Technical and industrial translation

Technical translation built around terminology and real-world use

Technical translation requires more than accurate sentences in isolation. Terminology, instructions, warnings, figures, tables, units and cross-references must remain coherent throughout the document. A user manual, specification or operating procedure has a practical function, and the translation must preserve that function.

I have extensive experience translating technical manuals and documentation for domestic and industrial equipment, machinery, manufacturing and production systems, specifications, procedures, maintenance documentation, quality materials and other specialised technical content. I translate and check the work personally before delivery.

User, installation, operation and maintenance manuals

Manuals form a substantial part of my technical translation work. I handle documentation intended for end users as well as installers, service technicians, production and maintenance teams.

• User manuals and operating instructions
• Installation, assembly and configuration manuals
• Operation and maintenance manuals
• Service, troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures
• Warnings, precautions and safety instructions
• Components, controls, interfaces and system messages
• Tables, parts lists and internal references

Existing translations, manufacturer glossaries, approved terminology and related documentation can be used to maintain consistency across products, models and revisions.

Machinery, industrial equipment and manufacturing documentation

My experience includes documentation for machinery, industrial equipment, test systems, lifting equipment, components and systems used in production and maintenance environments.

• Technical specifications and requirements
• Work instructions and procedures
• Technical data sheets and product documentation
• Machinery, components and systems documentation
• Production, maintenance and quality-control materials
• Technical documentation for suppliers, integrators and customers

Automotive and production-line documentation

I also work with documentation associated with the automotive industry and manufacturing processes, including equipment manuals, final assembly, test stations, production lines and operating documentation. These projects require stable terminology across equipment, operations, components and interface messages.

Domestic equipment and consumer products

Technical translation is not limited to heavy industry. I also translate manuals and technical documentation for domestic equipment, electrical and electronic products and other consumer goods where clear instructions, safety and terminology are essential.

CE, conformity and regulatory documentation

Technical projects may also include CE declarations, declarations of conformity, safety documentation, technical requirements and product compliance materials. Regulatory references, model numbers, dates, entities and product identifiers are checked together with the translated text.

Medical devices and technical medical documentation

Documentation for medical equipment and devices falls within technical translation when it concerns operation, use, installation, maintenance, specifications, warnings, conformity or product regulatory documentation. I have experience with both technical and compliance documentation for medical devices.

Patient-centred clinical reports and test results belong to medical translation rather than industrial translation. I have additional experience with clinical and scientific documents, but these are assessed separately and are not the main focus of this page.

Technical translation and industrial translation

Technical translation is the broader category, covering manuals, equipment, technology, engineering, specifications, procedures and conformity documentation. Industrial translation usually describes the manufacturing or industrial context in which some of those documents are used. Many projects fall into both categories.

Working languages

My principal technical translation work into European Portuguese is from English and Spanish, with French, Italian and German available depending on the project. Portuguese-to-English, Portuguese-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English work is also available for suitable projects.

For terminology-heavy projects, it is useful to provide glossaries, previous translations, parts lists, translation memories or parallel documentation when available.

Terminology, glossaries and consistency

A technically correct term may still be unsuitable if the same component, function or process is translated differently elsewhere in the document. I therefore check terminology systematically and follow the client's or manufacturer's approved terminology whenever it is available and appropriate.

Tables, units, warnings and formatting

Technical documents often contain tables, symbols, values, units, figure references, codes, numbered lists and safety warnings. These elements are checked together with the prose because an error in a number, unit or cross-reference can change the operational meaning of an instruction.

Final checks before delivery

Before delivery I carry out a final check for omissions, terminology, figures, units, internal references, instructional consistency and formatting. This forms part of my normal workflow and is not an independent second-linguist review unless that service is agreed separately.

Price and turnaround

Price and turnaround depend on the language pair, length, terminology density, file format, legibility, tables or graphic elements and deadline. For large volumes, recurring documentation or sets of related manuals, I assess the complete project before confirming the quote.

Certified technical documents

Most manuals and technical documents do not require certification. Where a receiving authority requires formal certification, that formality is separate from the technical nature of the translation. See certified translations in Portugal.

Direct contact and confidentiality

Quotation, translation, checking and delivery are handled directly by me. Non-public specifications, product materials and internal technical documentation are treated as confidential under the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

How it works

1. Send the files: include the language pair, type of equipment or document, intended use and deadline.
2. Reference material: send glossaries, previous versions, approved terminology or related documentation when available.
3. Quote: I confirm scope, price, turnaround and any formatting requirements before work starts.
4. Translation and checking: I translate the material and check terminology, values, references and consistency before delivery.