Sourcing mineral flotation cells from China

Zero duty on the selected flotation machinery lines

Heading 8474 covers machinery for processing earth, stone, ores and other mineral substances, including separating and mixing machines and their parts. For mineral flotation cells, start with the separating-machine line. The table also includes separately supplied mineral mixing equipment and relevant machinery parts; these are distinct goods rather than alternative codes for the same complete cell.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, every supplied commodity line carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control. Zero customs duty does not remove import VAT; see the import duty and VAT guide.

Confirm the commodity code using the machine's function, assembly drawings and shipment contents. Describe separately supplied conditioners and spare parts individually rather than assuming the complete cell's code covers them. For the wider mineral-processing heading, see aggregate washing plants.

Specify the ore, slurry and flotation circuit

State the ore and target mineral, feed particle-size distribution, slurry solids content, reagent programme and required recovery and concentrate grade. Identify whether the cell is for roughing, scavenging or cleaning. Specify mechanical agitation or column operation, working volume, air supply, froth depth control, launders and connections to the surrounding circuit.

Agree wetted materials, tank lining, impeller and stator materials, shaft seals, motor and bearing specifications, electrical supply and replacement-part drawings. Define a trial using representative ore, with sampling and acceptance criteria agreed before manufacture. A water run checks leakage and movement; it does not establish mineral recovery.

Complete machinery placed on the Great Britain market must meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Confirm the technical-file, declaration of conformity, UKCA or CE marking and English-instruction requirements with the relevant authority. Request documents matching the supplied configuration, alongside electrical schematics and installation details. Use testing and certification support to review the evidence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: a compact pilot flotation bank for a mineral-testing business under 8474 10 00 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £38,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £38,000, so it is £7,600. 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

Tank and lining: check welds, leakage, coating or lining coverage, drain access and connection positions against approved drawings. On arrival, inspect for transport damage and loose fittings before assembly.

Agitator and air: check shaft alignment, impeller clearance, rotation, vibration, bearing temperature, air distribution and froth-level adjustment during the agreed trial.

Process performance: sample feed, concentrate and tailings during the representative-ore trial. Compare recovery, concentrate grade, throughput and power draw with the agreed acceptance criteria.

Safety and shipment: check guards, emergency stops, isolation arrangements, nameplate and matching conformity paperwork. Reconcile motors, controls, seals, wear parts and manuals with the packing list. The inspection guide explains how to organise checks.

What goes wrong

A cell can circulate water successfully yet perform poorly on the buyer's ore. Different particle sizes, slurry density or reagents can undermine the trial's relevance. Uneven air distribution, unsuitable impeller geometry and poorly controlled froth depth can also prevent the agreed separation. Record the trial conditions alongside the results.

Other failure points include leaking shaft seals, damaged linings, misaligned drives and substituted wear materials. Obtain replacement drawings and agree how installation faults will be distinguished from manufacturing defects. Check that the delivered cell, controls and safety documents describe the same configuration.

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.