Sourcing die attach machines from China

Duty and classification for die attach equipment

Heading 8486 covers equipment used solely or principally to manufacture semiconductor boules, wafers, devices, integrated circuits or flat panel displays, specified assembly equipment, and parts. For die attach machines, distinguish semiconductor manufacturing equipment from assembly equipment covered by chapter note 11(C). The table separates these categories and parts; the parts and accessories rows share a tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff position does not replace machinery safety compliance.

Confirm the commodity code using the machine's actual function, process description and whether it arrives complete or as separate parts. For related semiconductor assembly equipment within the wider heading, see wire bonding machines.

Specify the die, substrate and attachment process

Specify whether attachment uses adhesive dispensing, film or eutectic bonding. Give the supplier your die dimensions and thickness, substrate format, feeding method, required orientation and acceptance criteria for placement, bond strength and voiding. Identify whether heating and curing are included or require separate equipment.

Agree a factory acceptance trial with your dies, substrates and bonding material. Record placement results, rejects, tool changes and sustained throughput rather than accepting a demonstration on the supplier's samples. Confirm power, compressed air, vacuum, exhaust, software licences, recipe access and spare tooling against your site.

For supply in Great Britain, confirm the applicable conformity assessment, technical file, declaration and conformity marking requirements under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 with the relevant product safety authority. CE marking remains recognised indefinitely in Great Britain. Ask for the declaration for the exact machine, English operating instructions and evidence addressing its mechanical, electrical and heated-process hazards.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3 semiconductor die attach machines for a specialist packaging business under 8486 20 00 00, invoiced at £450,000 free on board, with £15,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £465,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £465,000, so it is £93,000. 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 and documents: match the machine model and serial number to the order and declaration; check supplied manuals, software access and spare tooling.

Handling and placement: run your dies through pickup, vision alignment and placement; inspect for chipped edges, missed pickups, rotation errors and substrate damage.

Attachment quality: check adhesive dispensing or film handling, bond-line consistency and temperature control; test attached samples against the agreed strength and voiding criteria.

Arrival and safety: inspect transit indicators, optics and stages, then repeat the agreed trial after installation; check guards, interlocks and emergency stops. Agree the scope through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A machine can place the supplier's sample dies correctly yet damage your thinner dies or struggle with your substrate finish. Dispensing can drift as material conditions change, while an attractive placement demonstration may conceal weak attachment or voids. Make sample preparation, inspection methods and rejection criteria part of the acceptance agreement.

Shipping shock can disturb alignment, and missing tooling or locked recipes can prevent production after installation. Agree packing, calibration checks, recipe access, installation support and a site acceptance trial before shipment. Record unresolved defects before accepting the machine.

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.