8480.60.00 - Molds for mineral materials

This category, HTS 8480.60.00, encompasses molds specifically designed for the shaping or forming of mineral materials. These are tools, often intricate in design, that are used in manufacturing processes where raw or processed minerals are cast, pressed, or otherwise molded into desired shapes. Examples include molds for ceramics, refractory materials, cementitious products, and other non-metallic mineral substances. The defining characteristic is the intended use with mineral-based inputs, distinguishing them from molds intended for metals, glass, rubber, or plastics.

When classifying molds under heading 8480, it is crucial to differentiate based on the material the mold is intended to shape. Unlike sibling categories such as 8480.10 (molding boxes for metal foundry), 8480.50 (molds for glass), or those for metal and metal carbides, this classification is exclusively for molds designed for mineral materials. Similarly, it is distinct from molding patterns (8480.30) which are typically used to create the molds themselves, rather than being the molds used in the final shaping process.

The subcategories within HTS 8480.60.00 provide further specificity regarding the operational mechanism of these molds. Subcategory 8480.60.00.10 covers injection or compression types, which utilize pressure to force the mineral material into the mold cavity. The residual molds fall under the broader "other types" subcategory (8480.60.00.90), which would include molds used in processes like casting, gravity filling, or other methods that do not primarily rely on injection or compression.