Valve's Blog

A new valve has been launched by Hopkinsons Valves, a division of Weir Envirotech. The Batley Varidiff butterfly valve can be used in applications where problems relating to cavitation and noise generated by conventional butterfly valves exist.

The valve incorporates two hemispherical control elements on opposite sides of the disc, which reduces the pressure recovery at low openings.

Increased demand for a low-cost solution to cavitation and noise problems by conventional valves led to the valve being developed by UK firm Batley.

The valve can be used successfully on overboard dump lines in the offshore industry, firewater ring system control valves, brine blowdown control, jetty loading valves and seawater draining.

"In a market where 80% of sales are based on imported products, remaining price competetive must be seen as the main challenge for suppliers," states Hopkinson GM Jimmy Georgiou.

"Products like this put us in a favourable position on the market as they allow us to offer quality valves at stable prices," he adds.

The Johannesburg firm reports that its largest growth area is the petrochemical industry at present, due to the continous expansion of various plants.

Other news from the valve specialist includes the appointment of East Cape Valve as an official distributor in June.

This will give the company exclusive marketing and distribution rights for Port Elizabeth, East London and Mossgas, in Mossel Bay.

The range of high-performance products for specialised applications include Hopkinsons parallel slide valves, globe valves, swing check valves and safety valves as well as Blakeborough control valves, Batley butterfly control valves and high-performance butterfly valves, Valflow top entry and Trunnion mounted ball valves and Flowguard dampers.