Technical Translation for manuals, specifications and documentation
Manuals and specifications a technical reader in the target language would trust as original — because the terminology is controlled, not guessed.
A translation of a technical manual can read fluently and still be wrong — a mistranslated torque value, a swapped hazard classification, a component name that doesn’t match the parts catalogue. None of that shows up as a language error. It shows up as a safety or liability problem.
We translate manuals, technical specifications, safety data sheets, and product documentation for engineering, manufacturing, automotive and industrial clients, from €0.18/word. Every project runs on a translation memory and a client-specific terminology database, so a term translated correctly once is translated the same way on page 400 and in next year’s revision.
This is the one page on our site where the argument isn't really about language skill in the abstract — it's about whether the terminology system behind the translation is disciplined enough to catch the error before it ships.
from €0.18/word
What's included
- Translation by a linguist with subject-matter experience in the relevant technical field
- A client-specific terminology database, built and maintained from your first order
- Translation memory (TM) so previously approved terms and phrases are reused, not retranslated
- Independent second-linguist revision before delivery
- Support for common technical file formats
- Formatting and layout preserved for DTP-ready manuals on request
- Confidentiality standard, NDA available for proprietary specifications
Document types: User manuals and instructions, technical specifications, safety data sheets (SDS), product datasheets, quality and compliance documentation, patents (translation only, not filing), engineering drawings (text elements).
Process for this service
01
Terminology setup
We build or import your terminology database and translation memory before translation starts.
02
Assignment
A translator with relevant technical subject-matter experience is assigned.
03
Translation
Terms are pulled from the approved database; anything new is flagged for your sign-off.
04
Independent revision
A second linguist checks technical accuracy and terminology consistency.
05
Delivery
In your working format, layout intact, ready for DTP or direct use.
Industries served
Pricing for this service
From €0.18/word, Professional tier standard; Certified available if a stamped translation is required for a filing. DTP add-on available at €45/hour or €18/page if layout rebuild is needed.
Price estimator
MT with full human post-editing. (€0.09/word)
Human specialist translation, self-revised. (€0.16/word)
Specialist translation, independently revised, sworn certification where required. (€0.22/word)
Your job is below our minimum order — the total shown is the minimum for this language pair.
Estimate, not a binding quote — final price is confirmed against your actual file.
See full estimate →Turnaround & delivery
3–5 business days standard, scaling with document length and TM match rate
Delivery in source file format
When you need this
A safety data sheet must match the source exactly down to the hazard classification before a product ships into a German-speaking market.
A user manual for industrial equipment needs translating in a format your DTP team can drop straight back into the existing InDesign layout.
A new product revision reuses 70% of an existing manual, and last year's approved terminology needs to carry over exactly.
One term, one translation — checked against a database, not memory
Every technical project draws on a terminology database specific to your product line, built from your first order and refined on every subsequent one. That’s what stops "torque wrench" from becoming three different German nouns across one manual — a discipline problem, not a talent problem, and one we solve with a system rather than a promise.
FAQ
Do you work with our existing translation memory or terminology list?
Yes — send us what you have (TMX, XLIFF, glossary spreadsheet) and we import it before translation starts.
What file formats can you handle?
.docx, .idml, .xliff, .xml and most common CAT-tool exchange formats. If your format isn’t listed, ask — we usually have a way to handle it.
How do you avoid inconsistent terminology across a large manual?
A client-specific terminology database is checked automatically during translation, and any term outside it is flagged for review rather than guessed.
Can you translate safety data sheets to match regulatory hazard classifications?
Yes — this is one of our most common technical document types.