5911.31.00.30 - Paper-forming fabrics

This HTS category, 5911.31.00.30, specifically covers "paper-forming fabrics" within the broader classification of textile fabrics and felts used in papermaking or similar industrial machines. These fabrics are characterized by their specific construction and application in the initial stages of paper production, where they are instrumental in dewatering and forming the paper web. Their primary function is to allow water to pass through while retaining the pulp fibers, thus contributing to the formation of a uniform sheet.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 5911.31.00.10 (Press felts) and 5911.31.00.20 (Dryer felts and dryer fabrics), is crucial for accurate classification. While all fall under the umbrella of textile fabrics for papermaking machines, paper-forming fabrics are typically employed in the "forming section" of the paper machine, before pressing or drying. Press felts are designed to remove water under pressure, and dryer fabrics are used to transport the paper through the drying section. This category focuses solely on those fabrics whose primary role is the initial sheet formation and drainage.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories under 5911.31.00.30. Classification within this heading relies heavily on the described function and application of the fabric within the paper manufacturing process, specifically its role in forming the paper web, in conjunction with the specified weight criterion of less than 650 g/m².