8477.10.90 - Other

This HTS category, 8477.10.90, encompasses "Other" injection-molding machines. It serves as a residual classification for injection-molding machinery that does not fall under the more specific subheadings for machines used in the manufacture of footwear (8477.10.30.00) or for use in the production of optical media (8477.10.40.00). The key determinant for classification here is the absence of these specialized applications.

The machines classified under 8477.10.90 are designed for the precise injection of molten materials, typically plastics or rubber, into a mold cavity to form a product. While their fundamental operation is the same as other injection-molding machines, their intended use or design characteristics do not align with the specific exclusions mentioned in sibling categories. This broad residual classification ensures that all injection-molding machines are accounted for within the HTS system, even if they don't fit into highly specialized niches.

This category further subdivides to distinguish between machines based on the type of material they are designed to process. Specifically, it branches into machines intended for thermosetting materials and those for thermoplastics. This distinction is crucial as the processing requirements, and thus the machine's design and capabilities, can differ significantly between these two classes of polymers.