Sourcing carton folder-gluer machines from China
Carton folder-gluer machines and relevant parts from China carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Machines must meet machinery safety rules; confirm conformity marking, declaration of conformity and English instruction requirements with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources carton folder-gluer machines.
UK duty on carton folder-gluers
Heading 8441 covers machinery for making up paper pulp, paper or paperboard. Carton folder-gluers make containers by folding and gluing prepared blanks; the relevant container-making line is 8441 30 00 00. The table also includes separately imported cutting equipment for board preparation and relevant parts. See the wider paper converting and box-making guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, all listed lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
Confirm the classification against the machine's actual functions, particularly where cutting equipment or parts are shipped separately. Give your customs broker the technical description, drawings and shipment breakdown, and use finding your commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carton folder-gluer machines | 8441 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts for carton folder-gluer machines | 8441 90 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Separate slitting and cross-cutting machines for carton board preparation | 8441 10 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts for separate paperboard cutting machines | 8441 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the carton blanks and glue process
Specify carton drawings, flat blank dimensions, finished dimensions, board grades, thickness, grain direction and coatings. State whether you need straight-line cartons, crash-lock bottoms or other folding arrangements. Agree the glue type, application method, seam position, compression section and delivery arrangement. Match the machine's electrical supply and compressed-air needs to your premises.
Agree acceptance targets for saleable output, rejects, seam alignment and changeover using your actual blanks and adhesive. Include difficult sizes and coated board, rather than accepting a demonstration on the factory's easiest carton. Record the folding attachments, belts, glue equipment, spare parts and operator training included.
The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 apply. Machinery must be safe before it is placed on the Great Britain market or put into service. Check the applicable CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and English instructions before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: One automatic carton folder-gluer machine, illustrative order only under 8441 30 00 00, invoiced at £96,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £102,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £102,000, so it is £20,400. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Feeding and folding: run your blanks through the feeder and folding sections; check double feeds, skew, crease cracking, panel alignment and finished carton squareness.
Glue and compression: check seam position, adhesive coverage, contamination and bond strength after the agreed curing period. Open sample cartons to inspect the glued seam.
Safety and controls: inspect guards around belts and nip points, test interlocks and emergency stops, and check English control menus, manuals and the declaration of conformity.
Arrival and restart: check transit damage, corrosion, loose connections and the packing list. Repeat the agreed carton trial after installation and compare results with the factory record. Use the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A machine can run the demonstration blank well but misfeed your coated or warped board. Poor crease quality can cause cracking or folding errors; weak glue bonds can follow unsuitable adhesive, uneven application or inadequate compression. Measure saleable cartons rather than accepting the displayed belt speed as output.
Changeovers stall when folding attachments or settings are missing. Record settings for each agreed carton, retain trial samples and confirm access to replacement belts and glue components. Check the builder's experience with your carton styles through factory verification.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on carton folder-gluers from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for carton-making machines under 8441 30 00 00 and relevant parts under 8441 90 90 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded.
What documents should a carton folder-gluer have?
Check the declaration of conformity, applicable CE or UKCA marking and English instructions. Also request wiring diagrams, maintenance instructions and a machine-specific spare parts list.
Can the factory test the machine with my carton blanks?
Make this part of the purchase specification. Supply representative blanks and adhesive, then check feeding, folds, glue bonds, saleable output and changeovers against agreed targets.
Will a straight-line folder-gluer make crash-lock cartons?
Confirm the folding arrangement and included attachments against your carton drawings. Require a trial of your crash-lock blank on the machine being supplied.