CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:104 899264
Mr. Dave Henderson
Federal Cartridge Company
900 Ehlen Drive
Anoka, Minnesota 55303
RE: The tariff classification of lead wire manufacturing equipment
from Germany.
Dear Mr. Henderson:
In your letter dated June 13, 1994 you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
You have provided a description of the lead wire manufacturing
process, a quotation for the equipment to be imported and copies
of pictures of the major components. The process begins with the
melting of 60 pound lead ingots in a furnace. The resulting liquid
lead is continuously stirred and pumped to a twin strand die cast
machine holding pot. Two hydraulic powered pistons in the pot push
the liquid lead through cooling dies to form two rods. A pair of
shears at the end of the die cast machine shear the rods into
billets. The billets are then transferred by a combination
conveyor/preheat oven to an extrusion press which pushes the lead
billets through dies to produce lead wire. The wire is fed through
a take up device which coils the wire into barrels.
The quotation from the manufacturer describes the actual
equipment to be imported as follows:
A 3000 kg melting furnace supplied complete with a welded
steel crucible and a light oil or gas burner. It also includes an
agitator which you describe as a paddle wheel in the melting pot
and a lead pump in the bottom of the furnace which pumps the lead
into the holding furnace of the die caster via heated pipes.
A twin strand pressure die casting machine consisting of one
electrically heated holding and melting furnace with two hot
chambers, two molds for billets, two hydraulic rams, one hydraulic
pump, one shearing unit to obtain billets of the desired length
plus the electrical control cubicle.
A 300 ton hydraulic extrusion press which is fed with
preheated precast billets consisting of a double acting hydraulic
cylinder connected by two columns to the cross beam which carries
the billet receiver. It will include the ram, die holder and die,
and complete electrical and hydraulic system.
A multiple wire take-up, guiding and ejection station to feed
up to 6 extruded wires simultaneously into 6 wire containers.
The applicable subheading for the 3000 kg melting furnace will
be 8417.10.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for industrial or laboratory furnaces and
ovens ... non-electric: ... for the melting or other heat treatment
of ... metals. The rate of duty will be 5.7 percent.
The applicable subheading for the twin strand pressure die
casting machine will be 8454.30.0010, HTS, which provides for
casting machines of a kind used in metallurgy or in metal
foundries. The rate of duty will be free.
The applicable subheading for the hydraulic extrusion press
with the multiple wire take-up will be 8462.91.8090, HTS, which
provides for presses for working metal or metal carbides: other.
The rate of duty will be 4.4 percent.
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