Sourcing vibratory plate compactors from China

UK duty on vibratory plate compactors

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8430 covers machinery for earth, minerals or ores, including tamping and compacting machinery. Non-self-propelled plate compactors fall within 8430 61 00 00. The table shows product variants using that same tariff line.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is separate and normally charged at 20%.

Confirm the commodity code using the machine's function and propulsion details. For other equipment in this heading, see compactors and piling rigs.

Specify the plate, exciter and handle

Specify forward or reversible travel, intended soil or paving material, operating weight, base plate dimensions and material, centrifugal force, vibration frequency and engine or motor model. Agree the paving mat, water system, lifting point, transport wheels and spare belts, bearings and anti-vibration mounts. Ask the factory to demonstrate the agreed configuration on your intended material.

For sale in Great Britain, new machinery must carry CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and instructions in English. Confirm the exact plate compactor's outdoor noise limits, testing and guaranteed sound power marking requirements with the relevant authority. For equipment subject to noise limits, the manufacturer's quality control system or the tests performed need approval from a third-party conformity assessment body.

Ask for the exact model's noise report and declared hand-arm vibration value, including the measurement method and operating conditions. For combustion engines, confirm the applicable non-road emissions stage and supporting documents. Review these through testing and certification before approving shipment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 petrol plate compactors, illustrative only under 8430 61 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £64,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,000, so it is £12,800. 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

Plate and frame: inspect the delivered base plate, welds, fasteners, belt guard and lifting point against the approved sample and drawings.

Operation: test starting, stopping, forward travel and reversal where fitted; check belt alignment, oil leaks, unusual exciter noise and bearing temperature during an agreed run.

Handle: inspect anti-vibration mounts, handle fixings and folding locks; compare the installed components with those used for the declared vibration measurements.

Documents and arrival: match model and serial identification to the declaration, noise label, reports and English manual; check crates for movement damage and account for accessories and spares. Use the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Noise labels and vibration figures may belong to another model. Changed handle mounts can increase transmitted vibration, while poor plate welds crack and exciter bearings overheat. A demonstration on a smooth factory floor does not establish performance on the buyer's intended material.

Freeze the engine, exciter, plate and handle configuration in the purchase specification. Agree acceptance checks and spare-part identification before production, then repeat functional and damage checks on arrival. Hold mismatched machines for review before adding them to sale or hire stock.

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.