Sourcing Industrial Filter Presses from China
Industrial filter presses and relevant filtering equipment parts from China carry 0% UK duty across the selected lines of heading 8421. Before sale or use in Great Britain, confirm applicable machinery safety rules with the relevant authority, including conformity documentation and CE or UKCA marking requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources industrial filter presses.
UK duty on industrial filter presses
Heading 8421 covers filtering or purifying machinery for liquids and gases, centrifuges and their parts. For industrial filter presses, start with other liquid filtering machinery, then check whether the equipment is specifically for water or beverages. The selected parts line is a classification candidate, rather than a code for every replacement component.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all selected lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT at 20% still applies.
Confirm the commodity code using the press specification, its process duty and the shipment contents. Describe separately supplied parts individually. For the cloth side of the wider filtration heading, see filter press cloths.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial filter presses for process liquids and slurries | 8421 29 80 90 | 0% | None |
| Water filtering equipment, where the press is classified for water treatment | 8421 21 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Filter presses for beverages other than water | 8421 22 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other filtering machinery parts, subject to individual classification | 8421 99 90 99 | 0% | None |
Specify the slurry and complete press package
Provide representative slurry samples and describe solids content, particle behaviour, chemistry and operating temperature. Agree the required filtrate clarity, cake moisture and cycle performance under those conditions. Specify recessed chamber or membrane plates, plate material, cloth attachment, feed connections and cake discharge arrangements.
Define whether the order includes the feed pump, hydraulic power unit, control cabinet, plate shifter, drip trays and washing equipment. Agree the electrical supply, installation footprint, lifting arrangements and spare plate and seal identification. Request a witnessed slurry trial with recorded results rather than accepting a demonstration using clean water.
For powered presses, confirm the applicable machinery safety rules with the relevant authority before sale or use in Great Britain, including conformity documentation and CE or UKCA marking requirements. The responsible person must compile the technical file and make it available on request. Ask for the declaration matched to the supplied configuration, an English operating manual and evidence covering the closing mechanism and plate shifter.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of an industrial filter press, not a quotation under 8421 29 80 90, invoiced at £38,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,000, so it is £8,000. 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
Plates and frame: check plate faces, sealing edges, feed ports, frame alignment and coating damage before shipment and again on arrival.
Process trial: run representative slurry and record filtrate appearance, cake release, leakage and cycle behaviour against the agreed acceptance criteria.
Hydraulics and safeguards: check hoses and connections for leakage, closing and opening behaviour, guards, interlocks and emergency stops through an agreed safe test procedure.
Documents and packing: match the machine identity to its declaration, drawings and parts list; check transport restraints and loose components. Use quality inspection to agree the inspection stages.
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What goes wrong
A press selected from filtration area alone can produce wet cake, slow cycles or cloudy filtrate when the actual slurry differs from the factory trial. Unsuitable cloth or plate material can compound the problem. Record the tested slurry and acceptance conditions in the purchase specification.
An apparently complete quotation can omit the feed pump, cake handling or installation connections. Plate shifters may also arrive with access points that were never assessed in the supplied configuration. Resolve the package boundary and safety evidence before shipment, then inspect for distorted frames and damaged plates on arrival.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on industrial filter presses from China?
The selected heading 8421 lines carry 0% duty for goods from China in the supplied tariff data, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures. Import VAT at 20% still applies.
Which commodity code covers an industrial filter press?
8421 29 80 90 is a starting point for other liquid filtering machinery. Water or beverage applications and separately shipped parts need their own classification check.
Do industrial filter presses need CE or UKCA marking?
For powered presses supplied for sale or use in Great Britain, confirm machinery conformity documentation and CE or UKCA marking requirements with the relevant authority. Check that the declaration covers the configuration being supplied.
How should I test a filter press before shipment?
Use representative slurry and agreed acceptance criteria. Record filtrate clarity, cake moisture, cycle behaviour and leakage; check plate movement, safeguards and the included equipment.