Sourcing servo drives from China

Servo drive duty and classification

Heading 8504 covers transformers, static converters and inductors. This guide concerns servo drives that convert electrical power for controlled motor operation. The table includes candidate lines for complete drives and separately imported rectifier modules or converter parts; these are different goods, rather than interchangeable classifications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT at 20% still applies.

Confirm the commodity code using the circuit function, datasheet and description of what is shipped. A drive, motor and assembled control cabinet should not automatically receive the same classification. For the wider heading, see DC-DC converters.

Specify the motor, feedback and control interface

Specify supply voltage and phase, continuous and peak output current, motor type, encoder interface, command interface and braking arrangement. Agree cabinet cooling, mounting clearances, connector pinouts and the supplied accessories. Provide the actual motor and controller details, rather than asking for a drive with a similar power label.

For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority the technical documentation, declaration of conformity and CE or UKCA marking requirements for mains-voltage converters within the electrical safety scope. Check electromagnetic compatibility applicability and request reports for the supplied hardware. Electrical safety importers must ensure instructions are in easily understandable English. Use testing and certification to plan checks for the exact configuration.

Ask your compliance adviser to assess hazardous-substance restrictions and electrical waste responsibilities for the intended supply. For products within hazardous-substance scope, the importer must retain a declaration of conformity. Specify the firmware revision, parameter backup, commissioning software and access arrangements before approving the sample.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 servo drives classified as other inverters; not a quotation under 8504 40 87 90, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,800, so it is £2,560. 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 model, ratings, hardware revision and markings to the approved sample, declaration and reports; check the English instructions and importer identification.

Connections: check power terminals, earth connection, encoder pinout, braking resistor connection and connector retention against the agreed drawings.

Loaded operation: use the intended motor and controller to check direction, feedback, positioning, acceleration, braking and fault recovery; record current and temperature against the agreed specification.

Arrival condition: inspect heat sinks, fans, terminals and moisture damage; compare serial identification and firmware with dispatch records, then repeat functional checks before installation.

What goes wrong

A matching power rating can hide an incompatible encoder, command interface or motor winding. A drive may run unloaded yet trip during acceleration or braking. Test the approved combination under the intended duty cycle, including the agreed cable, filtering and braking arrangement.

Firmware substitutions can change parameters or communications, while altered power components can make earlier reports unrepresentative. Require written approval for changes and compare production units with the approved sample. Follow the stages in quality inspection, and investigate discrepancies before accepting the shipment.

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.