EN17460 standard brings new development opportunities

The European standard EN17460 "bonding manufacturing of rail vehicles and their components" is an upgrade based on the original German standard DIN6701 series of standards. The content and overall framework of the EN17460 standard are basically consistent with the DIN6701 series of standards. The DIN6701 series of standards is the first DIN standard on quality assurance of adhesive joints. After more than ten years of promotion and development, it has achieved great success. From the initial mandatory standard in the Federal Republic of Germany, it has developed into a widely accepted standard in the global rail transit industry and its component bonding production process. However, with the rapid development of the global rail transit industry, the DIN6701 series of standards, as the mandatory standards in the Federal Republic of Germany, have gradually been unable to meet the requirements. Upgrading to EN17460 will be more conducive to the internationalization of the standard.

The EN17460 standard will be officially published in October 2022, and the next three years will serve as a transition period. During the three-year transition period: EN17460 and the DIN6701 series of standards will coexist. During the coexistence stage, the two standards will be regarded as equivalent. After the transition, the DIN6701 series of standards will be withdrawn. In EN17460, personnel involved in bonding work are divided into three levels based on their technical abilities, knowledge and experience: Level 1 has comprehensive technical capabilities - European Bonding Engineer (EAE); Level 2 has comprehensive technical capabilities - European Bonding Technician (EAS); Level 3 with basic technical competencies - European Operating Technician (EAB). The guidelines for training personnel at different levels have also changed accordingly. The EAE training standards have been changed from DVS-EWF3309 and EWF517 to EWF662; the EAS training standards have also been changed from DVS-EWF3301 and EWF516 to EWF662; the EAB standards have been changed from DVS 3305 and EWF515 to EWF 515.

After DIN6701 is upgraded to EN17460, it will bring new changes and new opportunities. As the exclusive authorized certification body of IFAM in China, Yifa New Materials Research Institute has accumulated a lot of experience in the certification of DIN6701 series standards and the training of relevant personnel after years of intensive cultivation. After the EN17460 standard is officially published, we will continue to do a good job in certification and personnel training related to the new standard.