Sourcing Charpy impact testers from China

UK duty on Charpy impact testing machines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, heading 9024 covers machines testing the mechanical properties of materials. Metal Charpy impact testers fall within other metal testing machines; machines for plastics use the other-materials line. Parts and accessories have a separate line. See universal tensile testing machines for related equipment within the wider heading.

The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no listed suspensions. The machine lines carry an import control of mercury. Official guidance says mercury controls apply where mercury or a mercury compound has been intentionally added. Ask the factory to identify any such components and have your customs broker confirm the applicable requirement before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code against the material tested, machine function and whether you are importing a complete machine or separate parts. The table separates machine configurations, some sharing a tariff code.

Specify the pendulum and specimen setup

State whether you test metals or plastics, your test method, specimen dimensions and notch shape, pendulum energy capacity, striker geometry, anvil geometry and support spacing. Specify the required energy resolution and whether you need instrumented force measurement or absorbed-energy results only. Ask for a report produced using your own specimens and method.

Agree the enclosure, specimen positioning, fragment collection, pendulum release and return arrangements, foundation requirements and electrical supply. For powered testing machines intended for the Great Britain market, confirm with the relevant authority which CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and English manual requirements apply. Request calibration and verification records for the supplied configuration, and plan verification after installation.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Three Charpy impact testing machines for metals, illustrative only under 9024 10 80 00, invoiced at £42,000 free on board, with £2,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £44,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £44,600, so it is £8,920. 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

Pendulum and supports: check the supplied striker, anvils and pendulum against the agreed drawings, and inspect their contact surfaces for damage.

Results: witness reference-specimen tests, check the displayed energy and report output, and ask the factory to demonstrate its friction-loss check.

Safety: inspect the enclosure, door interlocks, emergency stop and release controls, and check that broken specimens remain contained.

Arrival: inspect transit restraints, pendulum bearings and machine level before commissioning; retain packing photographs and arrange verification. Use our quality inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

A machine can have the quoted energy capacity but the wrong striker or support geometry for your method. Bearing friction, poor alignment and a damaged striker can distort results. A generic calibration certificate may describe a different pendulum or omit the configuration you ordered.

Transit damage and an unsuitable foundation can undermine factory results after installation. Agree acceptance tests, replacement contact parts, software access and local verification arrangements before ordering. Our factory verification service can check the maker's inspection and calibration equipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.