Jagenberg U.S.A., Inc. v. United States

66 Cust. Ct. 247, 1971 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2374
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedApril 7, 1971
DocketC.D. 4198
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 66 Cust. Ct. 247 (Jagenberg U.S.A., Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jagenberg U.S.A., Inc. v. United States, 66 Cust. Ct. 247, 1971 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2374 (cusc 1971).

Opinion

Ford, Judge:

This action brings before the court for determination the proper classification of an article described on the invoice as a “Drying Tunnel * * It was classified by the district director at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the provisions of item 661.70, Tariff Schedules of the United States, as industrial machinery, and parts thereof, for the treatment of material by a process involving temperature change. Duty was assessed thereon at the rate of 12.5 per centum ad valorem.

Plaintiff contends the involved machine is properly subject to classification under item 668.007, Tariff Schedules of the United States, as parts of machines for processing or finishing paper and as such subject to duty at the rate of 10 per centum ad valorem. This position is based upon the contention that the utilization of the temperature change is a secondary function, the primary function being the coating of the paper to make it resistant to water, vapor, grease, odor and moisture.

The pertinent statutory provisions involved herein provide as follows:

Schedule 6, part 4:
Subpart A. — Boilers, NoN-Electric Motors AND ENGINES, AND Other General Purpose Machinery
Subpart A headnote:
1. A machine or appliance which is described in this subpart and also is described elsewhere in this part is classifiable in this subpart.
*******
Industrial machinery, plant, and similar laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature, such as heating, cooking, roasting, distilling, rectifying, sterilizing, pasteurizing, steaming, drying, evaporating, vaporizing, condensing, or cooling; instantaneous or storage water heaters, non-electrical; all the foregoing (except agricultural implements, sugar machinery, and machinery or equipment for the heat-treatment of textile yarns, fabrics, or made-up textile articles) and parts thereof:
661.70 Other_12.5% ad. val.
$ * * * * * *
Subpart D.-Pulp AND Paper Machinery; BooebiNdiNG Machinery ; PRINTING MACHINERY
Machines for making cellulosic pulp, paper, or paperboard; machines for processing or finishing pulp, paper, or paperboard, or making them up into articles:
****** *
668.07 Other-10% ad val.

[249]*249The record consists of the testimony of one witness called on behalf of plaintiff and two documentary exhibits received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibits 1 and 2. The oral testimony consisted of a description of the operation of the coating unit and the drying tunnel. The purpose of the tunnel is to evaporate the moisture which is introduced into the paper by the coating. The tunnel does not coat the paper which is applied by the coating unit. The coating of the paper is to make it resistant to water, vapor, grease, odor and moisture. The moisture is removed in order to enable 'the coating to dry. This could also be done by letting the coated paper stand to dry. The heat speeds up the drying process.

Counsel for the respective parties stipulated that the drying tunnel dries the paper by a process involving a change of temperature. The witness also testified that the drying tunnel was essential to the operation of the coating machine.

While admitting the importation at bar, a drying funnel functions in the manner described in the superior heading to item 661.70, Tariff Schedules of the United States, plaintiff contends it was not intended to be covered thereby because of the following language contained in the Tariff Classification Study, Schedule 6, page 263:

* * * Item 661.70 covers industrial and laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change in temperature. This equipment is designed to submit materials to a heating or cooling process in order to cause the simple change of temperature, or to cause the transformation of materials resulting principally from the temperature change. The item does not cover equipment in which the heating or cooling, even if essential, is merely a secondary function designed to facilitate the main function. * * *

It is the last sentence, supra, which plaintiff contends is the controlling factor in this case. Plaintiff takes the position that the drying-tunnel is a part of the coating machine and the primary purpose of said machine is to coat the paper while the drying of the paper is merely a secondary function and hence is excluded from the language of the superior heading for item 661.70, Tariff Schedules of the United States. Plaintiff therefore contends that since this drying tunnel is part of the coating machine which is a machine for processing or finishing paper, it is more properly subject to classification under item 668.07, Tariff Schedules of the United States, as claimed.

It is evident from the record that while the drying tunnel is a part of the coating machine and in that sense may be considered secondary, the prime and sole function of the tunnel is the heating, drying and evaporation of the coating applied by the coating machine. Accordingly, this merchandise falls clearly within the purview of item 661.70, supra, as the main function of the drying tunnel is for the treatment of [250]*250materials by a process involving temperature change. The mere fact that it is used as an adjunct to the coating machine does not relegate the drying to that of a secondary function within the above quoted legislative history. The legislative intent is clear that the heating in the particular machine must be secondary in order to be excluded from item 661.70, supra, and not the machine itself being secondary to another machine.

The record in our opinion amply establishes the drying tunnel to be an essential part of the coating machine which is clearly one that processes paper within the purview of item 668.07, supra. Plaintiff contends, therefore, that the imported merchandise is a part of paper processing machines. Since, as indicated, supra, the imported machine is also one which treats material by a process involving a change of temperature, it is also provided for in item 661.70, supra, which is contained in subpart A of part 4 of schedule 6. Subpart A, part 4, of schedule 6, contains the following headnote:

1. A machine or appliance which is described in this subpart and also is described elsewhere in this part is classifiable in this subpart.

This 'headnote has been the subject of interpretation in a number of recent decisions. Costa International Corp. v. United States, 58 CCPA 48, C.A.D. 1003 (1970); American SF Products, Inc. v. United States, 61 Cust. Ct. 257, C.D. 3593, 291 F. Supp. 685 (1968); Amalgamated Sugar Company v. United States, 60 Cust. Ct. 268, C.D. 3361, 281 F. Supp. 373 (1968).

In the Costa case, supra, the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals following the reasoning in the American SF Products case, supra,

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Bluebook (online)
66 Cust. Ct. 247, 1971 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2374, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jagenberg-usa-inc-v-united-states-cusc-1971.