Sourcing screws, nuts and fasteners from China
For screws, nuts, washers and custom fasteners from China, agree the drawing revision, thread, material grade, finish and inspection evidence before comparing prices; a matching diameter or a factory certificate alone does not establish equivalence. Cambridge China Bridge sources this for UK and overseas buyers, with its own staff in China, from a first trial order to scheduled full containers.
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Products and search terms
screws, nuts, washers, bolts, custom fasteners, threaded fasteners, screws to drawing
A fastener name is not a complete specification
Hardware distributors, assembly businesses and maintenance buyers often have a long parts list with deceptively short descriptions. A screw described only by diameter and length leaves head geometry, drive, thread, material and finish unresolved. Send the controlled drawing or the exact standard designation and revision, plus any departures from it.
Distinguish an ordinary assembly part from a safety-critical fastening. For structural, lifting or other critical use, have the responsible engineer define the qualification and evidence before supplier selection. This purchasing checklist is not engineering approval to substitute a component.
Prepare a line-by-line request
Use one row per part number and keep sample quantity separate from planned production quantity. Do not describe a group of similar parts as assorted screws if the assembly depends on each one being correct.
| Field | What to provide | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Drawing revision, head, drive, diameter, length and thread pitch | Dimensional inspection and fit with the mating component |
| Material | Required material and property grade, intended use | Batch-linked evidence and any agreed independent verification |
| Finish | Coating specification, colour and service environment | Finish identification and the agreed inspection or test method |
| Packing | Quantity per part, bag count, labels and carton weight | Traceability, count and prevention of mixed parts |
Connect the evidence to the batch
Ask who manufactured the parts, what tests will be performed and how the records identify the shipped batch. A supplier's general quality-system certificate is not a test result for the bolt you receive. Agree which evidence is required before the order, rather than trying to recover missing records after shipment.
Approve a sample using the actual mating part or the agreed gauges. Record critical dimensions and the inspection method. For custom parts, keep tooling ownership and drawing revisions explicit, and require approval for a material or process change. Our factory verification guide helps frame the questions about actual production capability.
Do not assume the tariff from a broad product family
The UK import process requires classification of the actual goods. Material, construction and use can matter, and a broad word such as fasteners is not a commodity code. Confirm the code and applicable measures for the order, using the commodity-code guide, rather than copying a rate from a different part.
Compare the landed order cost including packaging, inspection, freight and any testing agreed with the buyer. Heavy cartons may need handling limits even when their volume is small. Make the packing plan part of the quotation, not a decision taken at the loading bay.
Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts and washers of heading 7318 are in the iron and steel sector of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which applies to imports from 1 January 2027. An importer who expects £50,000 or more of CBAM goods within 30 days, or has imported that much in the previous 12 months, must register and keep records; see our UK CBAM guide. Copper, brass and aluminium fasteners are outside heading 7318.
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When a UK stockholder is the better source
An urgent maintenance repair, many tiny line quantities, or a critical part requiring local technical support can favour an established stockholder. Direct sourcing is a candidate for stable recurring lines or a well-defined custom part; it does not automatically beat a distributor on every common screw.
Send the drawing or full part standard, usage, annual demand, first-order quantities, required records, destination and deadline. Ask for samples, tooling and recurring unit price as separate lines. Minimums, testing cost and production timing need a supplier quotation against that exact specification.
Related guides: Sourcing O-rings, gaskets and plastic end caps from China.
Frequently asked questions
Does the same diameter mean two bolts are equivalent?
No. Thread, length, head, material grade, finish and the application's requirements also need to match.
Is a factory quality certificate enough?
It does not replace the batch-specific evidence and inspection agreed for the actual part. Specify both the evidence and how it is linked to the delivery.
Can a factory quote from a worn sample?
A sample helps identify a part, but wear may change its dimensions. Confirm the intended drawing and tolerances with the buyer's engineer before production.