8479.82.00.40 - Mixing, kneading or stirring machines

This HTS category, 8479.82.00.40, specifically covers machinery designed for the processes of mixing, kneading, or stirring, where these operations are the primary function. It encompasses a wide array of equipment used across various industries to blend, combine, or agitate materials. Examples include industrial mixers for food processing, dough kneaders for bakeries, concrete mixers, and laboratory stirrers. The key defining characteristic for inclusion in this subheading is the machine's principal purpose being the act of mixing, kneading, or stirring, irrespective of the specific materials being processed.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 8479.82.00.80, which covers "Other" machines and mechanical appliances not specified within the broader 8479.82.00.00 heading. While 8479.82.00.40 focuses on the specific functions of mixing, kneading, or stirring, the "Other" category would encompass machines with different primary functions, even if those functions might involve some degree of blending or agitation as a secondary aspect. For instance, a machine whose primary purpose is crushing or grinding would fall under a different subheading, even if some material mixing occurs incidentally during the operation.

As this subheading is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories to introduce. Therefore, classification relies entirely on accurately identifying that the subject merchandise's core function aligns with mixing, kneading, or stirring. When classifying goods, one must carefully assess the design, operational mechanism, and intended use to confirm that these are the predominant functions performed by the machine.