3:30 – 3:55 PM
Radio technology is now found in almost every smart product. In practice, we are increasingly seeing so-called 'combined products': end products in which one or more radio components are integrated, often sourced from external suppliers. This makes CE marking under the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU not merely an administrative exercise, but a strategic choice balancing efficiency, risk management and technical insights.
This presentation provides a brief overview of how to approach this process in a structured way, with particular attention to what is and isn't possible for product manufacturers who integrate a radio component inside their end product.
In this sense, the RED is structured around specific essential requirements, which together form the backbone of CE conformity for these types of products: A crucial observation is that these requirements always apply to the end product, regardless of whether the radio technology comes from a pre-certified module.
The use of such certified radio modules can deliver significant efficiency gains, but it is certainly not a “CE shortcut”. You cannot simply transfer the CE marking of the module to the end product, or assume that EMC or radio spectrum properties always remain valid after integration. The integrator also bears full responsibility for the RED conformity of the entire end product, including the radio technology.
CE marking for radio equipment, and especially for combined equipment, demands a strategic approach. By using the essential requirements of the RED as a guide, making smart use of existing module data, and remaining critical of integration effects, an efficient and robust conformity strategy can be established.
This presentation does not deliver a fit-for-all checklist, but something more important: a strategic framework to make better choices, without overlooking aspects, and with an eye for risks and pitfalls.
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