Sourcing gear hobs from China
Gear hobs from China carry 0% UK duty under the gear-cutting tools line, with no trade remedy listed in the supplied tariff data. Suppliers must provide safe-use information and the testing or examination needed for compliance. Specify the tooth profile and mounting fit before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources gear hobs.
UK duty on gear hobs
Heading 8207 covers interchangeable tools for hand tools and machine tools. Its gear-cutting tools line, 8207 90 50 00, covers tools with a working part of materials other than diamond or agglomerated diamond. The table shows gear hob variants within that same commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied data records 0% duty for goods from China on this line. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
Confirm the commodity code against the hob's function and working-part material before shipment. For the equipment that uses these cutters, see the metal sawing and gear-cutting machines guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| High speed steel gear hobs | 8207 90 50 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the hob against the gear drawing
Give the factory the gear drawing, module or diametral pitch, pressure angle, tooth profile, helix details and required accuracy. State the hob's number of starts, cutting direction, outside diameter, cutting length, bore or shank, keyway and mounting faces. Agree measurable acceptance tolerances rather than accepting a catalogue description alone.
Specify the steel or carbide grade, heat treatment, coating and workpiece material. Agree whether the hob is supplied ready for cutting and how it will be resharpened. Request a profile inspection report and a trial cut on representative material.
Suppliers of workplace articles must provide safe-use information and instructions, including subsequent revisions, and carry out the testing or examination necessary for compliance. Request mounting, operating and resharpening instructions for the supplied hob.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small workshop order of replacement gear hobs under 8207 90 50 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £740 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,740. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,740, so it is £548. 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
Geometry: compare the measured tooth profile, pitch and lead with the approved drawing and inspection report.
Mounting: measure the bore or shank, keyway and mounting faces; check runout on the intended arbor.
Material and edges: verify material and hardness records against the batch; inspect cutting edges for chips, grinding damage and uneven coating.
Arrival and trial cut: check corrosion protection and edge guards, then inspect a trial gear for profile errors, burrs and surface finish. Record results through your quality inspection.
What goes wrong
A hob can fit the arbor yet cut the wrong tooth form because the pressure angle, profile or cutting direction was misunderstood. Bore errors or dirty mounting faces can create runout. Resolve drawing discrepancies before manufacture and check a trial gear before releasing the batch for production.
Soft cutting edges wear quickly, while chipped edges and grinding damage can mark the gear. Coating cannot compensate for incorrect geometry. Keep the approved sample and inspection records, compare replacement batches against them, and agree how the factory will handle failed trial cuts.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on gear hobs from China?
The supplied tariff data records 0% duty under 8207 90 50 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
What should I send a Chinese gear hob factory?
Send the gear drawing and hob drawing, tooth geometry, cutting direction, mounting dimensions, material grade, coating and acceptance tolerances. Include the workpiece material and trial-cut requirements.
How do I check a gear hob before using it?
Check the profile report, mounting dimensions, runout and cutting edges. Make a trial gear on representative material and inspect its tooth form and finish against the drawing.
What instructions should accompany a gear hob?
Request mounting, operating and resharpening instructions. Workplace suppliers must provide safe-use information and instructions, including subsequent revisions, and the testing or examination needed for compliance.