Sourcing contactor contact kits from China

Duty on replacement contact kits

Heading 8538 covers parts suitable solely or principally for apparatus of headings 8535, 8536 or 8537. Replacement contact sets supplied as contactor parts are candidates for 8538 90 99 99. The table shows different kit forms under the same residual line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, the supplied tariff data records 0% duty for goods from China on this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the commodity code using the kit contents, drawings and intended contactor model. For the wider heading, see switchgear enclosures and parts.

Specify the contactor model and contact material

Give the factory the contactor manufacturer, exact model, frame variant and replacement-part reference. Supply drawings and an approved sample showing fixed contacts, moving bridges, springs and fasteners. Agree whether the kit replaces the complete contact set or selected parts, and define the contents of each pack.

Specify contact alloy, contact-tip dimensions, copper carrier dimensions, joining method, mounting positions and spring force at the agreed compression. Ask for material evidence and functional test results on the intended contactor. Physical fit alone does not establish switching performance.

Government guidance says components may require individual conformity assessment and marking. Check how that applies to the kit before selling it in Great Britain; do not assume that describing it as a component settles its status.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 replacement contactor contact kits under 8538 90 99 99, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,400, so it is £1,080. 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

Identity: match pack labels, part references and kit contents to the approved contactor model and purchase specification.

Contacts: check tip dimensions, alignment, surface condition and attachment to the carrier; compare material records with the agreed alloy.

Mechanism: check mounting fit, contact travel and spring force against the approved sample and drawing, using the intended contactor.

Performance and packing: review agreed resistance, heating and switching test results; check for bent carriers, loose tips and missing springs. Electrical work must be performed by competent people. Arrange inspection against the approved specification.

What goes wrong

A kit can resemble the original yet have different carrier geometry, contact-tip thickness or spring force. These differences can prevent even contact seating, change travel or increase heating. A generic compatibility list is weaker evidence than a checked sample fitted to the exact contactor variant.

Watch for substituted contact alloy, poorly attached tips, burrs near mounting holes and mixed parts in otherwise correctly labelled packs. Agree acceptance criteria before production and retain the approved sample for comparison when the shipment arrives.

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.