CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:103 885589
Ms. Pam Brown
Cargo U.K., Inc.
4790 Aviation Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30349
RE: The tariff classification of slaughterhouse equipment from
Holland
Dear Ms. Brown:
In your letter dated April 22, 1993 on behalf of Stork RMS,
Inc. you requested a tariff classification ruling.
You submitted several brochures depicting equipment used in
slaughterhouses for processing beef and pork. The specific
articles you inquired about are:
1. A steel lifting platform, consisting of a column-type
frame in which a pneumatic cylinder moves a work platform up and
down. The platform contains an anti-skid floor and safety
handrails. A foot-operated valve is used to control the vertical
movement of the platform, allowing a worker to adjust the
platform's height as he performs various slaughtering and grading
operations.
2. An electrohydraulic jib, consisting of a base and a hinged
swivel arm. It is used to load carcasses, quarters of beef, sides
of pork, and similar heavy meat products into refrigerated trucks,
or to unload them from the trucks. Movement of the jib arm is
controlled by a worker using a control handle located at the end
of the arm. The jib is capable of holding 200 to 300 kilograms.
3. A tube rail system, an unassembled overhead conveyor
system for use in the cold storage, cutting, or shipping areas of
a slaughterhouse. The system consists of individual tubular rails,
1.5 inches or two inches in diameter, which are suspended from
steel U-beams by means of brackets, manual and pneumatic track
switches, and a number of "hooks" which can be manually pulled
along the rails to facilitate movement of carcasses through the
plant. During a telephone conversation, your client stated that
the individual rails and switches are welded together after
importation to form the desired overhead conveyor configuration and
that each importation will consist of the components needed for a
complete system.
4. Overhead conveyor "hooks", which are actually C-shaped
trolley-like articles to which meat hooks or shackles are attached.
These articles are available in two versions: rolling or sliding.
The roller type contains a concave spherical roller and bearing,
thus enabling it to roll smoothly along the tube rail. The sliding
type do not contain a roller and, as their name implies, simply
slide along the overhead tubular rail. The bottom of each unit
contains a hole into which a standard meat hook, shackle, gambrel,
etc. can be inserted; a knob-like projection on the hook holds it
in place. These articles are made of heat-treated aluminum.
The applicable subheading for the lifting platform and
electrohydraulic jib will be 8428.90.0090, Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for other
lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery: other machinery:
other: other. The rate of duty will be 2 percent ad valorem.
The applicable subheading for a complete tube rail system,
imported in a single shipment, will be 8428.39.0000, HTS, which
provides for other lifting, handling, loading or unloading
machinery: other continuous-action elevators and conveyors, for
goods or materials: other. The rate of duty will be 2 percent ad
valorem.
Finally, the applicable subheading for the tube rail system
"hooks" described above, imported separately, will be 8431.39.0010,
HTS, which provides for parts suitable for use solely or
principally with the machinery of heading 8428: other: of elevators
and conveyors. The rate of duty will again be 2 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