That were the CE Practice Days 2026

This year, from 5 to 7 May, the CE-Praxistage took place in Pforzheim for the 20th time – an anniversary edition at which IBF received special congratulations from the Congress Centrum Pforzheim for its successful collaboration since the first event in 2006 (see photos).

Once again, the conference organised by IBF brought together experts, specialists and newcomers from the field of CE marking for machinery, plant and electrical equipment. 

The conference was divided into the Focus Day on 5 May and the CE Specialist Conference on 6 and 7 May. This new structure allowed participants to gain targeted information on various current topics in the run-up to the specialist conference, before the following days provided the usual framework for further training in the field of CE marking for machinery and plant.

Focus Day 2026 focused on the following three key areas: The “New Machinery Regulation” event featured presentations on the transition to the new MR, which is to apply from 20 January 2027. On the Focus Day on the “Cyber Resilience Act”, experts provided information on relevant and practical security topics relating to the CRA. In addition, details were given at the Safexpert Summit regarding the planned developments for the Safexpert software.

Topics for experts at the subsequent CE specialist conference included legal insights, such as into the work of market surveillance authorities and ways to prepare, as well as an overview of inspection obligations in safety-related design.

Current trends that are the subject of intense debate in mechanical engineering were also discussed: AI systems and their significance for safety functions, the implications of the new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), and current developments in the field of digital documentation.

Presentations on machine safety at the interface between CE, procurement and occupational health and safety, as well as real-life cases of safety function failures, also provided valuable insights into day-to-day design work. 

This year also saw the first-ever ‘Safety Talk’: participants were able to put questions directly to the numerous technical experts, which were then answered in lively discussions on stage and in the plenary session.

IBF would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants, attendees, speakers and staff for a successful Focus Day and a fantastic conference, and looks forward with great anticipation to the 2027 conference. The 21st CE Practical Days will take place next year on the following dates:

• 27 April 2027: Focus Day
• 28–29 April 2027: CE Conference