Piping solutions provider Incledon has expanded its portfolio of fluid conveyance products, which includes pipes, fittings, flanges, couplings, valves and pumps, following the company’s recent acquisition of industrial valve specialist Valves Technology & Repair (VTR).

The symbiotic partnership forged between the two compa- nies in March has enabled VTR to significantly expand the national coverage of its product range with the backing of Incledon, which, in turn, has gained exclusive rights to distribute automated control valves and actuators across South Africa.

Incledon commercial director Ray Steer says that the acquisition of VTR brings two world-renowned products under the spotlight in the South African industrial market, namely ValvTechnologies and Max-Air Actuators.

He says: “One of Incledon’s strategic aims is to expand into value-adding opportunities that relate to providing customers with solutions. By acquiring VTR, we are able take their two exist- ing brands, but deliver them on a much larger scale, thereby taking both companies into new areas of business opportunities that provide a comprehensive solutions package to many industrial clients.”

Incledon has obtained exclusive distributorship of US-based ValvTechnologies, an international designer and manufacturer of severe service ball valves, parallel slide gate valves and control valves. The products are manufactured from specialised materials, including Chrome Molly, which is a durable, low-alloy steel that can withstand high temperature and high-pressure applications of up to 4 500 bar.

Incledon VTR control valves MD Alli Alberts explains: “These valves are best suited to power stations and petrochemicals plants, and can be applied to high-pressure and high-temperature applications in the power market, such as steam applications, and steam and catalyst applications in petrochemical plants. A sig- nificant advantage of this tech- nology is in its energy-saving capability, as ValvTechnologies offers a four-year ‘zero-leakage’ guarantee on steam applications. This is the only product in South Africa that provides this type of guarantee.”

Alberts points out that internationally recognised ‘integral seat terminology’ is what sets ValvTechnologies apart from its competitors. “Integral seat terminology differs from traditional floating and trunnion-mounted designs, as the seat is an integral part of the body and, therefore, has no cavity areas,” he adds.

Valves range from ½ inch to 36 inches in size and are American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 150 to ANSI 4500 certified; however, Alberts notes that any size valve can be custom-made to suit customers’ technical requirements. He points out that Incledon now has the largest stockholding of severe service ball valves in South Africa, with stock currently standing at around 250 units.

Alberts says that, as the South African power grid continues to expand, ValvTechnologies’ ball valves will become increasingly recognised as the safest and most cost-effective industry option, as all products are Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 certified, which is the highest safety certification and requirement for industrial plants.

He also notes that Incledon, in conjunction with ValvTech- nologies, offers a total valve management package, whereby engineers are sent to a plant to undertake a comprehensive valve audit. “By means of acoustic testing, Incledon`s ValvTechnologies support team submits a full report detailing leaks, the associated costs of that leak and how much the plant can save with the new package,” says Alberts.

“The TVM package has been supplied to many customers worldwide, and has proved to create payoff for itself within four months,” he adds.

Alberts admits that, although ValvTechnologies offers sub- stantial benefits to the local market, there are still numerous challenges that have to be overcome. “The industry, in general, needs to realise the long-term benefits of these products with regard to the zero-leakage guarantee, as well as our technical support and after-sales capability nationwide,” he explains.

“ValvTechnologies has to date not been adequately marketed in South Africa. It is a market leader in 17 countries globally and, with support from Incledon, we are confident that we can success- fully roll out the product range nationwide.”

Complementing the range of ValvTechnologies severe service ball valves is Incledon’s exclusive range of competitively priced Max-Air actuators, manufactured in Italy, with accessories that include switchboxes, solenoids, and positioners. Italy-based Max-Air Technology, has distinguished itself as the industry leader in providing cost-effective solutions of automating valves for the most complicated flow requirements in the diverter L-Port and multiport T-Port flow applications through its extensive line of 180° actuators.

“Max-Air actuators can be applied to any industrial plants that require valves to be automatically controlled. The products have already been installed in a number of large operations locally that have been looking to increase their efficiencies. Owing to Incledon’s large stockholding and nationwide distribution centres, actuators and accessories can now be delivered to any site in South Africa within days,” explains Alberts.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.