There are various technical documents that are the privilege of AEA members, and including those that categorically fall into respective copyright law.
For Members log in here
For non members you can join here How To Join page
The Technical Department contributes to two main sectors namely Farm Equipment and Outdoor Power Equipment, and steers members through respective sub committees and groups aligned to the organisational structure such as ATV, Chemical Applications, Lawnmowers, Noise & Vibration, Rough Terrain Vehicle/Variable Reach Trucks, Standards & Regulations and Tractors.
The focus is on providing information on Standards and Legislation , and guidance as well as feedback to the industry via stakeholder representation.
Close liaison with CEMA (Comite Europeen Des Groupements De Constructeurs Du Machinisme Agricole) and EGMF (European Garden Machinery Industry Federation) takes place and is an ongoing commitment. AEA Technical have a seat on the Technical board of CEMA and also hold the post of Technical Secretary to the EGMF Technical committee.
Technical forums are well established with stakeholders such as DfT (Department for Transport), BERR (Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform), HSE (Health & Safety Executive), BSI (British Standards Institute) and the EU Commission allowing a portfolio of information to gather and aid a collective voice to go forwards and progress/protect the interests of the industry.
Aims and Objectives
- Member Technical needs are catered for by representation
- Opportunities to develop Technical Standards to aid compliance with EU Directives and enhance machine, product or vehicle design are provided by AEA technical committees
- Opportunities to participate in peer European legislative groups are provided by AEA technical committees and within the CEMA/EGMF remit.
- Members have the opportunity to seek guidance on various compliance and homologation issues by contact with the Technical department who have a Standards library, regular technical bulletins and engineers with a vast amount of experience to help solve many complex issues.
- For global issues the Technical department through its staff and member experts participate in CEN/CENELEC standards meetings within Europe and ISO/IEC standards meetings world wide.
- Liaison with AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) and ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) is established in the USA and it is hoped to enter a partnership with a technical group in China in the near future.
Current activities and challenges
- Participation in over 100 committees
- External secretariat of 5 BSI Agricultural and Outdoor Power equipment committees in partnership with the UK National Standards body
- Convenorship of ISO/TC 23/SC 7 Equipment for Harvesting and Conservation
- Secretariat of CEN/TC 144/WG 7 Lawn and Garden Equipment
- Participation in over 200 International projects
- Meeting locations in the last 2 years have noted 20 countries in Europe, 10 USA States, Australia, Canada, China, Korea and Japan
- Looking to extend outreach projects into Brazil and India for 2009-10
- Participation in activities is on behalf of members and member companies
- Overseas participation is funded by AEA/BSI/BERR on behalf of UK industry PLC where involvement to secure long term funds are protracted
- Technical website database creation over the next 12 months for the use of members
- The database will consist of a list of current standards and amendments and with status applicable to the Agricultural and Garden equipment sectors.
- A list of published associated legislation will also be available
- Members will see hyperlinked directives appear and have the ability to download documents directly
- Standards now available to members at half the price quoted by the BSI
- It is envisaged that members searching for a product type, machine type or vehicle type (e.g. type in ‘baler’) will be allowed access to the relevant documentation necessary for a designer to achieve initial compliance of the product and then as a member a chance to influence the documentation as appropriate.