NACE 28 – Manufacture of Machinery and Equipment | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 28 covers the manufacture of machinery and equipment across the full spectrum – from general-purpose machinery (pumps, compressors, fittings), agricultural and forestry machinery and machine tools to specialised machinery for individual industries such as mining, food processing or printing. In public procurement, municipal technology, wastewater infrastructure and specialised equipment are particularly relevant.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 28 cover?

NACE 28 (Manufacture of machinery and equipment) classifies manufacturers of mechanical machinery and plant – an area that is especially relevant to the public sector for the procurement of infrastructure equipment and specialised vehicles.

Division 28 within Section C (Manufacturing) is broken down into nine groups:

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 28

Contracting authorities procure machinery in NACE 28 primarily for municipal infrastructure, wastewater and water supply facilities, as well as for public vehicle fleets and works depots.

Typical Contract Types

• Wastewater treatment plant technology: Pumps, compressors, agitators and aeration systems for municipal wastewater treatment plants
• Water supply: Water pumps, pressure control systems, fittings for water supply networks
• Municipal technology: Sweepers, snow-blower systems, green-space machines for municipal works depots
• Forestry machinery: Forestry tractors, harvesters and forwarders for municipal and state forestry administrations
• Lifting and conveyor technology: Lifts, conveyor belts and lifting equipment for public buildings
• Laboratory equipment: Measuring machines and testing equipment for public test institutes and universities

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Supply contracts for machinery in NACE 28 are subject to EU-wide tendering above EUR 221,000. Utility contracting entities (water supply, wastewater disposal) have a higher threshold of EUR 443,000. Simpler standard machines are procured under the open procedure, while complex installations are frequently procured under the negotiated procedure or as a competitive dialogue.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 28

Searching CPV codes in the 42000000 area (Industrial machinery) enables targeted identification of machinery tenders on procurement platforms.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public Contracting Authorities

In NACE 28, the most important contracting authorities are municipal own-account enterprises and public utilities (water supply, wastewater treatment plants), municipal works depots (municipal technology), state forestry administrations (forestry machinery) and universities and research institutions (laboratory machinery). Utility contracting entities in the water and wastewater sectors are subject to the Utilities Directive 2014/25/EU with its own procurement rules.

Companies and Bidders

Machinery manufacturers and dealers must typically provide the following evidence in public tendering:

• CE conformity: Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) and, where applicable, other relevant directives (ATEX, pressure equipment, lifts)
• Technical capability: Technical data sheets, approvals, test reports, reference lists
• Service network: Evidence of sufficient service and spare parts supply over the machine's service life
• Economic capability: Annual turnover, manufacturer's warranty, performance bond for larger projects
• Environmental requirements: Energy efficiency evidence, emissions compliance (e.g. engine emission standards)

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 28 and Public Tenders

Which machinery directives must be observed in public tendering?
The EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC, to be replaced by the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 from 2027) requires CE marking and a declaration of conformity. In addition, the Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU), Lifts Directive (2014/33/EU) or ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) may apply depending on the use case.

How are complex wastewater treatment plant equipment packages awarded?
Larger equipment packages for wastewater treatment plants (pumping station, aeration system, control technology) are often tendered as turnkey installations or in functional lots. The award frequently follows HOAI service phases: planning is awarded first, followed by supply and installation works.

Can used machinery be offered in public tendering?
In principle, yes, provided the contracting authority does not expressly exclude this. In practice, new machinery is usually required for municipal infrastructure projects, as maintenance contracts and warranty services are important award criteria.

How is forestry machinery procured for state forestry administrations?
Forestry machinery is often procured through framework agreements with multi-year terms. In addition to the purchase price, operating costs (life-cycle cost), ground pressure values, emission classes and service availability play an important role as award criteria.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section covering all manufacturing activities
• NACE 27 – Manufacture of electrical equipment: Electric motors, batteries, wiring devices
• NACE 29 – Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers: Vehicle manufacture and motor vehicle parts
• NACE 30 – Manufacture of other transport equipment: Shipbuilding, rail and aircraft construction

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.