Sourcing continuous casting machines from China

Continuous casting machines: 0% duty

Heading 8454 covers converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines used in metallurgy or metal foundries, together with parts. Continuous casters belong within the other casting machines category, subject to confirmation of the actual equipment. The table shows horizontal and vertical configurations under the same commodity line, plus feeding ladles and machine parts.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, every commodity line in this heading carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff position does not replace machinery safety checks.

Confirm the commodity code against the machine drawings and itemised supply list, especially where a shipment includes separate furnaces or tooling. For the wider heading, see die-casting machines and foundry equipment.

Specify the alloy, section and cooling system

State the alloy and feed condition, billet, rod or strip dimensions, horizontal or vertical layout, casting speed range and required output quality. Define mould material, withdrawal mechanism, cooling-water demand, filtration, temperature monitoring and the cutting or coiling equipment included. Agree how surface defects, dimensional variation and internal soundness will be assessed using your alloy.

Define the boundary between the caster, furnace, feeding system and downstream equipment. Ask for foundation loads, lifting arrangements, electrical supply details, control diagrams, spare moulds and commissioning support. Confirm the applicable machinery safety requirements for machines supplied to Great Britain, including any requirements for a declaration of conformity, marking and English instructions, with the relevant authority. CE marking remains recognised indefinitely in Great Britain alongside UKCA.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 compact continuous casting machines for a non-ferrous foundry, illustrative only under 8454 30 90 00, invoiced at £230,000 free on board, with £14,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £244,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £244,000, so it is £48,800. 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

Casting trial: witness a run with the agreed alloy and section; record withdrawal speed, cooling conditions, dimensions, surface condition and the agreed internal-quality checks.

Cooling and drives: check water circuits for leaks, verify flow and temperature monitoring, and inspect mould alignment, withdrawal rollers, bearings and drive operation.

Safety and documents: check guards around moving rollers, molten-metal splash protection, interlocks and emergency stops; match the declaration, marking, English manual and diagrams to the supplied machine.

Arrival: check transit restraints, corrosion, damaged pipework and loose connections; reconcile crates and spares with the packing list, then repeat alignment and leak checks before commissioning. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A demonstration with a different alloy or section can conceal unstable withdrawal, unsuitable cooling or poor surface quality. Misaligned rollers, leaking circuits and incomplete process settings can leave a machine unable to reproduce the factory trial. Make the agreed casting trial and acceptance records part of the purchase specification.

A caster may arrive without the promised cooling plant, cutting equipment, usable control files or replacement moulds. Set out the supply boundary and spare-parts list before shipment, and agree who will install, align and commission the line.

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.