Specialist translations for packaging machines - precise. Compliant with standards. Multilingual.

Operating instructions, HMI software, training and CE documentation for packaging machines - terminology-safe, standards-compliant and in over 40 languages.

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OEM-tested – Hygienically safe (GMP/EHEDG) – ISO 17100 – International standards

Packaging machines are the link between production and the market – and place particularly high demands on technical documentation. Whether a flow-wrapping machine, cartoner, labeler or fully automatic FFS system: every machine requires a linguistically precise and standard-compliant translation of its accompanying documents. COMLOGOS has been translating operating instructions, HMI texts, training documents and CE documentation for manufacturers of packaging machines since 2007 – consistently, with terminology assurance and in over 40 languages.

Packaging machines are highly sensitive interfaces between food, pharmaceutical, consumer goods and logistics processes. Incorrect translations not only lead to operating errors – they can also jeopardize official approvals, GMP audits and product safety.

What are packaging machines? - An industry with its own language

Packaging machines include all technical systems that package, label, group or prepare products for shipment. They are an independent sub-field of mechanical engineering with their own terminology, standards and a wide variety of designs.

The industry is divided into packaging stages:

▸Primary packaging – direct product contact (e.g. blisters, pouches, tubes)
▸Secondary packaging – outer packaging (e.g. folding box, cartoner)
▸Tertiary/final packaging – shipping units (e.g. palletizers, shrink-wrapping systems)

Request a project & get advice

Do you have technical documents to translate? Send us 1-2 sample files – you will receive a specific recommendation and a quote within 24 hours.

Types of machines that we translate

Form, fill and seal machines (FFS)

Vertical/horizontal, for food and consumer goods

Flow wrapping machines

Can, pouch and sachet packaging

Cartoning and erecting machines

Secondary packaging in folding boxes and cartons

Labeling machines

Self-adhesive, hot melt and inkjet labeling

Blister machines (pharma)

Tablet and capsule packaging according to GMP

Film and shrink-wrapping systems

Stretch, shrink and sleeve packaging

Palletizing and depalletizing systems

Final packaging and shipping units

Labeling and inspection systems

Track & Trace, vision systems, coding

Where packaging machines end and other disciplines begin

Area	Interface	Where we separate
Mechanical engineering	Parent discipline	Packaging machines are an independent sub-field with their own standards (e.g. ISO 21067)
Plant engineering	Line integration	Line technology plans the overall system; packaging machines are subcomponents
Automotive	Special machine construction	Automotive packaging (KLT containers) is a niche, not a main domain
Robotics	Pick-and-place, palletizing robots	Robotics provide movement; packaging machines provide the process
Logistics / Intralogistics	Downstream material flow	Packaging ends at the pallet – logistics begins there

Documents that we translate for you

Operation & safety

Operating instructions (EU) 2023/1230
Safety instructions and warnings
Emergency and shutdown instructions

Software & HMI

HMI texts (Siemens TIA, B&R, Rockwell)
Software strings and error messages
Interface and API documentation

Service & maintenance

Maintenance and service manuals
Spare parts catalogs and parts lists
Inspection and test reports

CE & Compliance

CE declarations of conformity
Risk assessments
Certificates and test reports

Hygiene & cleaning

Cleaning and hygiene regulations
GMP, FDA and EHEDG documentation
Validation and qualification documents

Training & Marketing

Education and training materials
Data sheets and product brochures
Trade fair communication and web content

Industries that we serve in packaging machine construction

Food & Beverages

Highest hygiene requirements according to EHEDG, FDA and IFS. Translations must accurately reflect cleaning processes, allergen-relevant information and CIP/SIP procedures – mistranslations can jeopardize audits.

Pharma & Medical Technology

GMP-compliant documentation for blister machines, serialization systems and track & trace systems. We are familiar with the requirements of EU GMP Annex 15 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and translate IQ/OQ/PQ protocols in an audit-proof manner.

Cosmetics & consumer goods

Brand consistency across languages, fast time-to-market and SKU diversity. We coordinate terminology workflows for manufacturers with hundreds of product variants and short launch cycles.

Chemistry & hazardous substances

ATEX-certified systems, GHS-compliant labeling and REACH documentation. Safety-relevant terms are maintained terminologically – across language barriers, machine generations and suppliers.

Why COMLOGOS for packaging machine documentation?

Familiar with packaging technology since 2007

COMLOGOS has been translating for manufacturers of technical equipment from German-speaking countries since 2007 – including renowned specialists in pharmaceutical and packaging technology such as Hinterkopf and Hüttlin. During this time, a tested terminology database has grown, which is immediately available for every new project – consistently across machine generations, languages and suppliers.

Translation memory & terminology per customer

Each customer receives their own, well-maintained translation memory and a central terminology system. This reduces follow-up costs by 30-70%, speeds up translations and ensures consistency – even with machine generations, line variants and parallel suppliers.

Native technical translator with a mechanical engineering background

Our translators are native speakers of the target language and have technical training or several years of experience in mechanical engineering. On request, translators and independent technical editors can work on a four-eye principle in accordance with ISO 17100 – particularly recommended for safety-related documentation, CE files and regulatory texts.

Standard security for regulated markets

We are familiar with the requirements of EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230, ATEX 2014/34/EU, EHEDG, GMP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and the GPSR. Our workflows are ISO 9001:2015 (quality management), ISO 17100 (translation services) and ISO 18587 (post-editing of machine translations) certified – giving your compliance and audit managers peace of mind, even for MTPE projects.

AI translation with post-editing - economical and audit-proof

Packaging machine manufacturers are under time and cost pressure: documentation volumes are growing, lines are being rolled out faster, target languages are constantly being added. AI-based translation in combination with professional post-editing (MTPE) is the economic lever here – without compromising on security and compliance. COMLOGOS works in accordance with ISO 18587, the international standard for post-editing machine translations.

Faster to the global line

Up to 50% time savings on large, repetitive documents – such as service manuals, spare parts catalogs or multilingual training documents.

Economical for high volumes

Significantly reduced costs with consistent quality – ideal for manufacturers with extensive technical documentation, frequent updates and many target languages.

Tested and standard-compliant

Every AI translation is post-edited by experienced specialist translators, terminologically checked and validated for conformity with standards – in accordance with ISO 18587.

When is AI translation suitable – and when is it not? AI translation with post-editing is ideal for large, repetitive documents. For safety-critical content (CE files, risk assessments, pharmaceutical GMP), we continue to recommend classic specialist translation with the dual control principle in accordance with ISO 17100. We advise you individually on which workflow suits which document type.

Languages, formats and tools

Packaging machines are used all over the world – with all the linguistic and technical consequences for documentation. We deliver translations in over 40 languages, from German and English to Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Czech, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Arabic. When it comes to file formats, we work directly in your source environment – without conversion losses and with full layout fidelity.

Format / Tool	What we do with it
Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Operating instructions, training documents, data sheets – with full layout and formula transfer
InDesign / IDML	High-quality service manuals and marketing brochures – layout check included
FrameMaker / MIF	Structured technical documentation – variables and cross-references remain intact
XML / DITA / CCMS	Modular documentation from your content management system (schema ST4, COSIMA, TIM-RS) – ideal for machine families
HMI and software strings (CSV, JSON, XLIFF)	Operating texts for Siemens TIA, B&R, Rockwell – with character limit check and pseudo-translation
PDF (reference)	Legacy documents can be used as a reference for terminology and consistency

What customers say about COMLOGOS

"Understood worldwide thanks to COMLOGOS. We are very satisfied with the speed, reliability and quality of the translations. Adherence to deadlines and open and friendly communication make working with COMLOGOS easy."

We are a global manufacturer of laser machines for laser welding, laser cutting and laser hardening and have been working with COMLOGOS for many years to translate our operating manuals. We are very satisfied with the cooperation."

"You can rely on COMLOGOS! Whether it's a small brochure translation, a lengthy project or something short-term, with COMLOGOS we have a strong and always competent partner at our side. COMLOGOS stands out with their unparalleled team - that's why they are our go-to when it comes to translation requests!"

FAQs on packaging machines

How much does it cost to translate operating instructions for a packaging machine?

The costs depend on several factors: Language pair, scope of the documentation, complexity of the content (e.g. HMI texts, safety instructions, circuit diagrams) and the reuse rate from existing translation memories. In follow-up projects, costs are often significantly reduced as identical and similar segments from previous translations are automatically recognized – often between 30% and 70%. In addition, there may be surcharges for rush jobs, DTP work (e.g. InDesign layouts) or terminology maintenance. We will be happy to provide you with a non-binding quote based on your original files.

How do you translate HMI texts with a character limit?

HMI translations are a discipline in their own right: terms must not only be technically correct, but also fit within specified character or pixel limits. We work with specialized tools such as SDL Trados Studio with character limit checking, carry out pseudo-translations to identify layout problems at an early stage and coordinate critical terms (e.g. error messages, control buttons) in a terminology database. If necessary, we test the final translations directly on the display or in the simulator – so that no “emergency shutdown” button runs over two lines in Spanish. This close integration between language, software and hardware is standard in our packaging machine projects.

Which standards apply to packaging machine documentation in the EU?

Packaging machines are subject to a complex network of standards. The central requirements are

Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 – replaces the old Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC from January 2027; regulates CE marking and requirements for operating instructions
ISO 12100 – Safety of machinery, general principles for design and risk assessment
ISO 21067 – Terminology standard for packaging technology (binding terminology)
EHEDG guidelines – hygienic design and cleaning for food packaging machines
GMP guidelines (EU GMP Annex 15) – Qualification and validation requirements for pharmaceutical packaging
DIN EN 415 series – specific safety standards for packaging machines of various types

Depending on the application, ATEX (explosion protection), GS marking and, for pharmaceutical machines, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (digital records) also apply. We know the specific requirements from over 20 years of project work with packaging machine manufacturers.

Into which languages must CE documentation be translated?

According to the new EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, the operating instructions must be available in the official language(s) of the EU Member State in which the machine is placed on the market or put into service. If a packaging machine is sold in Germany, France, Poland and Spain, for example, translations into German, French, Polish and Spanish are mandatory. The EU Declaration of Conformity must also be supplied in all official languages of the target countries. Outside the EU, country-specific requirements apply – such as English (USA, FDA-compliant), simplified Chinese (China, UK standards) or Russian (EAEU area). We will be happy to advise you on the right language strategy for your export markets.

Your packaging machine project in good hands

Schicken Sie uns 1–2 Beispieldateien aus Ihrer aktuellen Projektphase und Ihre Zielsprachen. Wir empfehlen Ihnen die passende Vorgehensweise und erstellen ein klares, unverbindliches Angebot – inklusive Plan für die Wiederverwendung in den Folgephasen.