ISO 12643-4:2023

Overview

ISO 12643-4:2023 - Graphic technology - Safety requirements for graphic technology equipment and systems - Part 4: Converting equipment and systems.
This standard specifies safety requirements and guidance for converting equipment and systems used in the corrugated board, package printing, converting and graphic technology industries. It addresses significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant when machines are used as intended and under reasonably foreseeable misuse. ISO 12643-4:2023 applies to converting equipment not covered by other parts of ISO 12643 and is not retroactive to machinery manufactured before its publication.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 12643-4:2023 focuses on machine safety and risk reduction measures across typical converting equipment. Key technical topics include:

• Risk assessment and significant hazards relevant to converting operations (in-running nips, cutting, trapping, falls, hot surfaces, etc.).
• Control and emergency systems such as emergency stop, control zones with stop/safe pushbuttons and safe machine stops.
• Unwinding, splicing and web handling: requirements for unwinding stations, splicers, dancer rollers, braking and web aligning systems.
• Processing sections: preheater, single facer, gluing, heating and pulling sections - addressing in‑running nips, wrap rollers, hot surfaces, and steam pipes.
• Cutting and finishing units: rotary shears, slitter-scorers, cut-off and waste removal hazards.
• Material handling and end‑of‑line: stackers, up/downstackers, conveyor guarding and whole‑body access issues.
• Folder-gluer machines: feeder, folding and gluing sections, pressure rollers, and ejection modules.
• Ergonomics, maintenance and access: safe access stairs, walkways, guard design, and maintenance/inspection considerations.
• Interrelation with ISO 12643-1:2023: guidance on how Part 4 aligns with general safety principles in Part 1.

(These topics reflect clause headings and the standard’s scope rather than prescriptive measurements.)

Applications and who should use it

ISO 12643-4:2023 is intended for:

• Machine manufacturers and OEMs designing and building converting equipment.
• Safety engineers and machine designers performing risk assessments and selecting guards, emergency stops and interlocks.
• Plant managers, maintenance teams and operators implementing safe operating procedures and maintenance programs.
• Compliance officers, certification bodies and insurers evaluating conformity with international safety expectations.
• Purchasing/procurement teams specifying safety requirements in contracts for corrugated board and packaging equipment.

Practical uses include designing safer machinery, specifying guarding and control systems, conducting conformity assessments and improving workplace safety in converting and package-printing lines.

Related standards

• ISO 12643-1:2023 (general safety principles for graphic technology equipment and systems) - Part 4 provides converting‑specific requirements that complement Part 1.

Keywords: ISO 12643-4:2023, converting equipment safety, graphic technology standard, corrugated board machinery, package printing safety, machine guarding, emergency stop, slitter-scorer, folder gluer.