Sourcing material testing machines from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, machines and appliances for testing the mechanical properties of materials, heading 9024, carried 0% on goods from China on every line: universal and tensile testing machines, hardness testers and other machines for testing metals, machines for other materials, and parts and accessories. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.

Instruments for physical or chemical analysis are under heading 9027 and measuring and checking instruments under 9031, so confirm the commodity code from what the machine measures.

Verification and safety

Tensile and compression machines are verified to ISO 7500-1, and hardness testers to part 2 of ISO 6508 (Rockwell), ISO 6506 (Brinell) or ISO 6507 (Vickers). A factory certificate is a starting point, but results used for product conformity usually need verification by a UKAS-accredited laboratory after installation.

Powered testing machines are machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and need UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity, guarding or a shield around the test space, and an English manual.

Specifying testing machines

Specify force capacity and load cell class, test space and crosshead travel, speed range, grips and fixtures for your specimens, extensometer, software and the test standards it runs, hardness scales and indenters, and calibration and verification certificates.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: three universal testing machines, commodity code 9024 10 20 00, bought for £42,000 free on board, with £2,600 of freight and insurance, so £44,600 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on universal testing machines; import VAT at 20% of £44,600 is £8,920. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Accuracy: have the factory verify force and speed with traceable instruments in your presence or by video, and test reference specimens or hardness blocks.

Software and fixtures: run your own test methods in the software, and check grips fit your specimen sizes without slipping.

Safety and packing: check the guard, emergency stop and limit switches, and that the load frame is locked and the load cell protected for transit.

What goes wrong

Testing machine orders fail on accuracy, software and support. The load cell class is lower than quoted, verification fails after installation, the software cannot report to your standard or in English, grips slip, and there is no local calibration or spare parts support.

Check the certificates, run your methods before shipment, and arrange UK verification and support. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources testing machines for UK labs and manufacturers, checking the maker's calibration equipment first. See factory verification.