YOKE Equips Industry with Digital Product Passports Ahead of New Regulations

YOKE Industrial Corp. is driving industry towards conformity with the European Union’s (EU) Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to improve the sustainability of equipment placed on the EU market.

YOKE manufactures lifting and rigging hardware, offering Grade 80 and Grade 100 lifting chain fittings; swivel hoist hooks; shackles; angular contact swivels; wire rope clips; and lifting points. It also provides BlueSupra-branded digital tags and SupraNano encased Near Field Communication (NFC) radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, empowering companies ahead of January 2027, when they are expected to be working to new regulations and the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) is repealed.

YOKE’s strategy transforms physical hardware into smart assets through a seamless digital roadmap. By assigning a unique digital identity at birth, it ensures traceability, backed by an immutable data lock that establishes a trusted evidence chain. For immediate field adoption, critical data is accessible via a simple smartphone tap — no apps, no logins, and no training required. Ultimately, the system provides a clear roadmap for recycling and reuse, ensuring full compliance with EU circular economy regulations.

In partnership with RiConnect Inc. — ‘COMPLIANCE INFRASTRUCTURE for OSHA & HSE’ — YOKE is delivering product to the point of use complete with Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which securely record verified information across a product’s entire lifecycle. ESPR represents a fundamental shift, requiring changes to product design, greater traceability of materials and components, and more robust technical documentation to demonstrate compliance as a condition of market access. A central feature is the DPP, placing further emphasis on YOKE’s latest hardware and software offerings.

Digital chips and identification technologies within the RiConnect ecosystem support multiple identification methods, RFID, QR codes, and barcodes. These technologies enable physical assets to be uniquely identified and connected to digital records managed through the DPP platform, ensuring traceability, compliance visibility, and lifecycle documentation. Having pioneered the utilisation of RFID chips, YOKE enables end users to maintain pre-use checks and unique equipment identification.

YOKE offers products with Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which securely record verified information across an item’s entire lifecycle.

Simple and accessible

Steven Hong, president at YOKE, said: “Backed by a proven track record in product identification, compliance, and document management, we are proactively building the foundations for DPP adoption ahead of regulatory deadlines. The real challenge of DPP centres on data governance. Without consistent identifiers and a verifiable evidence chain, reliable information disclosure is compromised. Now, with a single scan, users can immediately access a suite of 16 key documents, including information on carbon footprint, recycled content, durability, and recycling or re-manufacturing possibilities.”

Built on a patented integrated circuit (IC) design, the SupraNano chip delivers IP68 (ingress) and IK10 (impact) protection; operates reliably in temperatures from -30°C to 125°C; and ensures data retention for over 50 years. Using NFC tap technology ensures accurate, auditable inspection records that meet regulatory requirements. Adopting DPPs is simple and accessible, eliminating concerns about digital transformation and encouraging industry away from a wait-and-see approach before regulations become mandatory.

Hong added: “Integrating digital functionality is a revolutionary step for the lifting industry especially; we want to pioneer the use of digitalised and sustainable rigging solutions globally. The benefits of equipment carrying a DPP are clear: beyond the regulatory framework, product information, inspection reports, and usage history can be tracked, making pre-use checks, maintenance and examination much easier. Every product in a rigging store can digitally carry information, inspection reports, and usage history can be tracked throughout its lifecycle.”