Sourcing welding and soldering machines from China

Zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, soldering irons and guns, wave soldering and other brazing or soldering machines, resistance welding machines, arc and plasma welding machines, welding transformers and converters, other welding machines for metals, and parts carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. For reflow equipment, see our guide to sourcing reflow soldering ovens.

Hand-held gas torches are in heading 8468; confirm the commodity code.

Electrical safety and EMC

Mains welders fall within the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the EMC rules, and arc welding equipment is tested to the BS EN IEC 60974 series. Ask for the test report and check duty cycle, open-circuit voltage and the rating plate on the sample. For welding generators, see our generator sourcing guide. For electrode holders, see our arc welding electrode holder sourcing guide. For accompanying protective equipment, see our welding helmet sourcing guide.

Automatic and robotic welding cells are machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, with UKCA or CE marking. For brake components in welding cells, see our electromagnetic brake sourcing guide.

Laser welders

Handheld fibre laser welders are high-class lasers. They need laser safety classification, interlocks and eye protection guidance in the manual, and buyers must control the work area. Ask for the laser classification report and the source maker.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 500 inverter MIG welders under 8515 39 18 00. At £75,000 free on board and £4,500 to ship and insure, the customs value is £79,500. With 0% duty on inverter welders, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £79,500, or £15,900. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

Inspection checklist

Rating and safety: a BS EN IEC 60974-1 test report for the exact model, the duty cycle checked at rated current in a 40 °C ambient as that standard defines it, open-circuit voltage measured against the limit and the rating plate, the enclosure protection marking checked, and EMC evidence to BS EN IEC 60974-10 for the declaration under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) and Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016.

Wire feed, torches and gas: wire feeders checked against BS EN IEC 60974-5 for feed speed stability over the range, torches against BS EN IEC 60974-7 for their rated current and duty cycle, gas regulators and flowmeters checked for their standard and UK fittings, and the output current on the panel compared with a calibrated clamp meter at several settings.

Function and packing: test welds run on sampled units at the settings in the manual, the voltage reduction device checked where fitted, the mains plug, fuse and cable checked for UK supply, English manuals and markings present, and cartons drop-tested with the torch and earth lead packed so they cannot strike the front panel. For extension leads, see our extension cable reel sourcing guide.

What goes wrong

Welders fail on rating, cooling and the wire feed. A duty cycle or output current stated at a low ambient temperature or for a few seconds overstates what the machine can do, inverters overheat and trip when fans and heatsinks are undersized, and cheap wire feeders slip or feed unevenly. Earth clamps, torches and cables are often too light for the rated current, and mains plugs or input cables do not suit UK supplies.

Weld test pieces at rated current for the full duty cycle and check for thermal trips, measure open-circuit voltage against the rating plate and BS EN IEC 60974-1, check wire feed consistency and gas flow, check cable and torch ratings, and confirm the plug, fuse and manuals in English before shipment.

Testing and spares

Weld test pieces on samples, check wire feed and gas flow, and agree spare torches, tips and liners. At inspection, check earthing, plugs and manuals, and bring WEEE into your costing. For replacement tips, see our MIG contact tip sourcing guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources welding and soldering machines, with safety standards, laser classification and spares settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works. For the reverse trade, see exporting UK welding equipment to China.

Related guides: Laser engravers, laser cutters and plasma machines.