Find HS Code and trade information for disk enclosure

Disk Enclosure

A disk enclosure is a housing for one or more disk drives, providing physical protection, thermal management, and a standardized interface for connecting to a computer system. They are commonly used to expand storage capacity, create RAID arrays, or provide portability for drives.

Materials

Disk enclosures are typically constructed from:

• Aluminum: Offers good heat dissipation and lightweight properties. Common in higher-end enclosures.
• Plastic: More affordable, lighter, but generally provides less heat dissipation. Often used for portable enclosures.
• Steel: Provides robust physical protection, but is heavier and can interfere with wireless signals.
• Combination of materials: Many enclosures use a combination of materials, such as a plastic shell with an aluminum heat sink.

Purpose

• Storage Expansion: Add additional storage capacity to a computer without opening the computer case.
• RAID Support: Enable the creation of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations for data redundancy, performance improvement, or both.
• Portability: Provide a protective and easily transportable solution for external hard drives or SSDs.
• Drive Protection: Shield drives from physical damage, dust, and electrostatic discharge.
• Hot-Swapping: Allow drives to be added or removed while the system is running (if the enclosure and host controller support it).
• Drive Cloning/Duplication: Some enclosures have features specifically designed for cloning or duplicating hard drives.

Function

Disk enclosures serve as an intermediary between the disk drive(s) and the host computer. They perform the following functions:

• Power Supply: Provide regulated power to the drives.
• Interface Conversion: Convert the drive's interface (SATA, SAS, NVMe) to a host-compatible interface (USB, eSATA, Thunderbolt, Fibre Channel).
• Data Transfer: Facilitate the transfer of data between the drives and the host computer.
• Thermal Management: Dissipate heat generated by the drives using fans, heat sinks, or passive cooling.
• RAID Controller (Optional): Manage RAID configurations, including striping, mirroring, and parity calculations.
• LED Indicators: Display drive activity, power status, and RAID status.

Usage Scenarios

• Home Users: Expanding storage for backups, media libraries, or general file storage.
• Small Businesses: Creating NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, implementing RAID for data protection, or providing portable storage for offsite backups.
• Professionals (Video Editors, Graphic Designers): High-capacity storage for large files, fast data transfer speeds, and RAID configurations for performance and reliability.
• Data Centers: High-density storage solutions, RAID arrays for data redundancy, and hot-swappable drive bays for easy maintenance.

Common Types

• Single-Drive Enclosures: House a single 2.5" or 3.5" drive, typically connected via USB or eSATA. Often used for portability or simple storage expansion.
• Multi-Drive Enclosures: House multiple drives (2, 4, 5, 8, or more), often with RAID support.
• DAS (Direct Attached Storage): Connect directly to a computer via USB, eSATA, Thunderbolt, or Fibre Channel.
• NAS (Network Attached Storage) Enclosures: Connect to a network, allowing multiple users to access the storage. Typically include a built-in operating system and web interface.
• JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) Enclosures: Present the drives as individual volumes, without RAID support.
• RAID Enclosures: Include a dedicated RAID controller and support various RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10, etc.).
• NVMe Enclosures: Specifically designed for fast NVMe SSDs, typically using USB or Thunderbolt interfaces.
• U.2 Enclosures: Designed for U.2 SSDs, offering higher performance than SATA.
• Thunderbolt Enclosures: Offer high bandwidth and low latency, ideal for demanding applications.

Based on the provided information, the following HS codes may be relevant to “disk enclosure”:

• 8523802000: This HS code covers discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, “smart cards” and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, but excluding products of Chapter 37. Specifically, it includes “Other: Other”. This could potentially apply to the enclosure if it houses these recording media. The total tax rate is 37.5%, comprised of a 0.0% base tariff and a 7.5% additional tariff, increasing to 30% after April 2, 2025.

• 3926909989: This HS code covers other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914, specifically “Other: Other”. If the disk enclosure is made of plastic or other materials within the 3901-3914 range, this code may be applicable. The total tax rate is 42.8%, consisting of a 5.3% base tariff and a 7.5% additional tariff, rising to 30% after April 2, 2025.

According to the provided reference material, the HS code options related to 'disk enclosure' are limited, with only the following 2 found.