Overview
EN ISO 12643-2:2023 - Graphic technology - Safety requirements for graphic technology equipment and systems - Part 2: Prepress and press equipment and systems (ISO 12643-2:2023) specifies safety requirements for the design and construction of new prepress and printing-press equipment and the auxiliary equipment integrated into press control systems. The standard is intended for new machinery only and is not applicable to equipment manufactured before its publication. EN/ISO adoption means this document is recognized across CEN member countries.
Key topics and technical requirements
This part of ISO 12643 complements ISO 12643-1 and focuses on hazards and protective measures specific to prepress and press machines. Major technical topics include:
- Scope of equipment covered: prepress devices, sheet-fed and web-fed printing presses, coating/varnishing machines and integrated auxiliary units.
- Significant hazards: identification and assessment of risks associated with rotating parts, in‑running nips, transport carriages, and delivery units.
- Guarding and openings: requirements for fixed and movable guards, guard openings and guarding of in‑running nips to prevent access to dangerous zones.
- Interlocks and guard locking: specifications for interlocking devices, guard-locking arrangements and permitted behaviors (e.g., crawl speed with guard open).
- Control functions: hold‑to‑run controls, ready pushbuttons, emergency stop integration, and color/mechanical specifications for manual control devices.
- Automatic operations: safe design for automatic and semi‑automatic plate changes and automatic format-setting operations.
- Additional machine safeguards: requirements for plate-clamping devices, transport carriages, fold units, drying systems and powder-spraying devices.
- Fire, explosion and emission controls: fire/explosion protection for continuous‑flow dryers and web presses, solvent handling, alcohol dosing devices, electrostatic toner dust control and dust protection for web offset presses.
- Access and ergonomics: safe working platforms, access stairs and raised workplaces tied to printing-press layouts.
- Special equipment: considerations for large-format (wide-format) inkjet machines, screen printing presses and washing equipment.
Practical applications and users
EN ISO 12643-2:2023 is essential for:
- Machine manufacturers and designers - to embed required safety features during design and construction of new prepress and press equipment.
- Safety engineers and compliance officers - to evaluate machine conformity, perform risk assessments and specify protective measures.
- Press operators and plant managers - to understand required guarding, emergency stop arrangements and safe operational modes.
- Standards bodies and certification labs - for testing, conformity assessment and national adoption.
Using this standard helps reduce workplace injuries, ensures regulatory alignment within CEN/ISO frameworks and supports safer production lines in commercial printing and reprographics.
Related standards
- ISO 12643-1:2023 (general principles for graphic technology equipment safety)
- EN 1010-2:2006+A1:2010 (superseded by this document)
Keywords: EN ISO 12643-2:2023, graphic technology, prepress and press equipment, printing press safety, safety requirements, press control system, ISO 12643-2.
