8477.10 - Injection-molding machines:

This HTS category, 8477.10, specifically covers injection-molding machines. These machines are designed to produce shaped products by injecting molten material, typically plastic or rubber, into a mold under high pressure. They are characterized by their ability to melt, convey, inject, and cool the material within a closed mold cavity, thereby forming the desired object.

It is crucial to distinguish injection-molding machines from their sibling categories within 8477. For instance, extruders (8477.20) continuously force molten material through a die to create profiles, pipes, or sheets, a fundamentally different process. Similarly, blow-molding machines (8477.30) form hollow objects by inflating a parison or preform within a mold, while vacuum and thermoforming machines (8477.40) utilize vacuum or heat and pressure to shape plastic sheets. This category is reserved solely for the distinct mechanism of injection molding.

The subcategories within 8477.10 provide further specificity for these machines. They are bifurcated based on their intended application: 8477.10.30.00 for machines specifically designed for manufacturing shoes, and 8477.10.40.00 for those used in the intricate process of manufacturing optical media. The residual category, 8477.10.90, encompasses all other injection-molding machines not falling into these specialized uses.