October 2025 in Review: Key Manufacturing Engineering Standards – Part 2

Looking back at October 2025, the Manufacturing Engineering sector saw the publication of several pivotal standards shaping quality, safety, and digital transformation in manufacturing environments worldwide. This in-depth retrospective overview covers five essential standards released that month, encompassing electric hand-tool safety, additive manufacturing processes, process control integration, secure industrial communication, and advanced welding qualification. For engineering leaders, quality managers, compliance officers, and technical specialists, this review offers both a timely synthesis of developments and a practical resource for aligning with the latest requirements. Spanning domains such as hand-held electric tool safety, additive manufacturing feedstock characterization, industrial automation interoperability, security in OPC architectures, and laser/electron beam welding qualification, these standards reflect both the sector's challenges and its future direction. Staying current with these specifications is critical for ensuring compliance, operational safety, and global competitiveness.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

During October 2025, the Manufacturing Engineering sector experienced an active phase in standards development. Five new or revised standards were published, each representing pivotal aspects of contemporary manufacturing. The selection ranged from detailed safety protocols for electric tools and advanced welding qualification, to robust guidelines for secure industrial networking and digital integration. Compared to previous months, this period’s standards reveal a growing emphasis on:

• Cross-industry safety harmonization (notably for electrical hand-held tools)
• Performance and quality assurance in metal additive manufacturing
• Increased integration of digital and secure industrial communication architectures
• Rigorous process validation for advanced joining technologies

The publication mix illustrates an industry-wide push towards safer, more digitally-connected, and data-driven manufacturing operations. This aligns with global trends in smart manufacturing, digital thread initiatives, and process reliability across diverse manufacturing footprints.

Standards Published This Month

IEC 62841-2-4:2014 – Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Sanders and Polishers Other Than Disc Type

Electric motor-operated hand-held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery – Safety – Part 2-4: Particular requirements for hand-held sanders and polishers other than disc type

This standard addresses the safety requirements for various types of hand-held sanders and polishers, excluding disc-type tools (which are covered by IEC 62841-2-3). IEC 62841-2-4:2014 encompasses belt sanders, drum sanders or polishers, reciprocating, orbital, and random orbit types, with limits based on voltage and input power. Its provisions target both corded and battery-operated tools, specifying requirements for mechanical, electric, and operational safety.

Key focus areas include hazard prevention in normal and foreseeable misuse, marking and instructions, electrical protection, and endurance. The standard also addresses the specific needs related to dust extraction adapters, motion characteristics (such as oscillating or reciprocating movement), and instructions for safe operation. A 36-month national adoption period is recommended for manufacturers and test organizations.

Key highlights:

• Defines safety requirements for non-disc hand-held sanders and polishers
• Covers both portable and support-mounted operation
• Requires enhanced marking, safety warnings, and operational risk mitigation (e.g., for live wire contact)

Access the full standard:View IEC 62841-2-4:2014 on iTeh Standards

ISO/ASTM TR 52913-1:2025 – Guidelines for Powder Flow Characterization in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing – Feedstock materials – Part 1: Guidelines for the selection of measurement methods for characterization of powder flow properties

ISO/ASTM TR 52913-1:2025 was published to address a critical quality parameter in powder-based additive manufacturing: the flow properties of feedstock powders. The standard provides an exhaustive guide for selecting the most appropriate methods to measure powder flowability, covering both virgin and recycled powders processed through recovery and sieving cycles. It outlines key parameters, influencing factors (such as particle size distribution, rheology, and aggregation), and reporting requirements to support consistent, comparable, and actionable results.

Aimed at test equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, machine manufacturers, and users, this document fosters better process control and feedstock monitoring across the full additive manufacturing value chain. It is a foundational reference for optimizing build quality, process reliability, and feedstock management.

Key highlights:

• Offers guidance on powder flow measurement techniques applicable to new and used powders
• Suggests standardized reporting for improved process control and traceability
• Supports quality assurance in powder-based additive manufacturing environments

Access the full standard:View ISO/ASTM TR 52913-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN IEC 62453-1:2025 – Field Device Tool (FDT) Interface Specification – Overview and Guidance

Field device tool (FDT) interface specification – Part 1: Overview and guidance

A major update in the industrial process measurement and control domain, EN IEC 62453-1:2025 provides a comprehensive overview and introductory guidance for the FDT interface specification series. This edition replaces the 2016 version, incorporates technical changes, and expands on interoperability features—including the introduction of new implementation technologies and, notably, an OPC Unified Architecture (UA) information model for FDT integration.

The standard explains the structure and objectives of the IEC 62453 series, describes essential terminology, and clarifies relationships with other relevant standards such as IEC 61784 and IEC 61804. Of special interest to system integrators, device manufacturers, and automation engineers, it outlines benefits for device and module manufacturers, control system developers, and integrators seeking unified frameworks for device integration and management in heterogeneous automation environments.

Key highlights:

• Introduces an OPC UA information model for FDT, enabling better system integration
• Describes new implementation technologies for enhanced interoperability
• Offers practical guidance for navigating the entire IEC 62453 series

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 62453-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN IEC 62541-18:2025 – OPC Unified Architecture – Role-Based Security

OPC unified architecture – Part 18: Role-Based Security

EN IEC 62541-18:2025 represents a significant step forward in secure industrial data communication. This standard focuses exclusively on the information model for implementing role-based security within OPC UA architectures. By providing a structured model for defining, assigning, and managing security roles, it ensures that industrial control systems can rigorously manage user access based on job functions or operational roles. The move of this functionality from an annex in IEC 62541-5:2020 to a dedicated standard reflects the increasing importance of granular, flexible security models in Industry 4.0 environments.

Key users of this standard include industrial IT architects, automation engineers, and system integrators seeking to implement robust access control in digitalized manufacturing processes. It is integral for organizations aligning to cybersecurity best practices and regulatory requirements.

Key highlights:

• Formalizes a role-based security information model for OPC UA
• Facilitates secure, granular user and application access controls in industrial systems
• Replaces and expands security provisions previously covered in an annex of IEC 62541-5

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 62541-18:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15614-11:2025 – Welding Procedure Qualification for Electron and Laser Beam Welding

Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials – Welding procedure test – Part 11: Electron and laser beam welding

A crucial reference for manufacturers utilizing advanced welding methods, ISO 15614-11:2025 defines the requirements for qualifying welding procedures involving electron and laser beam techniques. Applicable to virtually all metallic materials, regardless of part geometry, thickness, or manufacturing method, the standard governs both production and repair work. It covers preliminary welding procedure specifications, testing of welds, test piece requirements, non-destructive and destructive test methods, acceptance criteria, and documentation of results.

Revision to the previous edition includes updated terminology, extended acceptance references in line with recently developed quality levels, and refined test methods. This ensures harmonization with the latest global welding codes, supporting product quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance for industries using high-energy beam welding.

Key highlights:

• Sets out qualification testing for electron and laser beam welding of metallic materials
• Updated to align with current international materials and testing frameworks
• Applies to both manufacturing and repair scenarios, supporting quality assurance and traceability

Access the full standard:View ISO 15614-11:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

October’s standardization activity in Manufacturing Engineering provides valuable insight into industry priorities:

• Digital transformation and interoperability: The prominence of FDT and OPC UA interface specifications (EN IEC 62453-1, EN IEC 62541-18) highlight a strategic focus on integrating process devices and ensuring secure, role-based data exchange. This is squarely aligned with global trends in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and smart manufacturing.
• Process safety and operational discipline: Enhanced hand-held tool safety (IEC 62841-2-4) and rigorous welding qualification (ISO 15614-11) underline a continuing industry-wide commitment to worker safety and process integrity.
• Data-driven quality assurance: Standards covering additive manufacturing feedstock (ISO/ASTM TR 52913-1) respond to the growing need for data-centric approaches to material input validation, reflecting the complexity of modern AM processes and the need for reliable, repeatable quality control frameworks.
• Cybersecurity and access control: With the dedicated OPC UA role-based security model, organizations are better positioned to manage expanding digitalization risks, ensuring only authorized personnel and applications can interact with critical process and control systems.

These publications reflect a landscape where converging priorities—digital enablement, safety, security, and advanced manufacturing—shape both strategic direction and technical implementation.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations in the manufacturing engineering sector, October 2025’s standards require measured action:

1. Gap Assessment: Review existing processes, tools, and documentation against the new and revised standards—focus on product safety procedures, additive feedstock controls, interface software, cybersecurity policies, and welding protocols.
2. Prioritize Updates:
   • Update safety instructions and markings for applicable hand-held sanders and polishers.
   • For powder-based additive manufacturing, adopt new flow property testing/reporting regimens as applicable.
   • Integrate OPC UA role-based security and FDT models into automation infrastructure.
   • Revise welding procedure tests and documentation to match updated ISO requirements.
3. Training and Change Management:
   • Ensure relevant staff—including operators, engineers, IT specialists, and QA managers—are briefed on new requirements and best practices.
   • Provide targeted training, especially in new security models and testing/reporting methodologies.
4. Compliance Timeline:
   • Consider IEC recommendations such as the 36-month transition period for IEC 62841-2-4.
   • Allow sufficient time for hardware/software updates, process revalidation, and internal audits.
5. Continuous Review:
   • Monitor for related updates, amendments, or corrigenda that may further impact implementation.
   • Utilize the iTeh Standards platform for ongoing access to up-to-date documentation and resources.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

In summary, October 2025 brought an important set of standards addressing both foundational and emerging challenges in manufacturing engineering. Among the highlights:

• IEC 62841-2-4 fortifies occupational safety practices for a broad family of electric power tools.
• ISO/ASTM TR 52913-1 legitimizes consistent, scientifically robust powder flow testing essential to additive manufacturing.
• EN IEC 62453-1 and EN IEC 62541-18 catalyze the journey towards secure, integrated digital manufacturing systems.
• ISO 15614-11 ensures that high-performance welded products meet the toughest global requirements for quality and reliability.

For professionals, staying current with these publications is essential—not merely for compliance, but as a lever for innovation, operational excellence, and sustained competitiveness. Engage with the detailed specifications, leverage the iTeh Standards platform for continuous updates, and position your organization at the forefront of manufacturing engineering best practices.