Sourcing undercounter glasswashers from China

Zero duty on commercial glasswashers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, commercial dishwashing machines under 8422 19 00 00 and dishwashing-machine parts under 8422 90 10 00 carry 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Heading 8422 covers dishwashing machines and container-cleaning and packaging machinery. This guide concerns commercial undercounter glasswashers. The complete-machine variants in the table share the same commodity line; drainage and dosing options do not create separate lines in the supplied facts. See the wider heading guide.

Confirm the commodity code against the machine's commercial use and condition as imported. Separately supplied components need their own classification check; do not assume every pump or electrical component belongs under the dishwashing-machine parts code.

Specify the rack, services and drainage

Give the factory your glass types, tallest stemware, rack dimensions and available space beneath the counter. Include door-opening clearance and access for removing filters and spray arms. Specify the electricity supply, water connection, inlet conditions and drain position, rather than accepting a catalogue description of suitability for UK bars.

Choose gravity drainage or a drain pump to suit the installation. Agree detergent and rinse-aid dosing, water-treatment arrangements, programme behaviour and the wash and rinse temperatures the manufacturer declares. Request a loaded demonstration using your glasses, and agree replacement seals, spray arms, filters and dosing components.

Confirm the applicable machinery conformity assessment, instruction-language and guarding requirements for commercial glasswashers with the relevant product-safety authority. The responsible person must ensure the technical file is compiled and available on request. Ask for documents covering the exact model and its installed options before shipment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 15 commercial undercounter glasswashers, illustrative order under 8422 19 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,000, so it is £4,200. 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

Fit: check cabinet dimensions, door travel, rack fit and stemware clearance against the approved specification.

Wash and rinse: run loaded racks, record temperatures against the manufacturer's figures, and examine glasses for residue, spotting and damage.

Water and drainage: inspect hoses, door seals, connections and backflow protection; check dosing and drainage through complete programmes.

Safety and documents: check door interlocks, electrical safety evidence, the model identity and English installation, operating and maintenance instructions.

What goes wrong

A machine can fit beneath the counter yet leave too little room to open the door or remove the rack. A gravity-drain model can also be unsuitable for the site's drain arrangement. Settle these details from an installation drawing before approving production.

Leaks, weak circulation, heater faults and poor dosing can leave glasses dirty or marked. Compare factory and arrival tests using the same glasses, chemicals and agreed settings. Record defects before installation obscures whether the problem came from the machine, transport or site connections.

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.