China sourcing agent for machinery and equipment
Cambridge China Bridge helps UK businesses buy machinery from China, from a single CNC router or laser cutter to production equipment: we check the quote and the supplier, arrange an inspection of the actual machine before you pay the balance, and handle freight and UK customs.
What you get
- A free preliminary review of a quote you already have: landed cost, freight lines, supplier details and the documents to ask for.
- Supplier checks: the seller, the exporting company, the business licence and the bank beneficiary should be the same company.
- An inspection of the actual machine before the balance: power-up, controls, motion, a test run, accessories, documents and packing.
- The documents to request for the exact model, such as the Declaration of Conformity, the English manual, the electrical schematic and nameplate details.
- Installation, commissioning and training agreed with the supplier before you order, not after the machine arrives.
- Like-for-like quotes from other manufacturers using the same specification, if you want a comparison.
Cambridge China Bridge in brief
- Buying from Chinese factories since 2021, for our own businesses and for clients on the same terms.
- Our own staff are based in China, at two bases: the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan) and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu). They visit factories themselves.
- £0 sourcing fee, commission or retainer on goods orders. Supplier checks are included; audits and inspections are usually included in the quote, with third-party checks charged extra.
- No minimum order on our side, from a single-unit trial to full containers; the factory's own minimum applies separately.
- In one project, a UK EV charging operator cut unit cost by 70% and scaled 3× faster. In another, a multi-site Cambridge café chain saved 50% on packaging.
- Free landed-price comparison within 72 hours for an off-the-shelf product. A reference call with a past client can be arranged, with that client's agreement.
- A UK company in Cambridge and London: Cambridge China Bridge is the trading name of Piggy Pineapple Ltd, company number 14385590.
How it works
- Send the machine specification or the supplier's quote, and your delivery address.
- We review the quote, the supplier and the documents, free of charge.
- If you go ahead, the inspection scope and the freight route are agreed.
- The actual machine is inspected before the balance is paid.
- It is shipped, cleared through UK customs and delivered to your site.
Questions buyers ask
Can you inspect the machine before I pay the balance?
Yes. An inspection of the actual machine can be arranged before the balance. Its scope, from a functional check to an independent technical inspection, is agreed first, and the cost depends on that scope.
Do China's export rules affect my machine?
Machine tools exported from China now need more detailed export declarations, which can add time on the China side. We allow for this when planning the shipment.
Who installs the machine in the UK?
That is agreed with the supplier before you order: what support is included, whether a technician travels, and for how long. We put it in writing with the order.