Sourcing mechanical screw jacks from China

Duty and the screw-jack commodity code

Heading 8425 covers pulley tackle and hoists, winches and capstans, and jacks. Mechanical screw jacks belong in the other-jacks line, 8425 49 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that tariff line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the supplied lines all carry 0% duty for goods from China. The mechanical screw-jack line has no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete product specification, particularly when buying an actuator or an assembly for incorporation into a machine. For the hydraulic alternative within the wider heading, see hydraulic bottle jacks.

Specify the screw, load path and lifting travel

State whether the jack is a scissor mechanism, an upright screw jack or a worm-geared unit. Agree rated load, closed height, lifting travel, saddle shape, base dimensions and operating handle. For geared units, specify whether the screw translates or rotates, the mounting arrangement and the intended loading direction.

Specify screw and nut materials, thread form, lubrication and replaceable wear parts. Ask the factory to demonstrate lifting, lowering and holding under the intended load. Check any claim that the mechanism is self-locking against the exact supplied design.

Confirm with the relevant authority whether completed lifting jacks, including manually operated models, fall within the machinery safety regulations and which requirements apply for UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Agree static and dynamic test records and rated-load marking before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 industrial mechanical screw jacks, illustrative order under 8425 49 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £3,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £51,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £51,200, so it is £10,240. 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

Screw and nut: check thread damage, backlash, lubrication and smooth movement throughout the agreed travel. Look for binding and excessive play.

Structure and contact points: check the base, saddle, scissor pivots where fitted, welds and retaining parts against the approved sample and drawings.

Load behaviour: have competent personnel check sample lifting, lowering and holding under controlled conditions. Record unintended movement, permanent deformation and changes in operating effort.

Documents and arrival condition: match the model and serial identification to the declaration, English manual and test records. Check rated-load and conformity markings, corrosion and transit damage. Use a product-specific inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Poorly finished threads bind, mismatched screws and nuts develop excessive play, and weak pivots or bases distort under load. A saddle that does not suit the contact point can slip. Reject substitutions in the screw, nut or load-bearing structure until their effect has been assessed.

A capacity label does not demonstrate load performance. Match the test evidence to the supplied design and investigate any load movement. Workplace buyers should confirm with the relevant authority which thorough-examination requirements apply under the lifting equipment regulations; the factory test record should not be presented as that workplace examination.

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.