8483.20.80.40 - Incorporating ball bearings

This HTS category, 8483.20.80.40, specifically covers housed bearings that are designed to incorporate ball bearings. These are self-contained units where the ball bearing is pre-assembled within a housing, simplifying installation and providing a complete bearing solution for machinery. Examples include pillow block bearings, flange bearings, and take-up units, all designed to facilitate rotational movement while supporting loads.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 8483.20.80.80, which covers housed bearings incorporating *roller* bearings. The fundamental difference lies in the type of rolling element used within the bearing assembly. While both are housed bearing units designed for ease of use, classification depends on whether ball or roller elements are present.

As a leaf node in the HTS, this category does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, classification within 8483.20.80.40 relies on accurately identifying that the housed bearing unit contains ball bearings and falls within the broader scope of article 8483, which pertains to power transmission equipment and parts thereof. The defining characteristic is the presence of ball bearings within the pre-assembled housing.