Sourcing silent transmission chains from China

Duty on silent transmission chains

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7315 covers chain and parts thereof, of iron or steel. Articulated silent transmission chains are candidates for 7315 12 00 00, other articulated chain; separately imported articulated chain parts are candidates for 7315 19 00 00. The table distinguishes buying variants sharing these codes.

The supplied tariff extract shows 0% duty for goods from China on both lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%. Confirm the exact construction and presentation using finding your commodity code.

This guide concerns toothed transmission chains rather than roller chains or lifting chains. For the wider chain buying context, see industrial roller chains. A matching pitch alone does not establish interchangeability.

Specify the teeth, guides and joints

Specify the tooth profile, pitch, chain width, guide position, joint construction and finished length against a drawing. Identify the mating sprocket and its tooth geometry. State whether the chain is supplied endless or with an approved connecting joint, and agree the assembly method with the machine engineer.

Give the factory the operating speed, transmitted load, lubrication method and operating temperature. Agree material, heat treatment, hardness checks, dimensional tolerances and acceptance tests before production. Use a sample on the actual sprocket arrangement to assess seating, tracking and noise under representative conditions.

For workplace articles where more specific product safety law does not apply, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act imposes supply-chain safety duties so far as reasonably practicable, including safe-use information and necessary testing or examination. Request installation, lubrication and maintenance information relevant to the chain and its intended drive.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 12 custom silent transmission chains for machinery maintenance, illustrative only under 7315 12 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,400, so it is £4,680. 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

Geometry: check tooth form, pitch, width and guide position against the approved drawing; measure chain length under the agreed measuring load.

Joints: check free articulation, pin retention and connecting-joint assembly; look for tight links, burrs and damaged tooth edges.

Performance: review batch material and heat-treatment records, agreed hardness and tensile results; trial sample chains for tracking, seating and abnormal noise.

Arrival: check batch identification, corrosion protection and packaging; isolate rusty, damaged or stiff chains before fitting.

What goes wrong

Chains with the correct nominal pitch can still ride badly on a sprocket because tooth profiles or guide arrangements differ. Excessive joint clearance produces uneven running and length growth; tight joints, poor pin retention and inconsistent heat treatment can cause premature failure.

Treat “silent” as a chain type rather than a guaranteed noise result. Compare samples under the intended load and lubrication conditions, and investigate sprocket wear and alignment alongside chain defects. Keep the approved drawing and sample available for quality inspection.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.