HS Code for Thermoforming machine

Thermoforming machines are classified under HS code 8477.40, which falls within Chapter 84 of the Harmonized System. This chapter covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 8477 is dedicated to machinery for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials, not specified or included elsewhere in Chapter 84. Subheading 8477.40 is the specific category for vacuum moulding machines and other thermoforming machines. The classification logic is based on the machine's primary function: heating a plastic sheet until it becomes pliable and then using vacuum or mechanical pressure to shape it over a mold. This process is distinct from injection moulding or extrusion. The machine typically consists of a heating unit, a forming station where the mold is located, and often a trimming unit to remove excess material. Because these machines are designed specifically for processing plastic sheets or films into three-dimensional shapes (such as food containers, trays, or automotive parts), they meet the criteria for 8477.40. The classification remains the same whether the machine is a small manual unit or a high-speed, fully automated industrial line, provided the core technology is thermoforming.

Products Included

• Vacuum forming machines for plastic packaging
• Pressure forming machines for industrial components
• Twin-sheet thermoforming equipment
• Automatic continuous-feed thermoformers
• Manual laboratory-scale vacuum formers

Common Misclassification

Thermoforming machines are often misclassified under 8477.10 (injection moulding machines) or 8477.20 (extruders). While all three types work with plastics, the mechanical operation is fundamentally different. Injection moulding involves melting plastic pellets and injecting them into a closed cavity, whereas thermoforming uses pre-extruded sheets. Another common error is 8477.59, which is a residual category for other machinery for working rubber or plastics, but since 8477.40 specifically mentions thermoforming, it must be used according to GRI 1.

FAQ

What is the HS code for thermoforming machine?

The HS code for a thermoforming machine is 8477.40, covering vacuum moulding and other thermoforming equipment for plastics.

Are the molds imported with the machine classified here?

Generally, molds are classified separately under heading 8480, even if imported with the machine, unless they are an integral, non-detachable part of the mechanical assembly.