One machine, one QR code, 26 languages

Anyone who supplies machinery to several countries needs their instructions in several languages. On paper, this means thick multilingual volumes or a separate insert for each country. Digitally, a single QR code on the machine type is enough. The scan page automatically shows every user the language version that matches their device.

How does automatic language detection work?

The scan page is the public web page that a machine type's QR code opens. When it is called up, it reads the language setting of the smartphone, tablet or computer and displays itself in that language. A fitter with a Polish phone therefore sees the page in Polish, a service technician with a French tablet sees it in French.

If the detected language does not fit, users switch it via a selection field with flags. No app or account is needed for this.

The scan page supports these 26 languages

Upload documents per language

You can upload each document type – instructions for use, EU declaration of conformity, assembly instructions, safety information and other documents – as a separate PDF per language. The Document types page shows which document types are available.

The scan page then decides for each document:

1. Device language available: The document appears directly in that language.
2. Device language not available: The page shows a selection of the languages in which you have uploaded the document.

Each language version has its own version archive. If, for example, you update only the English instructions, the other languages remain unchanged.

Labels with up to three languages

The print-ready QR labels can carry up to three languages, for example German, English and French for a machine going to Switzerland. This way, users can already see from the label that the documents are available in their language. More on label sizes and formats on the QR code page.

Example: one machine for three markets

A manufacturer supplies a band saw to Germany, France and Poland. They upload the instructions for use in German, French and Polish, and the EU declaration of conformity in these three languages as well. A user in Lyon sees the French versions directly after scanning. A fitter whose phone is set to Czech is offered the choice of German, French or Polish and selects the language they understand.

Multilingual in the app and in emails too

Not only the scan page but also the ManualPass application and the system emails are available in 26 languages:

• App interface: Every user in your team chooses their own interface language. A colleague at the Polish plant works in Polish, head office in German.
• System emails: Notifications, for example about approvals or paper copy requests, are available in 26 languages.
• Confirmations to end customers: If a user requests a paper copy via the scan page, they receive the confirmation in their language.

Which language is legally required?

The Machinery Regulation does not lay down a single language. It requires that the instructions and safety information

“be in a language which can be easily understood by users, as determined by the Member State concerned”

In Germany, Section 2 of the German Machinery Act (MaschinenDG) requires the German language. Other Member States determine their language themselves; multilingual states may require several languages. What this means for your target markets is explained in the guide Language of the instructions for use.

How to set up several languages

1. Create the machine type and generate the fixed QR code.
2. Upload the language versions: one PDF per language for each document type.
3. Design the label: choose up to three languages and print.
4. Test the scan: open the page on devices with different language settings.

You can add new languages at any time. The QR code on machines already delivered stays the same and shows the new language version immediately.