NY 890488
Oct. 7, 1993
CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:103 890488
Ms. Michele M. Maga
Fanuc Robotics North America, Inc.
2000 South Adams Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2800
RE: The tariff classification of robots from Japan
Dear Ms. Maga:
In your letter dated September 10, 1993 you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
The LR (Loader Robot) series of robots is composed of the LR-Mate, LR-1,
and LR-0 robots. The LR-Mate is a free-standing robot designed to load and
unload workpieces from a machine tool, as well as perform palletizing
operations. It utilizes an arm, powered by an AC servo-motor, with 5 axes of
articulation and a repeatability of .07 millimeter. The LR-1 is a
lightweight, 4 axis electric servo driven robot designed for loading and
unloading of CNC lathes. It may be mounted on the floor or on the machine
tool itself. The LR-1 can hold objects weighing up to 35 kilograms, and
features .1 millimeter repeatability. The LR-0 is a simpler version of the
LR-1, featuring 3 axes of motion, a payload capacity of four kilograms, and a
repeatability of .05 millimeter.
In your letter you state that these robots are used with either the
Fanuc Robotics RJ-Mate controller, or with the GEFanuc series 18T or 16T
controllers. Due to the design of these controllers and their software, they
are unable to support more complex, higher level programming languages which
are necessary for performing more difficult functions. You also state the LR
series robots only utilize simple end of arm tooling, and cannot be fitted
with more sophisticated tooling. Therefore, these robots can only perform
loading, unloading and palletizing operations, and are marketed as such.
Based on the above information, the applicable subheading for the LR-
Mate, LR-1, and LR-0 robots will be 8428.90.0010, Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (HTS), which provides for other lifting, handling,
loading or unloading machinery: other machinery: other: industrial robots.
The rate of duty will 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