NACE 28.2 – Manufacture of Other General-Purpose Machinery | Public Tenders

NACE 28.2: Lifting equipment, packaging machinery and refrigeration plants in public tenders. CPV codes and contracts for logistics and storage in public operations.

Definition: NACE 28.2 covers the manufacture of other general-purpose machinery such as lifting and handling equipment, packaging and filling machinery, refrigeration machines and air conditioning equipment as well as heat exchangers. In public procurement, this machinery is particularly relevant for logistics, storage technology and building services.

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

What does NACE 28.2 cover?

NACE 28.2 (Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery) classifies producers of lifting equipment, conveyor systems, refrigeration plants, packaging machinery and similar general-purpose equipment — installations that are indispensable in warehouses, distribution centres, cold stores and buildings operated by public bodies.

Group 28.2 is broken down into the following classes:

Class	Title	Typical Products
28.21	Manufacture of ovens, furnaces and furnace burners	Industrial furnaces, burner systems for municipal heat supply
28.22	Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment	Cranes, forklift trucks, lifts, conveyor belts, escalators
28.23	Manufacture of office machinery and equipment	Copiers, printing systems (where not classified under 26)
28.24	Manufacture of power-driven hand tools	Drills, grinders for workshops
28.25	Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment	Cooling units, air conditioners, heat pumps
28.29	Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.	Packaging machinery, weighing equipment, spraying equipment

Public contracting authorities are above all operators of municipal markets, slaughterhouses, cold stores, postal centres, Bundeswehr logistics centres, customs authorities and public workshops.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 28.2

Lifting equipment and refrigeration plants are among the technical infrastructure investments with long service cycles — contracting authorities regularly procure new installations, modernisations and maintenance contracts in this segment.

Typical Contract Types

Lift installations: Supply and installation of passenger lifts and goods lifts in public buildings, railway stations and hospitals
Crane installations: Overhead and gantry cranes for municipal workshops, fire brigade depots and Bundeswehr sites
Refrigeration and air conditioning: Cooling units for data centres, food storage halls and medical facilities
Conveyor technology: Baggage handling systems at airports, postal sorting systems, automated storage technology
Heat pumps: Procurement as part of municipal heat-transition programmes
Maintenance framework agreements: Multi-year maintenance and servicing contracts for existing installations

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Supply and service contracts are subject to the general EU threshold of EUR 221,000 for public contracting authorities and EUR 443,000 for utility contracting entities (as of 2024/2025). Complex plant procurement with installation and integration is often classified as a works contract (threshold EUR 5,538,000).

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 28.2

CPV Code	Title	Scope
42400000	Lifting and handling equipment	Lifts, cranes, conveyor belts
42410000	Lifting and handling equipment	Forklift trucks, lifting platforms
42416000	Lifts, skip hoists, hoists, escalators and moving walkways	Passenger lifts, moving walkways
39717000	Fans and air-conditioning appliances	Refrigeration plants, air conditioning
42500000	Cooling and ventilation equipment	Industrial refrigeration, cold storage
42215000	Machinery for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink	Filling and packaging plant

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) via CPV search and on national portals.

Who is NACE 28.2 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

Municipalities, districts and state operations with their own storage areas, workshops or public buildings are the most important buyers. Federal authorities with logistics infrastructure (Bundeswehr, customs, federal police) and transport operators (railway stations, airports) regularly procure lifting equipment and conveyor systems.

Companies and Bidders

Manufacturers and system integrators in NACE 28.2 should have the following evidence prepared:

Technical capability: Reference projects, manufacturer certificates, test certificates under DGUV V 54 (cranes) or DGUV V 17 (lifts)
Quality evidence: ISO 9001, where applicable ISO 14001 for environmental technology products
Standards conformity: EN 13001 (cranes), EN 81 (lifts), F-Gas Regulation for refrigeration plants
Qualified installation: Evidence of qualified installation personnel and safety officers

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 28.2 and Public Tenders

Do lift installations fall under NACE 28.2 or under construction?
The manufacture of the lift falls under NACE 28.2 (28.22); the procurement and installation in public procurement is classified as either a supply or a works contract depending on the work share. Where the installation share predominates, it may constitute a works contract.

How are maintenance contracts for lifts and refrigeration plants classified in procurement law?
Maintenance contracts are service contracts. For mandatory regular inspections (e.g. TÜV approvals) under the German Industrial Safety Regulations (BetrSichV), separate procurement procedures are required if thresholds are reached.

What environmental requirements apply to the procurement of refrigeration plants?
The EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 517/2014 limits fluorinated greenhouse gases. Contracting authorities increasingly prefer natural refrigerants (CO₂, ammonia) and embed this in the technical specifications.

NACE 28.2 in context: Section C and Division 28

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 28.1 – Manufacture of general-purpose machinery: Pumps, compressors, fittings
NACE 28.3 – Manufacture of agricultural and forestry machinery: Tractors, combine harvesters
NACE 28.9 – Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery: Printing, mining and construction machinery

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