Specific machinery heading prevails over general ceramic heading for ceramic welding nozzles used with welding machines.

Ceramic nozzles used solely or principally with argon welding machines are classifiable as parts of welding machines under Heading 85.15. Their ceramic composition does not move them to the general ceramic heading in Chapter 69 because Chapter 85 contains no exclusion comparable to the Chapter 84 note excluding Chapter 69 goods, and the explanatory notes indicate that Chapter 85 goods remain classified there even if made of ceramic, subject only to limited exceptions. The specific machinery heading therefore prevails over the general ceramic heading.

---

---

Issues: Whether ceramic nozzles used solely or principally in argon welding machines are classifiable under Heading 85.15 as parts of welding machines or under Heading 69.01 as ceramic articles.

Analysis: Heading 69.01 is a general entry for ceramic articles, but Chapter 85 contains no exclusion comparable to Note 1(b) to Chapter 84, which excludes Chapter 69 goods from Chapter 84. The general explanatory notes to Chapter 85 state that goods of that chapter remain classified there even if they are of ceramic material, except for the stated exception relating to glass envelopes. Since the nozzles are used solely or principally with welding machines classifiable under Heading 85.15, the fact that they are made of ceramic does not take them out of Chapter 85.

Conclusion: The ceramic nozzles are correctly classifiable under Heading 85.15 and not under Heading 69.01.

Ratio Decidendi: Where goods are parts of machinery classifiable under Chapter 85, their ceramic composition does not displace classification from Chapter 85 in the absence of a specific exclusion, and the specific machinery heading prevails over a general ceramic heading.

---