Sales of Israeli-manufac-tured Dorot control valves in South Africa continue to increase, since two new ranges were introduced last year, reports local irrigation and agricultural solutions provider Agrico.

The company has sold several hundreds of these units to farms, nurseries and landscaping and semicommercial projects.

Agrico marketing manager Ivan du Plooy tells Engineering News that the new ranges include the Dorot Series 75 plastic control valves and the Dorot Super GAL 7.62 cm plastic control valves.

“The Dorot Series 75 plastic control valves are designed to control irrigation systems used for field crops, vineyards and orchards, while the Super GAL high-capacity plastic control valves are designed for greenhouses, nurseries and drip irrigation, as well as agriculture and landscape applications,” he explains.

Du Plooy says the Dorot Series 75 plastic control valves offer several benefits, including structural simplicity, high-quality hydraulic performance and reliable control of corrosive liquids.

He adds that the valve is lightweight and requires minimal maintenance, while offering maximum dependability.

The Super GAL 7.62 cm high-capacity plastic control valves, Du Plooy says, have a design that enables extremely low pressure losses, thus ensuring the consistency of pressure flow and, thereby, improving operational productivity.

He points out that the flow control stem enables manual control from full closure to maximum capacity, adding that the valve also allows for a combination of flanged and threaded inlet and outlet options.

Moreover, he highlights, the Super GAL valves have a low opening pressure and are strong and reliable, even when operating in harsh conditions.

“These valves have a highly compact structure and minimal working parts. “Their versatile design allows for three-way and two-way operation,” states Du Plooy, adding that the valves are made from high-quality corrosion-resistant materials.

Agrico employs more than 900 people and yearly sales exceed R1-billion.

The Bellville-based company has facilities in Caledon, Ceres, Rawsonville, George, Malmesbury, Piketberg and Vredendal, in the Western Cape; Hartswater, Kakamas, Upington and Kimberley, in the Northern Cape; Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Bothaville and Bethlehem, in the Free State; Cradock and Humansdorp, in the Eastern Cape; Lichtenburg, in North West; Nelspruit, in Mpumalanga; Nylstroom and Tzaneen, in Limpopo; Pietermaritzburg and Escourt, in KwaZulu-Natal; and Nigel, in Gauteng.