Posted By D. Hilton
Julian,
You do not specify a date of manufacture other than post 1992; it could be that the equipment may be exempted from the requirements of the Supply of Machinery Regs if it was put into use prior to 31st December 1994 (providing it was compliant with UK H & S provisions at that time).

Another area for consideration is the fact that the equipment is fourth hand and notwithstanding the fact that it is currently being refurbished, it could well have been refurbished by the previous owners.

Dependant on the degree of refurbishment and the arrangements made with the party carrying out the most recent refurbishment, it could well be the case that this party is now placing the equipment on the European market for the first time and in such a case this organisation should be providing a CE mark and Declaration of Conformity.

In reply to your main question relating to the supply of documentation that could reasonably be expected (irrespective of bespoke manufacture), the equipment should have been provided with a Declaration of Conformity to the requirements of the Machinery Directive 89/392/EEC (Directive in force at that time) in addition the original manufacture should have put together a technical file which should have been retained by the manufacturer for a period of ten years.