8447.20 - Flat knitting machines; stitch-bonding machines:

HTS Code 8447.20 specifically encompasses flat knitting machines and stitch-bonding machines. These machines are designed to produce knitted or bonded fabrics by interlocking loops of yarn or thread. Flat knitting machines, for instance, create fabrics by moving needles back and forth across a stationary bed, allowing for intricate patterns and designs. Stitch-bonding machines, on the other hand, use stitches to bond fibers together, creating fabrics with unique textural properties and structural integrity.

This category is distinct from its sibling, circular knitting machines (8447.10), which create seamless tubular fabrics by using a circular arrangement of needles. While both are knitting technologies, the fundamental difference lies in the needle arrangement and the resulting fabric construction. Flat knitting machines offer greater versatility in pattern creation and fabric width compared to their circular counterparts.

Within HTS 8447.20, further subdivisions exist to refine classification. Warp knitting machines (8447.20.40) represent a specific type of knitting machine that produces fabric by interlacing warp yarns with other yarn systems, often resulting in stable and less elastic fabrics. The residual category, "Other" (8447.20.60), captures any remaining flat knitting or stitch-bonding machines that do not fit the more specific subcategories.