Sourcing mechanical counters from China

Duty on mechanical revolution counters

Heading 9029 includes revolution counters and other counting instruments, alongside speed indicators, tachometers and stroboscopes. This guide covers mechanical instruments that accumulate shaft revolutions. See electromechanical production counters for the wider counter family.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, mechanical revolution counters under 9029 10 00 90 and their parts under 9029 90 00 90 carry 0% duty from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or import controls for these lines. The table separates counter variants sharing the same commodity code.

Confirm the commodity code using the mechanism, function and whether the shipment contains complete counters or parts. Describe a cumulative revolution counter clearly rather than calling it a speed indicator. Import VAT is normally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

Specify the shaft drive and counting mechanism

Provide a mounting drawing with shaft diameter, shaft projection, coupling details, fixing positions and display orientation. State the direction of rotation as viewed from the drive end, the counting ratio, operating speed range and whether reverse rotation should subtract, leave the reading unchanged or be prevented.

Agree the display capacity, rollover behaviour, reset mechanism and resistance to accidental resetting. Describe dust, vibration and moisture exposure, and ask the factory to demonstrate the proposed mechanism under your operating conditions. Specify installation and maintenance instructions as part of the order.

HSE states that suppliers must supply safe work equipment. For a counter installed on machinery, assess access to the rotating shaft and coupling during operation, resetting and maintenance. Ask for safety information for the intended installation rather than relying on a photograph of the counter.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,000 mechanical revolution counters, illustrative order only under 9029 10 00 90, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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

Counting: compare the displayed increase with known shaft rotations at the agreed operating speeds and direction; check digit carry and rollover.

Reset: check that the display returns fully to its starting position and that the reset control does not slip or operate unintentionally.

Fit: measure the shaft and mounting against the approved drawing; check coupling engagement, alignment and freedom from binding.

Arrival condition: check cracked windows, loose fixings, corrosion and sticking digit wheels; compare samples with the approved unit. Agree these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A counter can fit the mounting holes but have the wrong drive direction or counting ratio. A slipping coupling loses counts, while stiff digit wheels can fail when the display carries into the next position. Test the assembled drive rather than judging the counter by its appearance.

Reset mechanisms may leave a digit partly advanced, and shaft misalignment can make an otherwise working counter bind after installation. Record failures against the batch and agreed test conditions, then have the factory correct the mechanism or mounting before accepting replacement stock.

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.