It is mandatory for the manufacturer to supply the customer with instructions and an EC declaration of conformity for each machine. In the case of partly completed machinery, assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation must be supplied.
Technical documents (which must be produced before the product is placed on the market and which include the risk assessment for example) may remain with the manufacturer. There is no obligation to supply these to the customer. However, these documents must be archived by the manufacturer for ten years after the product is placed on the market and must be submitted to the market surveillance authorities on request. The same rule applies to the instructions for use.