Technical Translation Services
Technical translation services in London and the UK deliver ISO 17100-certified engineering, patent, and manufacturing translations in 200+ languages from £30 per page.
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What we do
Our services
What are technical translation services?
Technical translation services are ISO 17100-certified language services that convert engineering, scientific, and industrial documentation between languages using subject-matter expert linguists, controlled terminology, and translation memory, preserving technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and end-user safety across every target market.
Which technical documents do we translate?
We translate the full technical documentation stack: user manuals, installation guides, engineering drawings, safety data sheets, patents, standard operating procedures, technical datasheets, tender documents, CAD files, software strings, and regulatory dossiers, all under ISO 17100 quality control from £30 per page.
How does the ISO 17100 technical translation workflow work?
The ISO 17100 technical translation workflow runs in 7 controlled stages: project scoping, terminology extraction, translation memory leverage, SME translation, independent revision by a second qualified linguist, in-country technical review, and DTP with final QA sign-off, all documented in an auditable project record.
Which specialist technical sectors do we cover?
We cover 10 specialist technical sectors under dedicated linguist teams: mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, civil and construction, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, energy and oil and gas, IT and software localisation, and manufacturing, each mapped to the ISO, EN, and UK regulatory frameworks that govern their documentation.
How much do technical translation services cost in the UK?
Technical translation services in the UK start from £30 per page for standard content, with per-word rates between £0.10 and £0.18 depending on language pair, subject complexity, and volume, and additional layers priced separately for DTP, sworn certification, and same-day London turnaround before 11:00 GMT.
Which languages do we translate technical content into?
We translate technical content into 200+ languages, with the highest-volume UK pairs being English into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, plus every EU official language required for CE/UKCA and MDR compliance.
Buyers commissioning Translation Services for engineering, patents, and regulated technical documentation need more than fluent linguists — they need an auditable ISO 17100 workflow, controlled terminology, and delivery in the exact format their production line, patent office, or notified body expects.
How do technical translation services work in practice?
Technical translation services work by routing every source file through a 7-stage ISO 17100 workflow: scoping, terminology extraction, translation memory leverage, SME translation, revision by a second linguist, in-country technical review, and DTP with final QA sign-off, producing documentation that is terminologically consistent, legally admissible, and safe to use on the shop floor. Each stage is a mandatory checkpoint — no segment reaches the client until it has passed both the primary linguist and an independent reviser, a dual-sign-off requirement that ISO 17100 § 3.1.4 mandates for all qualifying projects. Terminology is locked in a bilingual glossary and a TBX termbase before translation begins, and every approved segment feeds a TMX translation memory that carries forward into future revisions of the same document family, reducing both cost and risk on repeat work.
Turnaround is matched to project scale: documents below 1,000 words placed before 11:00 GMT London time qualify for same-day delivery, standard datasheets and short technical briefs are returned within 24–48 hours, and large-volume projects exceeding 10,000 words are managed against agreed milestones so engineering teams can review early sections while later ones are still in progress. Our CAT tool stack — SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, SDL MultiTerm, and Xbench QA — enforces consistency checks and flags inconsistencies automatically before human QA sign-off.
| Layer | What it delivers | UK price basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard technical translation | ISO 17100 workflow, two linguists, TMX memory | From £30 per page / £0.10–£0.18 per word |
| Same-day London rush | <1,000 words placed before 11:00 GMT | +25% to +50% surcharge |
| DTP / CAD rework | InDesign, FrameMaker, AutoCAD re-layout | Quoted per file |
| Certified / sworn layer | ISO 17100 statement or court-appointed stamp | Fixed fee per document |
What are technical translation services?
Technical translation services are ISO 17100-certified language services that convert engineering, scientific, and industrial documentation between languages using subject-matter expert linguists, controlled terminology, and translation memory, preserving technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and end-user safety across every target market. The service covers more than 200 languages and encompasses document types ranging from user manuals and instructions for use to patents, safety data sheets, engineering drawings, datasheets, SOPs, tender documents, software strings, and full regulatory dossiers — giving a UK manufacturer a single point of accountability regardless of how diverse its target-market portfolio becomes.
How does technical translation differ from general translation?
Technical translation differs from general translation four measurable ways:
- Mandatory subject-matter expertise — translators must be native speakers of the target language and hold either a subject-field degree or at least five years of documented experience in the discipline, as required under ISO 17100 § 3.1.4.
- Controlled terminology under ISO 17100 § 5.3.1 — every project runs against a locked termbase before a linguist types a target segment, with deliverables including a bilingual glossary, TBX termbase, and TMX translation memory.
- Translation memory reuse — segment matches from prior revisions of the same manual, patent family, or datasheet feed forward into the new job, cutting turnaround time and protecting consistency across document versions.
- Formal in-country technical review — a target-market subject expert validates the copy before release, catching regional standards drift a linguist alone cannot spot and ensuring the finished document is fit for its intended regulatory environment.
Which industries rely on technical translation the most?
Engineering, manufacturing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, energy, aerospace, automotive, IT and software, patents, and construction rely most on technical translation, because their documentation carries CE/UKCA marking, MDR, REACH, or ISO conformity obligations in every market they enter. Regulated fields such as medical devices and pharmaceuticals command the upper end of the per-word range because clinical, legal, and safety consequences compound with every mistranslated term. UK businesses exporting machinery must also meet Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC requirements, meaning the translated instruction set is a legal instrument as much as a practical guide.
Which technical documents can be translated?
We translate the full technical documentation stack — user manuals, installation guides, engineering drawings, safety data sheets, patents, standard operating procedures, technical datasheets, tender documents, CAD files, software strings, and regulatory dossiers — all under ISO 17100 quality control from £30 per page. See the deeper Technical Document Translation cluster for document-by-document specifications.
| Document class | Typical file format | Governing framework | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| User manuals / IFUs | IDML, MIF, DOCX | Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, MDR 2017/745 | 24–48h to milestone |
| Engineering drawings | DWG, DXF, SolidWorks | ISO 128, BS EN standards | Milestone |
| Safety data sheets | DOCX, XML | REACH (EC) 1907/2006, CLP (EC) 1272/2008 | 24–48h |
| Patents | DOCX, PDF | EPO Rule 7, UKIPO validation | Milestone |
| Software strings | XLIFF, JSON, YAML, RESX | Locale conventions | Milestone |
| Technical extracts <1,000 words | Any | ISO 17100 | Same-day before 11:00 GMT |
How do you translate user manuals and instructions for use (IFU)?
User manuals and IFUs are translated in the source layout (InDesign IDML, FrameMaker MIF, or Word), reviewed against controlled terminology, and returned print-ready, meeting Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Annex I and MDR 2017/745 Annex I § 23 requirements for target-market language. Every figure callout, warning symbol, and cross-reference is verified during DTP so shop-floor operators read exactly the same layout in every language.
How are engineering drawings and CAD files translated?
Engineering drawings in DWG, DXF, or SolidWorks are translated by extracting text layers, translating in a CAT tool, and re-injecting labels, dimensions, and notes without disturbing geometry, then verified against the original by a second engineer-linguist under ISO 17100 revision. Unit conventions (mm vs inch, comma vs decimal point) are switched to target-market standards during QA.
How do you handle safety data sheets and REACH documentation?
Safety data sheets are translated to the 16-section structure required by REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 Annex II and CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, using validated hazard-statement libraries so H-codes and P-codes remain legally identical across every EU and UK target language. The workflow runs in this fixed order:
- Extract the 16 REACH/CLP sections from the source SDS.
- Map hazard statements (H-codes) and precautionary statements (P-codes) to the target-language ECHA library.
- Translate free-text sections against the client’s approved chemical termbase.
- Revise segment-by-segment against ISO 17100 § 5.3.3 checkpoints.
- Reformat to the source layout and QA against the original CAS numbers and concentrations.
How is patent documentation translated for the UKIPO and EPO?
Patent documentation is translated by a technical linguist with claims-drafting experience, following EPO Rule 7 and UKIPO validation requirements, preserving claim numbering, priority-date wording, and defined terms verbatim, then reviewed by a second patent specialist before certified delivery. National validation rules vary by state under Article 65(1) EPC as modified by the London Agreement; countries such as Spain still require a full translation of the granted patent, while contracting states sharing an EPO official language waive the requirement. See Patent & Regulatory Technical Translation for jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction requirements.
How it works
How does the ISO 17100 technical translation workflow work?
1
What happens during project scoping and file analysis?
During scoping we analyse file formats, word count, repetition rate against existing translation memory, target languages, regulatory framework, and delivery deadline, then return a fixed GBP quote in under 60 minutes for standard document packs during London business hours.
2
How is terminology extracted and managed?
Terminology is extracted with corpus-analysis tools (SDL MultiTerm Extract, memoQ QTerm), validated against the client’s approved glossary or industry standards such as IEC 60050 and ISO 704, and locked into a project termbase that every linguist must query before translating. At project close, three terminology-management deliverables are handed back to the client:
- Bilingual glossary — human-readable Excel or CSV.
- Termbase in TBX — importable into any ISO-compliant CAT tool.
- Translation memory in TMX — portable across SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, and Phrase.
The result: future technical work compounds instead of restarting from zero.
3
Who translates the source text?
Source text is translated by a linguist who is a native speaker of the target language, meets ISO 17100 § 3.1.4 competence criteria (a recognised degree in translation, a degree in another field plus two years of documented full-time translation experience, or five years of documented full-time experience), holds subject-field qualifications or 5+ years of documented experience in the technical domain, and works exclusively into their mother tongue.
4
How is revision performed by a second linguist?
Revision is performed by a second qualified linguist who compares the source and target segment-by-segment against ISO 17100 § 5.3.3 checkpoints, verifying:
- Terminology consistency against the locked termbase.
- Factual and numeric integrity (part numbers, tolerances, dosages, CAS numbers).
- Register and target-audience appropriateness.
- Completeness — no segment omitted, no untranslated placeholder.
- Compliance with client style guide and target-market conventions.
Tracked changes are returned to the primary translator for reconciliation before the file moves to in-country review.
5
What does in-country technical review add?
In-country technical review adds a subject-matter expert based in the target market who validates industry usage, brand voice, and jurisdictional wording, catching issues a linguist alone cannot spot, such as market-specific unit conventions, regional standards drift, or evolving regulator terminology.
6
How is DTP and final QA delivered?
DTP re-flows translated text into the source layout in InDesign, FrameMaker, or AutoCAD, corrects line breaks and hyphenation for the target script, then a final QA pass using Xbench verifies numbering, cross-references, tables of contents, and figure callouts before sign-off and secure delivery.
What we offer
Which specialist technical sectors are covered?
We cover 10 specialist technical sectors under dedicated linguist teams — mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, civil and construction, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, energy and oil and gas, IT and software localisation, and manufacturing — each mapped to the ISO, EN, and UK regulatory frameworks that govern their documentation. Every sector team is staffed by translators who are native speakers of their target language and hold either a relevant degree or five or more years of verified industry experience, satisfying the translator qualification requirements that ISO 17100 § 3.1.4 sets out.
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Work instructions and job aids.
- ISO 9001 quality manuals.
- Factory acceptance test (FAT) protocols.
- Preventive maintenance schedules.
Pricing
How much do technical translation services cost in the UK?
Technical translation services in the UK start from £30 per page, with per-word rates between £0.10 and £0.18 depending on language pair, subject complexity, and volume, and additional layers priced separately for DTP, sworn certification, and same-day London turnaround before 11:00 GMT. Detailed rate cards and quote paths sit Technical Translation Languages, Cost & Quotes.
| Content type | Indicative GBP rate per word |
|---|---|
| Standard technical (engineering manuals, datasheets) | £0.10 – £0.18 |
| Highly regulated (MDR IFUs, pharmaceutical dossiers) | £0.18 – £0.30+ |
| Rare language pairs (e.g. English ↔ Finnish, Korean, Icelandic) | Upper range + premium |
| Rush surcharge (same-day / next-day) | +25% to +50% |
| MTPE (post-edited machine translation, on request) | 50% – 70% of standard rate |
What drives the price of a technical translation?
Price is driven by 6 factors:
- Source and target language pair — rare pairs cost more.
- Word count net of translation memory repetitions.
- Subject-matter complexity (medical devices and patents sit at the top).
- File format and DTP effort (IDML, MIF, DWG add engineering time).
- Turnaround deadline (rush adds 25%–50%).
- Certification layer — certified, sworn, or notarised.
How does translation memory reduce cost on repeat projects?
Translation memory reduces cost on repeat projects by matching new segments against previously approved translations, with 100% matches billed at 20–30% of the full rate and fuzzy matches at 50–70%, delivering measurable savings on manual updates, product-family variants, and annual regulatory refreshes. Technical documentation has high internal repetition, so TM leverage compounds year on year.
How fast can you deliver a technical translation?
We deliver on a fixed turnaround matrix:
- Same-day for technical extracts under 1,000 source words placed in London before 11:00 GMT.
- 24 to 48 hours for datasheets and legal-technical packs up to ~5,000 words.
- Milestone delivery for technical projects above 10,000 words, with a realistic professional pace of ~1,500 words per linguist per day for complex technical manuals.
Which languages can technical content be translated into?
We translate technical content into more than 200 languages, covering the full range of markets that UK exporters, patent applicants, and regulated manufacturers encounter. Every linguist working on a technical project is a native speaker of the target language — a non-negotiable qualification under ISO 17100 § 3.1.4 — which means the translated documentation reads with the precision and register that engineers, regulators, and end users in that market expect, not as a foreign-produced approximation.
The highest-volume UK pairs are English into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and we cover every EU official language required for CE/UKCA marking, MDR 2017/745 labelling compliance, and REACH safety data sheet obligations. Less requested pairs — including Finnish, Icelandic, Slovenian, and Estonian — carry a smaller qualified talent pool and are priced at the upper end of the per-word range, though turnaround targets remain the same: same-day for short urgent documents below 1,000 words submitted before 11:00 GMT London time, 24–48 hours for datasheets, and milestone-based scheduling for projects exceeding 10,000 words. Translation memories and approved termbases built on English source documentation are portable across all target languages, so a glossary developed for a French machinery manual automatically seeds the Spanish, Italian, and Polish versions of the same project.
About
What quality and confidentiality guarantees apply?
Every technical translation is covered by ISO 17100 quality control, a signed NDA with every linguist, UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 handling, and professional indemnity insurance, with a documented complaint and rework procedure closing any issue within 5 working days. Quality is not a post-delivery check: it is enforced at each of the seven workflow stages, with Xbench QA running automated terminology and consistency validation before the project manager issues final sign-off. The combination of two-linguist review, locked termbases, and automated QA means that the translation your team receives is consistent with every prior version of the same document and with the regulatory terminology your certification body expects to see.
What does ISO 17100 certification actually cover?
ISO 17100 certification covers translator qualifications, revision by a second independent linguist, project management competence, terminology and technology resources, and record-keeping, audited annually by an accredited certification body to verify continued conformity. Under its translator qualification requirements, every linguist assigned to a project must be a native speaker of the target language and hold either a subject-field degree or five or more years of documented professional experience in that discipline — a standard that rules out generalist translators regardless of their language proficiency. Deliverables produced under ISO 17100 include the translated and revised document, a bilingual glossary, a TBX termbase, and a TMX translation memory that the client retains for future projects. Machine translation post-editing and interpreting sit outside its scope and are governed separately.
How is client data protected during a technical project?
Client data is protected through encrypted file transfer over TLS 1.3, storage on UK-hosted servers, and role-based access limited to the assigned project team. Every linguist and reviewer signs a confidentiality agreement before receiving any source material, and processing of personal data contained within technical documents — such as regulatory dossiers or clinical trial documentation — is handled in full compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Source files are permanently deleted 90 days after delivery on request, and clients requiring shorter retention windows specify this at the project scoping stage. Our professional indemnity insurance provides an additional financial backstop in the event that an error in a delivered translation causes demonstrable loss.
How do you get a quote for technical translation?
Getting a quote is a four-step process designed to move from first contact to active project within a single business day. We accept source files in all standard technical formats — including IDML, MIF, DWG, DXF, XML, DITA, S1000D, XLIFF, JSON, YAML, RESX, and scanned PDFs processed through OCR — so there is no need to convert or reformat documents before submitting them.
- Send source files, target languages, and deadline through the online quote form or by email — attaching the actual files rather than describing them gives us the word count, format complexity, and file-type information needed to price accurately.
- Receive a fixed GBP quote within 60 minutes during London business hours. The quote confirms per-word or per-page rate, any DTP or CAD rework charges, the assigned turnaround tier (same-day, 24–48 h, or milestone-based), and the ISO 17100 workflow that will apply.
- Approve scope and NDA electronically. Confidentiality protection is in place before any source material is distributed to the translation team.
- The project starts under a named project manager the same day. For large projects exceeding 10,000 words, the project manager issues a milestone schedule so your engineering or regulatory team reviews early sections while later ones are still in progress.
Pricing for standard technical translation starts from £30 per page, with per-word rates varying by language pair, subject complexity, and turnaround requirement. Rare language pairs and same-day rush orders carry a surcharge disclosed transparently in the fixed quote. There are no hidden minimum fees for short documents such as individual datasheets or single-page safety labels.