TRANSLATION SERVICES · TECHNICAL & ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS
Technical & Engineering Document Translation Services in 40+ Languages
Technical and engineering document translation covers patents, technical drawings and schematics, engineering specifications, standard operating procedures, and safety data sheets — documents where a translation error has regulatory or safety consequences, not just a readability one. HI-COM provides technical translation in over 40 languages, combining linguistic accuracy with the specific regulatory knowledge — CNIPA’s filing requirements, China’s national GB standards, and the technical criteria that make a digital signature legally reliable — that generic technical translation services don’t cover.
ISO 17100 certified
TAC member
40+ languagesWhich Translation Service Do You Need?
Four related HI-COM services, split by document type so you land on the right specialists the first time.
Patent Translation
HI-COM translates patent applications, specifications, claims, and drawings for filing in China.
Entering China’s national phase from a PCT application is due 30 months from the earliest priority date, with a grace period to 32 months available for a one-time late-filing surcharge. The filing requires a full Chinese translation of the entire application — the description, claims, drawings containing text, the abstract, and any amendments — not a summary. Foreign applicants file through a registered Chinese patent agent; HI-COM’s translation work supports that filing process.
Operational guidance, not legal advice — confirm specific deadlines and procedural requirements with your patent agent or counsel for your application.
Technical Drawings & Schematics
Technical drawings, schematics, and CAD/DWG files often carry embedded text — labels, dimensions, callouts, revision notes — that needs translation without disturbing the underlying drawing. HI-COM handles technical drawing translation alongside the document text it accompanies, keeping drawing and specification consistent when they reference the same terminology.
Engineering Specifications & SOPs
HI-COM translates engineering specifications, standard operating procedures, and technical compliance documentation, maintaining consistent terminology across a full document family — a specification and its related SOPs and technical drawings — rather than translating each document in isolation.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS)
Safety data sheets sold or used in China must follow a 16-section GHS-format structure in simplified Chinese, governed by GB/T 16483-2008 (content and section order) and GB/T 17519-2013 (how each section should be compiled). Chemical labeling follows GB 15258-2009 — simplified Chinese, a specific hazard-statement order (physical, then health, then environmental), and defined pictogram requirements — with hazard classification set by GB 30000.2-29-2013, aligned with UN GHS Revision 4. HI-COM translates SDS and labeling content to this structure, not just a generic MSDS translation.
Operational guidance, not regulatory sign-off — confirm current GB standard versions and specific product classification with a compliance specialist.
Terminology & Quality Assurance Process
China Technical Standards: Electronic Seals & Digital Signatures
Under China’s Electronic Signature Law, an electronic signature is legally “reliable” when it meets four criteria: the signature data is uniquely linked to the signer; the signer had exclusive control of the signature-creation data at the time of signing; any alteration after signing is detectable; and the signing method is as reliable as the transaction reasonably requires. A certified signature from an accredited Certification Authority carries a rebuttable presumption of validity; an uncertified one must demonstrate all four criteria itself. This matters for technical documentation increasingly signed and transmitted digitally — see Sworn & Certified Translation for how official recognition mechanisms vary by receiving authority.
Operational guidance, not legal advice.
Credentials
HI-COM is ISO 17100 certified and a member of the Translators Association of China (TAC).
Examples of Our Technical Translation Work
A real source-and-translation pair — the same aircraft specification sheet, in English and in Chinese.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the deadline to enter China’s national phase from a PCT patent application?
30 months from the earliest priority date, with a grace period to 32 months for a one-time late-filing surcharge. Operational guidance — confirm current deadlines with your patent agent.
Does a Chinese patent filing need a full translation, or just a summary?
A full translation of the description, claims, drawings containing text, abstract, and any amendments — not a summary.
What format does a Safety Data Sheet need to follow for use in China?
A 16-section GHS-format structure in simplified Chinese, per GB/T 16483-2008 and GB/T 17519-2013, with labeling under GB 15258-2009.
What makes an electronic signature legally reliable in China?
Under Article 14 of China’s Electronic Signature Law: unique linkage to the signer, exclusive signer control at signing, detectable post-signing alteration, and a method as reliable as the transaction requires.
How much does technical document translation cost?
Cost depends on document type, length, language pair and turnaround. Send your document, or a sample page, for a same-day quote — there’s no fixed price list since technical documents vary too much for one to be meaningful.
Do you translate CAD or DWG files directly, or just the text they contain?
HI-COM translates the text within technical drawings and CAD/DWG files as part of the surrounding document set. Send your specific file format and workflow requirements when you share your project, and HI-COM will confirm exactly how it will be handled.
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Send your document, or a sample page, and HI-COM will confirm the right approach and a clear quote.
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