Sourcing fatigue testing machines from China

UK duty on fatigue testing machines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, heading 9024 covers machines for testing mechanical properties of materials. Dedicated metal fatigue testers are candidates for the other metal testing line; machines for non-metal materials and separately imported parts have different lines. A universal machine with fatigue capability needs classification against its functions.

Every listed line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of mercury to 9024 10 80 00 and 9024 80 00 00. Official guidance says these controls concern intentionally added mercury. Obtain the component declaration and ask your customs broker to confirm the China import requirement for the exact machine.

Confirm the commodity code using the tested material, machine functions and whether the shipment contains complete machines or parts. See the wider material testing machines guide.

Specify cyclic loading with your specimens

State whether you need axial loading, rotating bending or torsion. Specify the specimen material and geometry, force or torque range, mean load, amplitude, waveform, frequency and displacement. Ask the supplier to demonstrate the required combination with your fixture and specimen, rather than quoting maximum force and maximum frequency separately.

Agree control modes, cycle counting, specimen failure detection, automatic stopping and raw data export. For hydraulic machines, specify the power unit, cooling and hose connections. Record installation needs, calibration scope and acceptance criteria before ordering.

For powered testing machines, confirm with the relevant product safety authority whether the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 apply and which UKCA or CE marking, declaration of conformity, guarding around the test space and English manual requirements apply for the Great Britain market. Match the documents to the machine being supplied.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Three universal metal testing machines with fatigue capability; illustrative order, subject to classification under 9024 10 20 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

Loading: run your agreed waveform with the actual specimen and fixture; compare commanded and measured load, displacement and frequency.

Fixtures: check alignment, grip security and clearance throughout the movement; look for slipping, loosened fasteners and fixture damage.

Controls and safety: test cycle counting, failure detection, automatic stopping, guards, emergency stop and travel limits; save a sample report and raw data.

Arrival: check transit locks, load cell protection, hoses, cables and packing damage; repeat the agreed acceptance run after installation. Use the quality inspection guide to plan the checks.

What goes wrong

A machine can meet its static force specification yet fail to reproduce the requested cyclic waveform with your specimen. Fixture movement can distort results, while hydraulic heating, leaks or unstable control can interrupt a run. A generic demonstration without your fixtures leaves these issues unresolved.

Agree a witnessed acceptance run and retain its data before shipment. Check that reports distinguish specimen failure from grip slip or an interrupted test, and agree access to controller backups, replacement seals and technical support.

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.