An automatic machine for the production or packaging of smoking, sanitary, foodstuff, or pharmaceutical products; the automatic machine comprises: at least one processing line, along which the products are processed; a plurality of components, which are distributed along the processing line so as to make up the processing line; at least one transponder, which is mounted on a corresponding component, comprises a programmable memory designed to contain solely a series of data of the component, and comprises a first transmission device, which is designed to send and receive the data contained in the programmable memory; a second transmission device, which is designed to communicate with the first transmission device; and a control unit, configured to control the operation of the automatic machine and is connected to the second transmission device; wherein the memory of the transponder contains a univocal identifying code of the corresponding component; and wherein a nominal operating speed is provided, which represents the maximum operating speed that can be reached by the processing line; the automatic machine is characterized in that: the memory of the transponder contains a record of events of the operating life of the corresponding component; the control unit is designed to change, through the second transmission device, the content of the memory of the transponder so as to update the events of the operating life of the corresponding component; and the memory of the transponder contains a plurality of use counters (UC10-UC100) indicating the actual working time of the corresponding component at different operating speeds ranging from zero to the nominal operating speed. at least one processing line, along which the products are processed; a plurality of components, which are distributed along the processing line so as to make up the processing line; at least one transponder, which is mounted on a corresponding component, comprises a programmable memory designed to contain solely a series of data of the component, and comprises a first transmission device, which is designed to send and receive the data contained in the programmable memory; a second transmission device, which is designed to communicate with the first transmission device; and a control unit, configured to control the operation of the automatic machine and is connected to the second transmission device; wherein the memory of the transponder contains a univocal identifying code of the corresponding component; and wherein a nominal operating speed is provided, which represents the maximum operating speed that can be reached by the processing line; the automatic machine is characterized in that: the memory of the transponder contains a record of events of the operating life of the corresponding component; the control unit is designed to change, through the second transmission device, the content of the memory of the transponder so as to update the events of the operating life of the corresponding component; and the memory of the transponder contains a plurality of use counters (UC10-UC100) indicating the actual working time of the corresponding component at different operating speeds ranging from zero to the nominal operating speed.