Technical Translation Services
Technical translation for even your most complex documents
Technical content leaves no room for guesswork. When you translate manuals, specifications, or engineering documents, one wrong term can lead to delays, safety issues, or support headaches. Choosing the right technical translation services keeps your products, processes, and teams aligned across every language.
Orange Translations works worldwide to help international companies translate complex documentation with care and consistency. Your manuals, datasheets, and technical reports are handled by translators who understand both the language and the subject matter.
What our technical translation services cover
Our technical document translation services focus on documents that carry precise, specialist information. Orange Translations is ISO 17100 certified and we match each project with translators who know your field.
We have helped international companies with user and installation manuals, engineering drawings and specifications, product datasheets and safety instructions, maintenance and operating manuals, tender documents, process descriptions, and SOPs. We also work on technical documentation translation for software, APIs, and internal systems, so your teams and customers see the same clear information in every language.
You can send files in Word, PDF, Excel, InDesign, XML or other structured formats. We return translations ready to drop back into your workflow, without a full layout rebuild on your side.
Technical translation service for manuals and technical documentation
Technical document translation is about more than replacing words. It demands consistent terminology, clear structure, and a good understanding of how the document will be used in practice. A user manual has to guide someone through a task safely and efficiently. An engineering report needs correct units, accurate terminology, and careful handling of tables and graphs. A product datasheet must support both technical and sales teams in several markets at once.
To support this, we build and maintain terminology lists for your products and processes, use translation memory tools so recurring segments stay consistent, and, when needed, work directly with your engineers or technical writers to resolve tricky points. The result is documentation that feels like it was written for each audience, not just translated for them.
Technical documentation translation for engineering and IT
Many of our clients work in engineering, manufacturing, and software. In these sectors, technical documentation translation supports internal teams, service partners, and end users. We help translate assembly guides and installation instructions for machinery, maintenance procedures for equipment and vehicles, CAD‑related documentation and part descriptions, software user guides and release notes, as well as API and developer documentation. For each project, we assign translators with relevant technical backgrounds so they understand the concepts behind your content.
Your technical documentation is handled with the same care in every language, which reduces misunderstandings, rework, and support load once the content is in use.
Technical manual translation and user guides
A clear manual is one of the most effective support tools you can offer. Technical manual translation and user manual translation services at Orange Translations focus on readability as much as precision.
We pay close attention to instructions that remain easy to follow after translation, consistent use of terminology across chapters and related documents, alignment between text, diagrams, and numbering, and any regional standards that apply in your industry. If you update your manuals regularly, translation memory helps keep future changes efficient and cost‑effective by reusing content you have already approved.
Compliance and regulatory expectations
Technical documents are often regulated in their own right. Instructions, warnings, and safety information have to meet specific legal requirements in each target country, not just be understandable.
Our technical translation process is built with that in mind. We keep terminology consistent, preserve the structure and logic of your originals, and maintain a clear version history across updates. Our work follows ISO 17100 for translation services and the principles of the earlier EN 15038 standard, and we observe the American Translators Association’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. We work with documentation requirements under regulations such as the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and ANSI Z535 for safety information, and can align translations with those expectations where needed.
The EU Machinery Directive is a good example. It requires companies selling machinery in the EU to provide translated instructions, warnings, and safety information in the official language or languages of each country where the machinery is used. If no original instructions exist in the local language, a translation must be supplied by the manufacturer, an authorised representative, or the person bringing the machinery into the language area in question. For machinery intended for non‑professional users, the directive also states that the wording and layout of the instructions must match the level of education and practical understanding that can reasonably be expected from those users.
In practice, that means technical translations can’t just mirror the source text. They have to be written with specific audiences in mind, match how those users read and act on instructions, and support your safety and compliance obligations. That calls for professional technical translators who understand both the subject matter and the regulations behind it. Machine translation can help with speed and reuse, but it can’t assess user knowledge, weigh risk, or shape instructions to meet these legal requirements.
The risks of poor technical translation
When technical information is wrong or unclear, problems often surface only after a product ships or a process goes live. An incorrectly translated torque value, a reversed switch label, or a missing safety warning can all cause expensive or even dangerous outcomes.
Poorly translated instructions can also create confusion for installers and users, increase the volume of support calls, and damage trust in your brand. For regulated sectors, gaps or inconsistencies in translated documentation can raise questions with authorities or delay approvals. Investing in proper technical translation is a way of managing this risk before it appears in the field.
Technical translation services for global teams
Orange Translations is a technical translation company that combines local project management with a global network of specialist translators. You work with a single point of contact who understands your business, while your content is handled by experts in each target market.
A typical project runs as follows:
- You send us your files, target languages, and any reference material.
- We review the content, propose timelines and pricing, and agree the scope and quality level.
- We then assign translators with relevant technical expertise, carry out translation and reviews, and deliver files in your preferred format, ready for your team to use or publish.
Translation memory and terminology
For your technical translation projects, our translators work within a translation memory system that stores all translated content in a database in real time. That way, identical content does not need to be translated repeatedly. This saves time and money and helps ensure accurate and consistent translations throughout each project and over time. Additionally, for each client we set up and maintain a term base which contains all technical terms, product names etc. that should be kept consistent in every translation. This helps ensure correct and uniform usage of key terminology throughout the project.
Industries we support
Orange Translations supports a wide range of technical sectors. These include engineering and manufacturing, automotive and transport, energy and environmental technology, IT, software, telecoms, medical technology (non‑clinical documentation), and construction and building services.
If your documents contain detailed procedures, specialist terms, or operational instructions, there is a strong chance they fall within our technical translation services and technical document translation expertise.
Certifications and experience
Our work is backed by formal quality standards as well as long‑term client relationships. We’ve been providing technical translation services for more than 10 years to companies in engineering, manufacturing, technology, and related sectors. Over that time, we’ve built processes that fit how technical teams actually work, rather than forcing them into rigid workflows.
ISO 17100 compliant translation
Orange Translations is ISO 17100 certified for translation services and we build on the principles of the earlier EN 15038 standard. We also follow the American Translators Association’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. This framework supports clear role separation between translation and review, documented quality checks, and transparent communication throughout each project.
