Feature

EMC testing for industrial machinery

Any machine that emits or receives electromagnetic emissions and radio waves (or both) can cause problematic interference, disrupting the operation of other devices. EMC testing is therefore mandatory in most countries and regions, and regulations dictate how organisations should ensure that their machinery complies.

02/09/2025 16:25:02

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While you are only legally required to meet whatever standards apply in your jurisdiction, this bare-minimum approach may not be enough to mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) risks significantly…

If an electromagnetic emission does interrupt other systems, it becomes EMI. If it detrimentally affects inert matter or harms any living thing, the interference constitutes an electromagnetic disturbance. Furthermore, if unwanted electromagnetic emissions contain any elements within the radio frequency (RF) spectrum (lower than 3,000GHz), they’re also classifiable as RF interferences or disturbances.

Failure to take EMI seriously enough to incorporate it into risk management strategies, and address it through voluntary EMC testing, can be disastrous. Equipment or facility failure, product recalls, financial losses, regulatory fines and penalties, and mandatory government-conducted assessments are just a few possible consequences.

Read the full article in DPA's September 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.