Translate Technical Documents for the UK Market

Inaccurate translations in technical documents aren’t just embarrassing, they can lead to safety issues, compliance failures, and damaged customer trust. If you're a business exporting to or operating within the UK, technical translation isn’t optional. It's a requirement for clarity, legal conformity, and customer confidence.

At Tongue Tied, we specialise in translating technical documents for UK market entry, compliance, and ongoing operations across regulated sectors. Here’s what that means and why it matters.

What Counts as Technical Documentation?

"Technical documents" cover a broad range of formats, depending on your industry. In general, they include:

• User manuals and operating instructions

• Safety data sheets (SDS)

• Maintenance and installation guides

• Technical specifications and engineering drawings

• Product catalogues and labels

• Instructions for Use (IFUs) for medical devices

These documents typically contain detailed processes, measurements, warnings, and standards and they must be translated with precision, not flair.

Why UK-Specific Translation Matters

Following Brexit, the UK now maintains different rules to the EU for many industries. This affects everything from unit labelling to document layout.

Key considerations:

• Metric/Imperial accuracy: A common UK requirement is converting mm to inches or kg to lb, especially in safety manuals or packaging.

• Decimal standardisation: UK documents use decimal points, not commas ("1.5 mm" not "1,5 mm").

• UKCA compliance: Products require UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) markings and supporting materials.

• UK spelling and phrasing: Manuals must reflect British English, not American or EU variants.

• Medical Devices: IFUs must match MHRA submission requirements, which differ from the EU MDR.

If you skip these details, you risk non-compliance, or worse, misuse of your product.

Common Mistakes in Technical Translation

Even experienced teams often get caught out by these pitfalls:

• Translating word-for-word without understanding technical meaning

• Incorrect unit conversions or symbol misplacement

• Inconsistent terminology across multi-document kits

• Lack of formatting precision when translating manuals with diagrams or tables

• Regulatory mismatches (e.g. using EMA templates for UK MHRA submissions)

All of these can lead to delays in product launches or fines from regulatory bodies.

Our Translation Process for Technical Documents (UK-Focused)

1. Scope & compliance check: We assess what regulations apply (UKCA, MHRA, FCA, ISO).

2. Glossary creation: Industry-specific terms (e.g. torque, PSI, ingress protection) are logged and verified.

3. Translation memory (TM) applied: For faster, consistent output and reduced cost.

4. Specialist linguists: Your project is handled by native speakers with technical backgrounds (engineering, pharma, medtech).

5. Dual QA review: All files are proofread and reviewed under ISO 17100 workflows.

6. Version control and secure delivery: All versions are tracked and encrypted.

7. Optional in-country review: Especially useful for high-risk sectors like healthcare or aerospace.

Sectors We Support

We regularly translate technical documentation for clients in:

• Engineering & manufacturing (tooling, robotics, electronics)

• Medical devices (IFUs, labels, safety documents)

• Automotive & transport (manuals, diagnostics)

• Pharmaceutical (SmPC, RMPs, packaging)

• Energy & utilities (safety guides, compliance manuals)

If your industry involves compliance, safety, or precision, technical translation is critical.

Case Study: Engineering Manuals for UK Market

A UK manufacturer of precision tools needed:

• 5 product manuals translated into French, Italian, and German

• Layout matching for illustrations and tables

• Metric and imperial unit cross-checking

Results:

• Consistency ensured with TM across all product lines

• Saved 58% on cost compared to traditional per-word pricing

• Delivered within 4 days and passed distributor inspection with no revisions

Why Work with Tongue Tied?

• Over 30 years' experience working with UK and global manufacturers

• ISO 17100 certified processes

• Members of ITI and ATC

• Secure handling (GDPR, ISO 27001-aligned systems)

• Over 200 language combinations including right-to-left and Asian scripts

We understand what "fit for purpose" really means in the UK context.

Turnaround & Pricing Guide

Document Type	Turnaround	TM Savings Potential
Single manual (1 language)	3–4 working days	Up to 60%
Multi-language document kit	5–7 working days	High
Document updates / changes	1–2 days	Very High

All quotes are fixed and include revision handling. Rush delivery available.

FAQs

Q: Can you translate XML or InDesign layouts? Yes. We support multilingual DTP and XML-tagged content.

Q: Can you localise for both UK and EU markets? Absolutely. We adapt translations for UKCA and CE in parallel.

Q: Are uncommon languages like Japanese or Polish available? Yes—we cover over 200 language combinations.

Q: Is MT an option for technical texts? We recommend human translation only for technical content. Post-editing is possible but not ideal for safety-critical material.

Ready to Translate Your Technical Documents?

To get started, email us at sales@ttmltd.com or call +44 1606 352 527.

You can also connect with Richard on LinkedIn for practical advice and free resources.

Tongue Tied. Trusted for clear, compliant, and UK-ready technical translations.