8465 - Machine tools (including machines for nailing, stapling, glueing or otherwise assembling) for working wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, hard plastics or similar hard materials:
Sub-classifications
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8465 20
Overview
Heading 8465 encompasses a broad range of specialized machine tools designed for shaping or processing various hard materials. This category specifically covers machines that work wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, and similar rigid plastics through mechanical means. Examples include woodworking machines like saws, planers, sanders, routers, and lathes, as well as machines for assembling components of these materials, such as nailers, staplers, and glue applicators. The defining characteristic is the machine's function of altering the form or dimensions of these specified hard substances.
Unlike sibling categories within Section XVI that deal with different types of machinery (e.g., agricultural machinery, textile machinery, or general-purpose machine tools for metal), 8465 is narrowly focused on the materials and the specific machining operations performed on them. It differentiates itself from machinery for working softer materials or those that operate on different principles, such as printing or folding machines. The emphasis is on material removal, shaping, joining, or finishing through mechanical action.
Within heading 8465, further subheadings provide more granular classification. Subheading 8465.10.00 distinguishes machines capable of performing multiple machining operations without requiring a tool change, indicating advanced automated functionality. Machining centers, classified under 8465.20, represent a further specialization of highly integrated, automated machines that can perform a sequence of different operations. The residual "Other" category captures machines not specifically enumerated in these subheadings, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all relevant machinery within the scope of this heading.