, gives participants, working in interdisciplinary teams, 2.5 hours in which to develop their own prototypes live on site and in direct exchange with companies. The format is being supported by ITQ, New Automation, NürnbergMesse, as well as dedicated sponsors from among the exhibitors. 

sps.mesago.com

Signed by both parties at the Defence & Security Equipment International event in London in September, the MOU encourages shared and mutual collaboration, with the ultimate aim to minimise time to production for new Rolls-Royce technology, while reducing cost and risk within an increasingly complex engineering, manufacturing and operational environment.

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 5000 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

Siemens’ trusted software and hardware from the Siemens Xcelerator open business innovation platform helps companies transform processes – accelerating innovation, improving productivity and enhancing efficiency.

This collaboration with Siemens will support Rolls-Royce Submarines in delivering UK sovereign defence requirements more effectively, enabling a more knowledgeable, productive, secure and agile operation.

Both parties will benefit from the sharing of best practice across the digital landscape, with the ultimate aim being to enhance skills across engineering, manufacturing, research & development, training and reactor operation and maintenance, using digital technology as an enabler.

Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components. It also provides frontline support across the world for reactor plant equipment from its Operations Centre in Derby and supports the submarines when in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane. In addition, there are technical specialists working in offices in Glasgow and Cardiff, with a unique test facility operating in Thurso, Scotland.

www.rolls-royce.com

Vanguard is the dedicated commercial brand of Briggs & Stratton, offering not only innovative petrol engines but also advanced battery system solutions that meet the needs of OEMs.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Mobotic develops and supplies compact, modular and high-performance drive systems and components for mobile robots. Serving customers across industries including logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, security, healthcare and heavy-load transport, Mobotic is recognised for its innovative MoboDrive product family, which powers a wider variety of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and mobile machinery. 

“By utilising Vanguard batteries, we upgrade our solutions with the power, flexibility, and operational efficiency needed to maximize both performance and reliability.” said Gregor Modrijan (pictured), CEO of Mobotic. “Our clients consistently highlight the value of integrated, plug-and-play systems, which streamline production and maintenance alike. Equally important is the compact and space-efficient design, making Vanguard batteries the ideal choice for mobile robotic applications where every centimeter and every minute of uptime truly matters.”

The technology partnership combines Mobotic’s proven expertise in mobile robotics with Vanguard’s decades of experience in commercial power solutions. Together, they provide reliable, future-ready systems for customers all over EMEA and the world.

Sjoerd van de Velde, managing director of Briggs & Stratton EMEA said: “Our Vanguard technology partner network is designed to give OEMs the expert support they need to accelerate the electrification of their products. We are delighted to welcome Mobotic into the Vanguard community. The specialist’s expertise in mobile robotics, combined with its commitment to innovation and industry leading products, makes them an ideal partner as we continue to expand the network into new industries.”

Modrijan added: “Our collaboration allows us to deliver complete, high-performance products for mobile robotics. With Briggs & Stratton, we have a reliable and trusted partner – one that not only delivers consistent project support but also demonstrates a deep understanding of the market landscape and our specific operational needs.”

www.vanguardpower.com

Enabled by the DMG simulator’s realistic feedback and highly accurate correlation to real vehicle performance, engineers and test drivers can exploit a virtual environment more powerful than ever before, to explore vehicle characteristics and develop engineering solutions.

While real-world dynamic testing remains essential, engineers can now ‘close the loop’ on development challenges with greater speed and efficiency, feeding insights from physical testing back into an exceptionally accurate digital model that is experienced through the simulator’s ultra-low latency and high motion bandwidth. Akin to a Formula 1-style investigative process, the ability to replicate scenarios experienced by test drivers during real-world testing gives even greater visibility of the exact data behind why a car performs, behaves and drives a certain way – and with this a more detailed understanding of the DNA that defines the visceral experience of driving a McLaren.

Dynisma’s latest DMG simulation technology enables a higher level of insight throughout development stages, from CFD simulations to wind tunnel testing, aero mapping, simulator trials, and real-world validation. As an example, moment-by-moment readouts of downforce and aerodynamic performance in any given scenario are critical to bridging the gap between wind tunnel insight and real-world assessment, unlocking a deeper understanding of how suspension and aero systems interact.

The first car to benefit from the use of a simulator as advanced as the DMG is the McLaren W1; the high-downforce, low-drag, active aerodynamic technologies and suspension settings and control systems having been finalised as part of a combined simulator validation and aerodynamic development programme.

The deployment of DMG technology in developing and validating the McLaren W1’s active aerodynamics and suspension served as compelling proof of concept and paves the way for deeper integration of virtual development into future vehicle programmes.  

“The accuracy and representativeness of the Dynisma Motion Simulator allows us to extract a new level of detail and data from virtual development activity. We can explore a wider range of dynamic possibilities and behaviours in a virtual environment. The fidelity of road texture and ride inputs is so precise that we can simulate standard road conditions at lower speeds, alongside high-load scenarios on test tracks or race circuits, with remarkable realism," commented Emmanuele Raveglia, chief vehicle programme officer at McLaren Automotive.

cars.mclaren.com

M3P3 brings together over 22 technical communities for two days of insight, debate and collaboration. Delegates will hear from experts and policymakers on industrial strategy, AI, circular economy, critical minerals, infrastructure and the skills pipeline.

A key highlight is the Industrial Strategy panel, part of the Changemakers in Conversation plenaries. The session will explore the UK Government’s Invest 2035 strategy, focused on long-term growth across eight high-growth sectors including advanced manufacturing, clean energy and life sciences. Speakers include Rt Hon Charles Hendry HonFIMMM, Visiting Professor at University of Edinburgh; Dr Cathryn Hickey, CEO of AMRICC; and Jon Bolton FIMMM, Chair of the Materials Processing Institute. They will discuss how the materials community can be recognised and supported, and where focus is needed to deliver sector growth.

Other highlights include four Changemakers in Conversation plenaries, twelve interactive Topical Knowledge Exchange Sessions, IOM3 Training Academy taster workshops, satellite conferences on timber, bio-based polymers and materials for fission and fusion net zero, and a dedicated student and early careers programme.

Keynote speakers include Ed Conway HonFIMMM, Economics Editor at Sky News; Mary Creagh CBE MP, Minister for Nature; Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of ISEP; and David Knowles FREng CEng CSci FIMMM, CEO of Henry Royce Institute.

Dr Colin Church, CEnv FIMMM, CEO of IOM3, said: "M3P3 is about more than technical discussion. It is about shaping the UK’s industrial future. By bringing together our community, we are creating a space where people can connect, collaborate and influence what comes next."

M3P3 is open to all, with one-day and two-day passes available. Delegates can connect, share ideas and explore the developments shaping the sector.

iom3.org