The compliance map
| Requirement | Applies to | Responsible party | Buyer risk if missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE marking / Machinery Regulation | Equipment placed on the EU market | Manufacturer or importer | Customs refusal, insurance void, liability exposure |
| UL / CSA listing | North American electrical equipment | Manufacturer, verified by NRTL | Failed electrical inspection, no occupancy permit |
| ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 | Supplier management systems | Supplier | Weak process control, tender disqualification |
| EHEDG / 3-A hygienic design | Food and dairy contact equipment | Manufacturer | Cleaning failures, audit non-conformance |
| ATEX / IECEx | Explosive atmospheres — dust, solvents | Manufacturer | Regulatory shutdown, catastrophic risk |
| Pressure equipment (PED / ASME) | Vessels, boilers, steam systems | Manufacturer and notified body | Operating permit refused |
| Local electrical code | All installations | Buyer and installer | Failed handover inspection |
The trap: an assembly of compliant machines is not a compliant line
When several CE-marked machines are linked by conveyors and a common control system, the resulting installation is usually an assembly of machinery, and someone must issue a declaration of conformity for the whole. If your contract does not name that party, the obligation defaults to you as the operator — including the risk assessment, interlocking strategy and emergency-stop architecture across the line.
Compliance clauses to put in the contract
- Named party responsible for the overall declaration of conformity
- Risk assessment for the integrated line, not just per machine
- Safety category of interlocks and e-stop circuits specified (e.g. PL d / SIL 2)
- Technical file and manuals supplied in the destination language
- Electrical design to the destination country's code, not the supplier's
- Compliance documents delivered before shipment, not after
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
Does CE marking apply if we import into a non-EU country?
Not legally, but many insurers, lenders and multinational buyers require an equivalent standard. CE or UL documentation is also the fastest way to demonstrate a machine was designed to a recognised safety framework.
Who is responsible for compliance — supplier or buyer?
The manufacturer for the machine, and whoever places the assembled line into service for the installation as a whole. Name that party explicitly in the contract to avoid inheriting the obligation by default.
Can used machinery be brought up to current standards?
Usually yes, through a compliance upgrade covering guarding, interlocks, control circuits and documentation. Budget for the assessment before purchase; retrofits routinely cost 5–15% of the machine's value.
Is compliance checked during supplier qualification?
Yes. Certification status and documentation quality form part of the qualification scorecard, and gaps are disclosed to the buyer before shortlisting.
Industrial financing
Financing routes for logistics & compliance
Financing is scoped alongside the RFQ, not after supplier selection — the funding route changes the optimal supplier, currency, incoterms and delivery schedule. Global B2B Group never lends, never takes a success fee from buyers and is not tied to any institution. Below are the nine routes we actively structure against.
Export Credit Agencies
State-backed cover (Euler Hermes, SACE, EKF, UKEF, Atradius, K-Sure) on equipment exported from the supplier's country, usually combined with a commercial bank loan.
- Tenor
- 5 – 12 years
- Ticket
- $2M – $250M
Best for: Imported production lines and turnkey plants from EU, UK, Korea or Japan
- Eligible country content
- Down payment 15%
- Bankable feasibility study
Development Banks & DFIs
IFC, EBRD, AfDB, ADB, IDB, FMO, Proparco and bilateral development windows funding industrial capex with concessional pricing and long grace periods.
- Tenor
- 7 – 15 years
- Ticket
- $5M – $200M
Best for: Food security, cold chain, energy efficiency and job-creating projects in emerging markets
- ESG / E&S compliance
- Audited financials
- Development impact case
Commercial Lending
Bank term debt and capex facilities secured against project cash flow, equipment and corporate balance sheet, in local or hard currency.
- Tenor
- 3 – 8 years
- Ticket
- $500K – $80M
Best for: Established operators expanding proven capacity
- DSCR ≥ 1.3x
- Security package
- Sponsor equity 25–35%
Equipment Leasing
Operating and finance leases that keep machinery off the balance sheet, preserve working capital and align payments with production ramp-up.
- Tenor
- 2 – 7 years
- Ticket
- $100K – $25M
Best for: Single machines, packaging lines, handling fleets and phased upgrades
- Asset resale value
- Insurance
- Deposit 10–20%
Vendor Financing
Supplier-supported deferred payment and instalment structures negotiated inside the RFQ, before supplier selection narrows your leverage.
- Tenor
- 1 – 5 years
- Ticket
- $250K – $30M
Best for: Buyers who want a single contractual counterparty for supply and payment terms
- Supplier credit appetite
- Bank guarantee or LC
- Milestone schedule
Project Finance
Limited-recourse SPV structures where the facility's own cash flow repays the debt, with independent technical and market due diligence.
- Tenor
- 8 – 18 years
- Ticket
- $20M – $500M
Best for: Greenfield plants, integrated processing complexes and utility-scale infrastructure
- Offtake agreements
- EPC contract
- Independent engineer report
Private Equity
Growth and buy-out capital from industrial and agri-focused funds, typically alongside a debt tranche to lower the blended cost of capital.
- Tenor
- 4 – 7 year hold
- Ticket
- $5M – $150M
Best for: Platform build-outs, consolidation and cross-border expansion
- Governance standards
- Growth thesis
- Exit path
Investment Partners
Strategic co-investors, family offices and regional sponsors who bring local licensing, land, offtake or distribution alongside capital.
- Tenor
- Negotiated
- Ticket
- $1M – $50M
Best for: Projects needing local partnership or market access as much as funding
- Shareholder agreement
- Clear capital structure
- Aligned exit
Government Programmes
Industrial localisation incentives, capex grants, interest subsidies, free-zone benefits and agri-processing schemes that reduce effective project cost.
- Tenor
- Programme specific
- Ticket
- Grants 5% – 40% of capex
Best for: Projects in priority sectors, special economic zones or import-substitution plans
- Local registration
- Job creation targets
- Application windows
How financing is structured
1. Scope & budget
Technical scope and realistic capex band are fixed first — lenders price the project, not the wish list.
2. Route selection
We map which of the nine routes actually fit your country, sector, ticket size and sponsor profile.
3. Bankable package
Feasibility, offtake, DSCR model and equipment quotations assembled into a lender-ready file.
4. Introductions
Independent introductions to ECAs, DFIs, banks, lessors and equity partners — no exclusivity, no success fee to buyers.
Get a funding route assessment
Human-led, supplier-neutral and 100% free for buyers. We return the routes that realistically fit your project, with indicative tenors, equity requirements and documentation checklists.
Next steps
Put this into practice
Request machinery quotes
Supplier-neutral · Human-led · No cost to buyers
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