EN ISO 20430, “Plastics and rubber machines – Injection moulding machines – Safety requirements (ISO 20430:2020)”, is the type C standard for the safe design of injection moulding machines for plastics and rubber. The most serious hazard is crushing between the mould halves, which close with great force; splashes of hot melt and hot surfaces add a burn hazard. The standard divides the machine into danger zones and gives the safeguarding rules for each.
Let us take care of EN ISO 20430 testing and the CE marking of your machine together; CE Danışmanı (CE Consultant) manages the whole process.
EN ISO 20430 at a glance
| Edition cited in the EU Official Journal | EN ISO 20430:2020 |
|---|---|
| Official title | Plastics and rubber machines – Injection moulding machines – Safety requirements (ISO 20430:2020) |
| Legislation supported | Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; from 20 January 2027 Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 |
| Type of standard | Type C standard |
| Risk category | On the high-risk machinery list: plastics injection moulding machinery with manual loading or unloading (2006/42/EC Annex IV, item 10) |
Which machines does it cover?
The standard covers machines that melt plastics or rubber and inject the material into a closed mould. Typical examples:
- Horizontal hydraulic, electric and hybrid injection moulding machines
- Vertical injection moulding machines
- Rotary table and sliding table machines
- Rubber and thermoset injection moulding machines
Operation with ancillary equipment such as part removal robots, conveyors and mould changing systems is also dealt with; the equipment itself has its own standards.
Main requirements of the standard
- Safeguarding the mould area: Guards on the operator side and the opposite side are interlocked; with a guard open, closing of the mould is prevented in more than one independent way.
- Safety of the control system: Functions that stop mould closing are redundant and monitored; a single fault must not cause a dangerous movement.
- Whole-body access on large machines: Where a person can stand inside the mould area, additional devices prevent closing while someone is inside.
- Clamping mechanism area: Access to the moving mechanism behind the mould is prevented by guards.
- Nozzle and plasticising unit: Guards against splashes of hot melt and movement of the unit; insulation or guarding of hot barrel surfaces.
- Ejector, cores and discharge area: The mould area cannot be reached through the discharge opening; ejector and core movements depend on the guard state.
- Ancillary equipment: Interface rules keep the level of protection when a robot or conveyor is connected.
Verification and tests under EN ISO 20430
The standard names the verification method for each requirement. Verification is done on the machine and on the circuit diagrams.
| Test or check | What is verified? |
|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Guards, marking and warnings are complete |
| Interlock functional test | Mould closing and other dangerous movements stop when a guard is opened |
| Fault simulation | A single fault in the interlocking system is detected and a new cycle is prevented |
| Measurement of openings and distances | The danger zone cannot be reached through guard openings or the discharge opening |
| Temperature, hydraulic, electrical and noise checks | Hot surfaces are guarded or marked; valve arrangement and EN 60204-1 measurements; emission values to be declared |
Results are recorded in the test report; tests are repeated after changes to the interlocking or control system.
Where it fits in CE marking
- Risk assessment: The danger zones of the machine are assessed under EN ISO 12100.
- Design: Guards, interlocking and control architecture are designed to EN ISO 20430.
- Verification: Functional tests, fault simulation and measurements are carried out on the machine.
- Technical file: Risk assessment, hydraulic and electrical diagrams and the test report go into the technical file.
- Declaration of conformity: EN ISO 20430 is listed among the standards applied.
Conformity with a harmonised standard gives presumption of conformity with the essential requirements it covers; see CE marking of machinery. Injection moulding machines with manual loading or unloading are on the list of machinery that needs a specific conformity assessment procedure; whether this standard is applied in full affects the route to follow.
Standards applied together
- EN ISO 14119: interlocking devices associated with guards
- EN ISO 14120: fixed and movable guards
- EN ISO 4413: safety of hydraulic systems
- EN 60204-1: electrical equipment of the machine
- EN ISO 13849-1 and EN ISO 13857: control systems and safety distances
Frequently asked questions
What about a machine built to the former EN 201?
EN ISO 20430 has replaced the previous European standard for injection moulding machines. A machine placed on the market now is assessed against the edition currently cited.
Who is responsible when a robot is added?
The party that combines machine and robot is responsible for the conformity of the whole; changes to the guards are reassessed.
Which edition applies?
The edition cited in the EU Official Journal is EN ISO 20430:2020. The current citation should be checked before testing starts.
Other standards in this group
- EN ISO 19085-1: Woodworking Machines Common Requirements
- EN 1012-1: Air Compressors
- EN 12417: Machining Centres
- EN 12622: Hydraulic Press Brakes
