Q. Are there any changes to the definition of machines covered under the new MachineryDirective?

A. There are a number of refinements and additions to the definition of a machine. The core definition of a machine is now:

An assembly, fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied human or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application.

A machine must have a "drive system" such as an electric motor, linked parts one of which moves, such as a mechanical slide and must be constructed to perform a specific application, such as molding a plastic part or welding two parts together.