- What technical translation involves in industrial contexts
- What software localisation means for industrial products
- When to apply each approach, and when to combine them
- Selecting the right provider for industrial projects
- M21Global: technical translation and localisation for industrial companies
- Related Services
- Frequently Asked Questions
When an industrial company expands into new markets, it typically needs two things: documents translated and software adapted. These are related processes, but they are not the same thing. Treating them as interchangeable leads to problems: unusable interfaces, non-compliant documentation, or terminology that contradicts itself between the manual and the control panel. Understanding the difference before scoping a project saves considerable time and cost downstream.
What technical translation involves in industrial contexts
Technical translation is the transfer of specialised written content from one language to another, with full preservation of technical meaning. In industrial settings, this covers operation and maintenance manuals, safety data sheets (SDS), installation instructions, product specifications, calibration procedures, and regulatory documentation for CE marking or equipment approval.
The defining characteristic of technical translation is not just specialised vocabulary. It is the requirement for normalised, consistent terminology across a project, combined with subject-matter knowledge sufficient to interpret what is being described. A translator working on a hydraulic press maintenance manual needs to understand hydraulic systems, not just translate words. Errors in this type of content can affect operator safety or invalidate regulatory certification.
ISO 17100:2015 sets out quality requirements for translation services, including translator qualifications and review processes. For technical documentation with safety or regulatory implications, ISO 17100 certification is a meaningful criterion when evaluating providers.
What software localisation means for industrial products
Localisation goes further than translation. For industrial software, such as SCADA systems, HMI interfaces, manufacturing execution systems (MES), or equipment control panels, localisation means adapting the product so that it works correctly in the target market at every level: linguistic, functional, and technical.
This typically includes:
- UI string translation: menus, alerts, error messages, field labels, status indicators
- Format adaptation: date and time formats, decimal separators, measurement units
- Visual resizing: accommodating text expansion or contraction relative to the source language
- Functional validation: testing the interface after translated strings are integrated
- Help content and embedded documentation: adapting in-application guidance alongside the interface
On an automated production line, a mistranslated safety alert, a truncated error message, or a unit of measure that has not been converted is not a cosmetic issue. It is an operational risk. This is why industrial software localisation requires coordination between the translation team and the system engineers or integrators responsible for the product.
When to apply each approach, and when to combine them
The practical distinction is straightforward: if the deliverable is a document, the process is technical translation. If the deliverable is a functional software product, the process is localisation. In practice, most industrial projects require both.
Consider a piece of industrial equipment being exported to the French market. The company will typically need:
- Localisation of the equipment's HMI interface (software localisation)
- Translation of the operation manual and certification documentation (technical translation)
- Translation of safety data sheets for any fluids or chemicals involved (technical translation with specific regulatory requirements)
For companies managing projects of this kind, working with a provider experienced in technical document translation who can also handle software localisation has clear advantages: consistent terminology between the software and the printed documentation, shared translation memories and glossaries, and a single point of contact across the project.
The most common failure mode in localisation is treating it as a simple string translation exercise. Exporting resource files, translating the text, and reimporting without functional testing produces predictable problems: strings that overflow field boundaries, error messages that are grammatically correct in isolation but contextually wrong, and measurement units that remain unconverted. These issues surface during validation, typically when the delivery deadline is already under pressure.
Selecting the right provider for industrial projects
For projects that combine technical translation and software localisation, evaluation criteria should go beyond per-word rates. The relevant questions are:
- Sector experience: does the provider have a demonstrated track record in industrial automation, machinery, control systems, or regulated sectors?
- File format capability: competence with XLIFF, PO, JSON, XML, and proprietary resource formats, plus integration with CAT tools and TMS platforms
- Independent review process: for safety-critical or regulatory content, a second specialist reviewer is not optional
- Terminology management: client-specific glossaries, shared translation memories across projects, and consistency over time
- ISO 17100 certification: externally audited evidence that the process meets documented quality requirements
For teams sourcing user manual translation services or industrial interface localisation, the choice of provider directly affects both the quality of the output and the efficiency of the process.
M21Global: technical translation and localisation for industrial companies
M21Global has been providing technical translation and software localisation to industrial and engineering companies for over 20 years. With ISO 17100:2015 certification audited by Bureau Veritas and active presence in the main European and Lusophone markets, the company manages projects that integrate technical documentation and software localisation within a single quality workflow. For a detailed proposal tailored to the requirements of a specific project, contact M21Global directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between technical translation and software localisation?
Technical translation converts specialised documents between languages while preserving technical meaning. Software localisation adapts a digital product for a target market at linguistic, functional, and technical levels, including formats, units, and interface validation.
Does industrial software localisation require specialist technical review?
Yes. In industrial contexts such as HMI or SCADA interfaces, localisation errors can have operational or safety consequences. Review by a subject-matter specialist, in addition to a linguistic reviewer, is good practice and may be required by applicable regulations.
What file formats are used in industrial software localisation?
Common formats include XLIFF, PO, JSON, XML, and proprietary resource files. A qualified localisation provider should be able to handle these formats and integrate the workflow with CAT tools and translation management systems.
Can one provider handle both technical translation and software localisation for the same project?
Yes, and it is generally the more efficient option. It ensures consistent terminology between documentation and software, shared glossaries and translation memories, and a single point of contact for the entire project.
Does ISO 17100 certification apply to software localisation projects?
ISO 17100 defines requirements for translation services, including translator qualifications and review processes. Where localisation involves the translation of text, the same quality requirements apply to the linguistic component of the work.
