Sourcing wave soldering machines from China
Wave soldering machines and their dedicated parts from China carry 0% UK import duty. New machines placed on the Great Britain market must have UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Check performance using your own circuit boards. Cambridge China Bridge sources wave soldering machines.
Zero duty on wave soldering machines
Heading 8515 covers electric soldering, brazing and welding equipment. The dedicated wave soldering line covers machines used solely or principally to manufacture printed circuit assemblies. Their dedicated parts have a separate line. The broader machine and parts rows are classification alternatives, not interchangeable codes. See reflow soldering ovens and the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The dedicated wave machine and parts lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The other-parts line attaches anti-dumping or countervailing registration: ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement before using it.
Confirm the commodity code using the machine's operating description and intended application, or the spare part's identity and compatibility. Do not classify separately imported electrical components solely by the machine they fit.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave soldering machines for printed circuit assemblies | 8515 19 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts of wave soldering machines | 8515 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other soldering machines, outside the dedicated wave soldering description | 8515 19 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other soldering equipment parts, outside the dedicated wave soldering parts line | 8515 90 80 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the board, solder process and installation
Specify board dimensions, component clearance, conveyor direction and adjustment, solder alloy, pot material, wave configuration, flux application and preheat control. Agree whether nitrogen operation is included, and identify the required electrical supply, extraction connections and access for pot maintenance.
For new machinery placed on the Great Britain market, UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions are required. Electrical equipment liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance also falls within the electromagnetic compatibility rules, subject to their exceptions. Ask for model-specific documentation and testing and certification support.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A wave soldering machine for a small electronics manufacturer, illustrative only under 8515 19 10 00, invoiced at £75,000 free on board, with £4,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £79,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £79,500, so it is £15,900. 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
Process: run your populated boards with the agreed alloy and flux; inspect solder bridging, hole fill, missed joints and underside contamination. Record the settings used.
Conveyor and heating: check board support, width adjustment and smooth travel; compare displayed temperatures with independent measurements and assess wave stability during the trial.
Safety and documents: check guards, emergency stops and fitted interlocks; match the machine identity to its declaration and English manual. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
Arrival and spares: inspect the pot, pumps, conveyor rails and cabinet for transport damage; reconcile loose accessories, wiring diagrams and agreed replacement parts before commissioning.
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What goes wrong
An unloaded demonstration can hide poor results on populated boards. Uneven flux coverage, unstable waves, inadequate preheating or board sag can leave bridges and incomplete joints. Agree acceptance against your boards and retain trial samples and settings.
Installation can stall when the supply connection, extraction arrangement or maintenance access differs from the factory assumptions. Confirm the site layout before shipment, and agree who supplies consumables, conveyor fingers, pump parts and temperature sensors.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wave soldering machines from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% duty under 8515 19 10 00, and 0% on dedicated wave soldering machine parts under 8515 90 20 00.
Do wave soldering machines need CE or UKCA marking?
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must be UKCA or CE marked, accompanied by a declaration of conformity and supplied with English instructions.
How should I test a Chinese wave soldering machine?
Run your populated boards using the agreed solder alloy and flux. Check bridging, hole fill, missed joints, conveyor support and repeatability, and record the settings.
Can I use the same commodity code for spare parts?
Dedicated wave soldering machine parts have their own line, 8515 90 20 00. Check each part's description; separately imported electrical components may need another classification.