Valvetech Newsflash: A Gate and Butterfly Valve Hat Trick

Everyone likes a win, everyone enjoys good news, and everyone gets excited when looking forward to something interesting. Valvetech has incredible news regarding the future of our product range…it is bold, it is strong, and it is worth sharing.

Valvetech has always made it a point of having abundant quality stock available at a moment’s notice - anything up to DN600, ready to be drilled and collected within a matter of hours. However, our range has always been limited to Cast Iron, Class 125, PN14. That’s all about to change and the potential is incredible. Here are the differences:?

1. Class 125 PN14 is Out, Class 150 PN16 is In

Improving on the trusted Valvetech quality brand we are known for and due to the change in material, the manufacturing process now incorporates a new mould with thicker flanges, shorter bonnets and stem, and a more efficiently designed body. All these improvements, along with the ANSI B16.5 / ANSI B16.10 / MSS SP 70 Design Standards, have upgraded our products to a Class 150 which means our valves can take higher pressures at lower temperatures (and vice-versa), such as 20’C at 20 Bar, or 400’C at 6.5 Bar

2. Cast Iron is Out, Ductile Iron is In

While our current stock remains Cast Iron, our new stock that is due to arrive soon will be manufactured in Ductile Iron. This is a stronger, lighter, more pressure-enduring material that lasts longer and can take the knocks in the field.

Pressure Rating Table:?

3. A Price Hit is Out, Value for Money is In

Yes, there is a price increase, but the economy was going to make that happen regardless. We knew that and we needed to act proactively. Here is where the best news comes in: with all the improvements due to our product changes, wider implementation scope, and more versatile product range, the price of our products (instead of increasing by an anticipated 25%-30%), is only increasing by an average of 15%.

A Rising Stem DN100 Class 125 PN14 Cast Iron Gate Valve with a Stainless-Steel Trim currently costs R4,270 (ex VAT). The new price for an RS DN100 Class 150 PN16 Ductile Iron Gate Valve with a SS Trim is estimated at around R4,956 (at R17.50/USD, so this should come down).

Regarding Butterfly Valves

Our Butterfly Valves are also getting an upgrade to our product line, as they will also now be forged in Ductile Iron. A slightly shorter stem means that they can be seated in smaller spaces, and a lighter metal means that overall they weigh less. The lugs can now be drilled in accordance with most tables (including Table E), or removed completely, so they are more versatile than their predecessors. The existing liners continue to be a perfect fit and remain interchangeable between NBR, EPDM and Teflon.

We have not had a price increase in our butterfly valves since March 2020, so our new product range does come with an average 23% price increase, which is 13% less than the 36% that we have worked tirelessly to avoid. Existing gearboxes and levers will also still work seamlessly with the new products, so there is 100% compatibility between current and new stock.

In Closing

We look forward to showcasing the new stock when it arrives, all 40 tons of it, and continuing to supply a strong product range at a moment’s notice, at prices that exceed expectations.