Operator manuals, safety data sheets, SOPs, and labels keep plants running and products legal to sell. Our manufacturing translation services cover all of them for documentation, EHS, and quality teams.
Translation overruns in manufacturing rarely start with a bad translator. They start earlier, in how content gets written, stored, and changed before a translator ever sees it.
The cost goes beyond the invoice. In a 2019 survey of U.S. employers by ACTFL, 22% of manufacturers said they had lost business or couldn’t pursue it because of language barriers.
Ten products in four languages means forty manuals. Add a product family and two EU markets and the count jumps again.
Much of that text repeats from one manual to the next: safety notes, warnings, maintenance intervals. If nobody tracks those repeated blocks, you pay to translate the same paragraph every time it appears.
A revised torque value or a new accessory changes three pages. In a Word and PDF workflow, the whole document goes back out for quoting, because nobody can isolate the changed text cleanly. Across a year of engineering changes, that is where the budget disappears.
When different translators or agencies handle different manuals without a shared glossary, the same component picks up different names. Service technicians spot it first, then customers. A glossary agreed before translation starts prevents most of it.
Translated text grows. German and Finnish run longer than English, so a label that fits an HMI (human-machine interface) button in the source overflows in translation, and manual tables reflow.
Structured files such as XML or InDesign carry tags a careless vendor will break. Then someone on your team loses a week rebuilding layouts.
Language requirements carry legal weight. OSHA’s 2010 training standards policy statement says training required by OSHA standards must be given in a language and vocabulary employees understand, and compliance officers check for it during inspections.
In the EU, Article 31(5) of REACH requires the safety data sheet (SDS) in an official language of each Member State where the substance or mixture is placed on the market, unless that country provides otherwise. An English-only SDS won’t satisfy most EU countries.
Two EU rules raise the stakes on translated instructions, and they arrive six weeks apart.
The new directive applies to products placed on the EU market or put into service after this date.
When a product’s defectiveness is assessed, its presentation counts, including labelling and the instructions for assembly, installation, use, and maintenance.
Warnings can’t make an otherwise defective product safe.
The regulation replaces the Machinery Directive.
Instructions for use may be digital, provided users can download and print them, and the machine, its packaging, or its paperwork tells them how to find them.
Users can request a paper copy free of charge at the time of purchase.
Instructions and safety information must be in a language users can easily understand, as decided by the Member State where the machinery is sold.
Selling machinery into several EU countries means a current language version for each market, in a format users can save. Day translates and formats those versions. Your regulatory team decides which documents, markets and languages the rules require, and we work to that scope.
Different teams create content at different stages of a product’s life. We group documents the same way, so each team can see where its files fit.
Clear translation matters when operators, engineers, and quality teams need to follow the same procedures across languages.
Most translation spend is decided before your files reach a vendor. These three changes cut it the most and we can help with each one.
Translation memory is a database of previously translated content that can be reused across projects. When the same safety note appears in a new manual, the system identifies the existing translation so it can be reused or adapted.
The savings can grow as your technical writers standardize repeated text. One approved wording for “Disconnect power before servicing” can be reused across manuals and revisions, reducing repeated translation work while keeping terminology consistent.
When an updated manual arrives, translation memory and source comparison can separate previously translated content from new or revised text. This keeps translation and review focused on what actually changed instead of reprocessing unchanged sections.
For recurring technical documentation, the amount of previous translation that can be reused is one factor considered when pricing the updated project.
Manufacturers can submit Word and PDF files, but providing the original editable source can simplify formatting and production. Day Translations supports Word, PDF, InDesign, FrameMaker, and XML, with complex layouts potentially requiring additional desktop-publishing work.
If your team uses structured XML content, mention it when requesting a quote. Translation memory and terminology management can support recurring technical documentation and help maintain consistency across projects.
Every technical document we translate follows one process, from the first file you send to the last QA check.
Stage 1 · You send
Source files, editable where possible
Target languages and markets
Any existing glossary, style guide, or previous translations
Your deadline
Stage 2 · Our team
A project manager reviews the files, language requirements, formatting, subject matter, and deadline before confirming the quote. Pricing depends on factors including language, length, subject matter, formatting, and deadline.
We can use translation memory and glossary tools to maintain consistent terminology across recurring manufacturing documentation.
We assign qualified linguists with relevant subject-matter expertise for technical content.
A second qualified linguist independently reviews the translation as part of our ISO 17100 workflow. We hold ISO 17100:2015 certification.
We perform final quality checks and terminology checks before delivery.
We return the translated document in the agreed editable or final format, with formatting handled as part of the project requirements.
We provide project management and remain available for feedback and adjustments. Our published service pages also offer a lifetime guarantee on translation work.
Turnaround is agreed in your SLA, and new and changed products go through a continuous workflow as soon as they're added. Faster delivery may be available for urgent projects.
Stage 3 · Your engineers
Your technical teams can provide feedback on the translated material, while terminology and translation-memory resources help maintain approved wording across recurring projects.
Feedback and adjustments are supported as part of the delivery process, and approved terminology can be maintained for future work.
AI translation can accelerate high-volume business content, while human linguists review the output for accuracy, terminology, and context. The appropriate workflow depends on the content, quality requirements, and risk involved.
| Content | Workflow |
|---|---|
| Safety warnings, SDS, new manuals, declarations of conformity, and patents | Expert translation plus independent revision |
| Recurring technical content with approved terminology | Machine translation with human post-editing |
| Internal, low-risk business content | Machine translation with appropriate human review |
Post-editing means a professional linguist corrects machine-translated content to meet the required quality level. AI post-editing and machine-translation analytics can be used to measure editing effort, quality, and cost.
Manufacturing files hold what competitors would like to see: unreleased designs, supplier pricing, process parameters. Our controls are documented in the Trust Center, and your IT or procurement team can request the evidence directly.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified information security management system, audited annually by an accredited third party
SOC 2 controls aligned to the Trust Services Criteria
AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit
Mandatory multi-factor authentication and role-based access
Region-specific data storage, with EU data kept in the EU
NDA-bound staff and linguists, with an NDA available on request
Security and privacy policies covering data handling and disposal
Security documentation, certificates and a Data Processing Agreement available on request, with responses typically within 1-2 business days
Some conversations can’t wait for a document. Supplier audits, commissioning visits, negotiations, and on-site safety training need an interpreter in the room or on the line.
Day Interpreting can place an in-person interpreter with 24 hours’ notice, or connect you in real time through the Day Interpreting app. Tesla has entrusted Day Interpreting for Japanese interpretation since 2017.
Our experience includes
Our manufacturing experience covers consumer production, chemicals, energy, machinery, sports equipment, and construction.
Vehicle and parts makers can find more detail on our automotive translation page.
Medical device manufacturers should see life sciences translation.
Manufacturers including American Global Maritime Inc., AirTronic USA, and Pottorff have used our services. We have completed more than 15,000 interpretations and translations across our work.
We hold ISO 17100:2015 certification for translation services and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for information security. We have also been a corporate member of the American Translators Association since 2007 and hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Raw machine translation should not be presented as sufficient for high-risk technical or compliance content. Day's current AI offering uses human-in-the-loop QA, with certified linguists validating AI output.
An SDS must generally be supplied in an official language of the relevant Member State under REACH Article 31(5), unless the Member State provides otherwise. The exact requirements should be checked for each market.
Yes. Word and PDF are supported. Editable source files can simplify formatting and production, particularly for complex documents.
The existing translation memory can reduce the per-word cost because previously translated strings are reused. Pricing also depends on volume, language pairs, complexity, file formats, and related requirements.
Yes. Certified translations are available for patents and official documents, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. Notarization and apostille services are also available where required by the receiving authority. Patent translations can be certified for use with patent offices, including the USPTO, EPO, and WIPO.
Standard projects are usually delivered within 24 to 72 hours. Larger manuals and multilingual releases are scoped individually, with the project manager confirming the delivery schedule after reviewing the files and requirements.
Upload one manual or a sample section and list your target markets. A project manager will come back with questions, scope, timeline, and price.
Preparing for the Machinery Regulation or the new EU product liability rules? Include your current language list with the files so the project can be scoped accurately.
