The future of safety standards in automation

Are you ready for 2027? Learn how the EU Machinery Regulation will reshape compliance and safety requirements by 2027

Industrial automation is entering a new era, with safety standards expanding to meet the demands of smarter, more connected machines. From January 2027, compliance with the new EU Machinery Regulation (2023/1230) will be mandatory. Without it, CE marking and access to the EU market will no longer be possible. 

From directive to regulation: what’s new? 

The current EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) has long served as the foundation for CE marking and safety compliance in Europe. But with the rise of autonomous systems, mobile robots, and software-driven safety features, it’s no longer sufficient. 

The new EU Machinery Regulation introduces: 

• A broader definition of machinery, covering small standalone devices to mobile robots and complex installations 
• Stricter requirements for functional safety and IT security 
• Clearer rules around significant changes to machinery, including software updates and system integrations 
• New expectations for supervisory control, including remote monitoring and safe stopping of mobile machines 
  
  

Further updates to the Machinery Regulation are expected before it comes into force, so manufacturers should stay informed and be ready to adapt. 

 

Functional safety and wireless communication 

One of the most critical challenges in modern safety design is ensuring reliable wireless communication for mobile machinery. Safety-related signals, such as emergency stops or positioning data, must be transmitted reliably and without delay, even in complex environments with hundreds of devices. 

Protocols like PROFIsafe and CIP Safety are well-suited for wireless transmission. While all three protocols, including FSoE, follow the black channel principle, FSoE’s summation frame approach is not ideal for Wi-Fi environments. In contrast, PROFIsafe and CIP Safety benefit from using standard, routable Ethernet frames over PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, making them more robust for wireless applications. 

A well-designed wireless network is essential because safety protocols rely on network timeouts that are often set above 200 ms. The longer the timeout, the longer a system may remain in a non-safe state. In practice, this means that higher timeouts require greater physical safety distances between people and machines. 

Want to explore how safety protocols perform over wireless? 

Read our Safety protocols go wireless whitepaper:

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Security is now a safety concern 

The new regulation also addresses IT security, a growing concern as machines become more connected. In the future, manufacturers must ensure: 

• Protection against unauthorized access and tampering of the safety functions 
• Logging and monitoring of safety-related interventions 
• Connecting third-party devices, such as laptops or configuration tools, cannot lead to a hazardous situation 
  
  

Safety and security are no longer separate domains. Together, they form the foundation for resilient, trustworthy, safe automation systems. 

 

 

What manufacturers should do now 

To stay ahead of the 2027 deadline, manufacturers should: 

• Review current systems for compliance gaps 
• Plan for risk assessments when making significant changes 
• Use pre-certified components to simplify design and certification 
• Collaborate with experienced partners to navigate evolving standards 
  
  
  

The new regulation will bring clarity, but also complexity. Early action is the key to avoiding delays and ensuring market readiness. 

For a deeper dive into the new EU Machinery Regulation: Read our whitepaper Are You Still Safe in 2027?

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Final thought 

Learn more about HMS’ functional safety solutions here: 

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About the author

Stefan Kraus is the Functional Safety Product Manager at HMS Networks. Stefan has over 20 years of experience in industrial communication and has specialized within functional safety since 2012.