7307.23.00 - Butt welding fittings

This HTS category, 7307.23.00, specifically encompasses butt welding fittings made from stainless steel. These fittings are designed to be joined to pipes or tubes through a butt welding process, where the edges of the fitting and the pipe are aligned and fused together to create a continuous flow path. This method ensures a strong and leak-proof connection, commonly used in industries requiring high integrity, such as petrochemical, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical applications.

It's important to distinguish this category from its siblings. Category 7307.21 covers flanges, which are flat rings or collars designed to connect pipes, valves, or pumps. Category 7307.22 deals with threaded elbows, bends, and sleeves, indicating a mechanical joining method rather than welding. Category 7307.29.00, "Other," captures any stainless steel tube or pipe fittings not otherwise specified, making 7307.23.00 crucial for accurately classifying butt welding types.

Further refinement within this category is provided by its subcategories. 7307.23.00.30 is for butt welding fittings that have undergone no further processing after their initial forming, meaning they are in a raw or semi-finished state. In contrast, 7307.23.00.90 covers all other butt welding fittings of stainless steel, which may include those that have been machined, tooled, or otherwise processed to achieve specific dimensions, surface finishes, or functionalities after the primary forming stage.