TPI January 2009

f i t t ings feature on . . .

New website for industrial valve business

Awards for ETEC’s ball valve and compact bend Two innovative products from ETEC, Germany, have been honoured in the ‘Materialica Design & Technology Award 2008’. The company’s ceramic/steel ball valve and compact bend were both selected for the special award, with the compact bend also being selected for the CO 2 efficiency award – the first time this category has been awarded. The awards ceremony was held during the Materialica Exhibition, an international trade show for materials and applications, surfaces and product engineering, which took place in Munich in October 2008.

Wolseley UK is a subsidiary of Wolseley plc, a specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Pipe Center, the company’s pipe distributor, has launched a new website for its specialist industrial valve business, Valvestock. Pipe Center is a supplier to mechanical services and plant engineers, offering expertise in tube valves and fittings in steel, plastic, copper, stainless steel and commercial/industrial heating and air conditioning equipment. The company has 89 branches throughout the UK. The new website is part of Pipe Center’s plans to develop Valvestock, with investment in additional technical equipment also planned. The Valvestock website, www. valvestock.co.uk, highlights the broad range of products available, with comprehensive data sheets which can be downloaded. Users are able to locate specific products quickly and easily, and also see examples and case studies of bespoke actuated valves designed and engineered by the company. Valvestock general manager William Woodward commented, “We are excited to launch this website which promotes our technical expertise and capabilities. Providing bespoke valves and controls which offer tailored solutions to our customers is integral to our business, and we have therefore included a dedicated section on the website which highlights our expertise in this field.” Wolseley – UK customerservices@wolseley.co.uk www.wolseley.co.uk

ETEC’s new ball valve is manufactured using a combination of high-quality materials, selected for their specific advantages. Previously, valve balls in tube systems protected from wear were made of just one material, mostly steel or ceramics. While a steel version tends to be more susceptible to wear, a full ceramic version has the disadvantage of being brittle, and since it has to absorb the driving power of the valve ball, there is a risk of breakage. ETEC developed a valve ball with a special material combination: although the body is made of steel, the clearance hole is protected by a casing made of wear-resistant, high-performance Alotec ceramics.

ETEC’s ceramic/steel ball valve in operation in a S S power station

The compact bend allows considerable reduction of S S energy costs

The steel component absorbs the driving power, while the ceramic lining (which also protects the adjacent passage area of the ball valve and the complete system) ensures efficient wear protection and helps reduce costs. There are an increasing number of public discussions about climate change and CO 2 emissions. Specific materials and light construction technologies can help reduce CO 2 emissions. ETEC’s compact bend, which features an interior lining made of high- performance Alotec ® ceramics, is capable of following the uniform cross- section of the total system, even in extremely narrow radii. As a result, less air pressure is required in comparison with impact absorbers generally used, reducing energy demand.

Pipe Center – UK www.pipecenter.co.uk

ETEC – Germany www.etec-ceramics.com

Valvestock – UK www.valvestock.co.uk

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Tube Products International January 2009

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