NY 854613
Aug. 8, 1990
CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:103 854613
9010.20.6080
Ms. Shirley Klippel
Hamlet and Smith, Inc.
163 North Green Bay Road
Thiensville, Wi. 53092
RE: The tariff classification of printed circuit board
processing machines from Italy
Dear Ms. Klippel:
In your letter dated July 17, 1990 on behalf of
International Supplies Company, S.R.L. you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
With your inquiry you submitted brochures describing six
machines used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. The
particular models you inquired about are as follows:
1. Rolly-SHD - used to dry circuit boards with or without
through holes. The boards are initially conveyed between rollers
covered with an absorbing material which remove water from the
surface of the board. A ring blower connected to an air knife
blows heated air onto one side of the board and simultaneously
exhausts it from the other side, thus also pushing water out of
any holes in the board. Final drying is accomplished by another
pair of rollers which are kept warm and dry by a flow of heated
air. This type of drying machine is also incorporated as a
section of the machines described below.
2. Pumiflex-SHD and Pumex-SHD - used to clean the outer
layer of a copper foil circuit board prior to laminating the
surface with a dry film onto which the image of the circuits is
exposed. These machines utilize rotating nylon brushes which are
sprayed with a suspension of pumice and water. After scrubbing
the board's surface, the machines wash the board with clean water
and brushes, and dry the board by means of the SHD air knife
unit.
3. Flux Washer-SHD - utilizes water spraying nozzles in
conjunction with rotating brushes to wash off and remove flux
from circuit boards. The machine again incorporates the SHD
drying unit to dry the boards after cleaning.
4. Filtrex - used to remove pumice from the water used in
the pumice scrubbing operation. The pumice recovered from the
water can then be properly disposed of, while the water is
recirculated back to the pumice cleaning machine. The suspension
of used pumice and water is pumped through a cyclone, creating a
rapidly spinning vortex. The heavier pumice particles are forced
to the tip of the cyclone while the clean water exits. The
pumice, together with a small amount of water, then passes
through separators which allow the pumice to settle out of the
water. Whatever pumice particles still remain are collected by a
filter bag.
5. PSSM-Developer-SHD - used for the development of photo-
sensitive solder masks on printed circuit boards by means of
solvent chemicals. The boards pass through several developing
chambers where the solvents are sprayed onto them. The boards
are then rinsed by water sprays and dried by the SHD unit.
The applicable subheading for the Pumiflex-SHD, Pumex-SHD,
and Flux Washer-SHD machines will be 8479.89.9090, Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for
machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions,
not specified or included elsewhere. The rate of duty will be
3.7 percent ad valorem.
The applicable subheading for the Rolly-SHD machine will be
8419.39.0080, HTS, which provides for machinery, plant or
laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the
treatment of materials by a process involving a change of
temperature...:other dryers. The rate of duty will be 4.2
percent ad valorem.
The applicable subheading for the Filtrex machine will be
8421.29.0050, HTS, which provides for other filtering or
purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids. The rate of duty
will be 3.9 percent ad valorem.
Finally, the applicable subheading for the PSSM-Developer-
SHD machine will be 9010.20.6080, HTS, which provides for other
apparatus and equipment for photographic (including
cinematographic) laboratories: other: other. The rate of duty
will be 3.7 percent ad valorem.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport