EnerMech is expanding its valves division with the acquisition of the UK valves business of Denholm Valvecare (DV).The global integrated engineering services group has acquired the UK trade and assets of the valves division of family-owned Denholm Oilfield Services for an undisclosed sum. EnerMech expects its UK valves business to generate around £7m revenue in 2018 following the deal, which will see all DV valves equipment, inventory and an estimated 25 staff transfer to the Aberdeen-headquartered business.

The acquisition will also bolster EnerMech’s UK valves management team with the addition of a number of senior DV staff who are well-respected in the valves services sector. EnerMech supplies a wide range of relief, isolation, control and general valves to the onshore and offshore energy industry and wider industrial services sector. A fully integrated valves service includes the procurement, specification, inspection, testing and quality control which minimizes shut down and installation schedules without comprising on safety or quality.

The deal follows EnerMech’s acquisition last year of maintenance, inspection and integrity specialist Minteg Ltd and the purchase of Australian and US-based EPS Group which provides electrical and instrumentation services to major infrastructure and power projects.

Curtis-Wright Acquires Dresser-Rand Government Business Including Valves

Curtiss-Wright Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets that comprise the Dresser-Rand Government Business (Dresser-Rand), a business unit of Siemens Government Technologies which is a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG in Germany, for $212.5 million in cash. The acquired business will operate within Curtiss-Wright's Power segment, and is expected to be accretive to 2018 earnings per share and produce a free cash flow conversion in excess of 100 percent, excluding the effects of purchase accounting.

Dresser-Rand is a leading designer and manufacturer of mission-critical, high-speed rotating equipment solutions, including reciprocating compressors, steam turbines and steam system valves, supporting Nimitz-class and Ford-class aircraft carriers, Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, and most major U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs. Dresser-Rand is the sole supplier of steam turbines and main engine guard valves on all aircraft carrier programs. Through its three service centers, it is also a leading provider of ship repair and maintenance for the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic and Pacific fleets.

For over 60 years, Curtiss-Wright has ensured safe, reliable operations by supplying innovative, high-performance products for every nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier commissioned by the U.S. Navy. Today, CW is the preferred supplier of pumps and valves used in the nuclear propulsion system, which is the heart of the most critical function of these vessels, while Dresser-Rand is one of the leading providers of main steam propulsion turbines and valves.

Dresser-Rand equipment is used on hundreds of U.S. Navy ships to provide power and compression for propulsion, pump drives, ship service air, oxygen/nitrogen (O2N2) feed air, generator drives, and deballasting. The service centers primarily focus on overhauls of Dresser-Rand legacy equipment, emergent U.S. Navy shipyard repair needs and global service work pursuant to several key OEM service agreements. Dresser also produces the Terry©-branded steam turbine feedwater pumps for the commercial nuclear power market.

The Dresser-Rand government business, which employs approximately 150 people, is expected to generate sales of approximately $95 million in fiscal 2018, principally to the naval defense market, with additional sales to the power generation market. The acquisition is expected to close in April 2018, subject to the receipt of regulatory approval and other closing conditions.

Financials

Richter Chemie Signs Global Strategic Agreement with Wanha Chemical Group

Richter Chemie‐Technik GmbH, a global market leader of fluoropolymer lined pump and valve

solutions proudly announces a global strategic agreement with Wanhua Chemical Group at the closing of last year. The long term strategy of world’s number 1 producer of MDI is to become a global leading chemical corporation; with targeted acquisitions and overseas projects it is systematically building towardtthis goal. The first products were supplied over 15 years ago to Wanhua and today thousands of Richter pumps, control valves and manual valves are enabling Wanhua to reach its long term

strategic goals.

Projects

Rotork Actuators Used in Indian Tank Farm

The latest generation of Rotork Skilmatic SI3 electro-hydraulic actuators has been supplied to one of India’s leading state owned oil companies to operate 42" and 48" triple offset butterfly valves on vital safety-related tank farm duties.

The operator was constructing additional storage tank capacity and had to comply with the safety regulations laid down by the MB Lal Committee, requiring the installation of failsafe actuators for critical tank farm applications. These valves, known as Remote Operated Shut-off Valves (ROSOV), now provide tank overfill protection at the majority of storage facilities owned by the Indian oil industry. The local engineering company appointed as the consultant for design and engineering was initially unclear about the specification of actuators for ROSOV, and was opting to go with a pneumatic failsafe solution.

The Rotork Skilmatic SI range of self-contained electro-hydraulic actuators, combining the simplicity of electrical operation with the precision of hydraulic control and the reliability of mechanical spring-return, has been widely adopted for ROSOV applications around the world. Rotork therefore worked very closely with the consultant and the end user, providing Skilmatic tank farm application details and reference lists, organizing technical presentations and live product demos.

This resulted in the decision to adopt the electro-hydraulic solution in the specification for the project. Reliability and safety were key factors for the application together with a requirement for a self-contained, fully integrated actuator with intelligent non-intrusive features and a hand-held setting tool.

The latest generation SI3 actuator supplied on this contract has an enhanced specification and increased torque output range of 65 Nm to 500,000 Nm. The SI3 also offers a wide range of operating speeds, additional ESD options with single or dual inputs, and communication capabilities to suit many diverse applications.

Rotork Actuators Sold to Chinese Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Guangdong Panyu Sewage Treatment Plant in China has installed Rotork CK Range electric valve actuators to provide reliable and economical plant automation encompassing isolating and modulating valve control.

The flexible, modular CK actuator design has enabled the plant to use a combination of CK Standard and CK Centronik actuators to automate 89 gate valves and sluices to control the flow throughout the waste water treatment process.

CK Centronik actuators provide intelligent valve control with data logging for diagnostics and asset management. Rapid and secure commissioning and configuration is performed using selector switches on the Centronik housing or via a setting tool, following user-friendly menu driven screens displayed on the actuator indication window. In normal operation the window displays the valve position, valve status and alarms.

Standard features that are common to all CK actuators include IP68 double-sealed environmental protection, plug and socket connections for fast and efficient commissioning and maintenance, motor-independent handwheel operation, mechanical valve position indication and independent torque and position sensing for increased valve protection. Actuator gearboxes are oil lubricated for extended life and separable thrust or non-thrust bases enable actuators to be removed without disturbing the valve position.

AMPO Valves Supplies Turkish LNG Plant

Hundreds of AMPO valves are installed in BOTAS LNG Terminal, in Turkey, since 1999. Due to a planned shutdown, the customer requested a fast track replacement to AMPO POYAM VALVES. Specifically, a customized 12” and 1500 lbs Cryogenic Top Entry Ball valve, which was delivered in just three days. BOTAS LNG and Renaissance Heavy Industries EPC have again used AMPO POYAM VALVES for this project.

Besides offering Fast track replacement services, AMPO POYAM VALVES, with its AMPO SERVICE business unit, has a wide experience working hand in hand with the technical staff of the plants to define the minimum spare part availability in order to afford any unexpected case scenario and to be able to fix it with the minimum impact in the production of the plant.

New Products

Coperion K-Tron US to Make Valves Now Made in Germany

To significantly shorten delivery times for customers of the Americas market, Coperion K-Tron located in Salina, KS USA, is starting the US production of Coperion Germany rotary valves type ZRD in Salina. The Coperion brand rotary valves are being added to the full line of Aerolock™ rotary valves that Coperion K-Tron Salina has manufactured for 60 years and ships to hundreds of customers each year.

“The joint effort included an extensive study and several meetings between the Salina and Weingarten sites to make sure that the same high quality of standards would be met and maintained”, says Scott Schlesener, Operations Manager of the Salina site and Integration Manager of Coperion’s Equipment & Systems Division. “Raw materials, product designs, manufacturing methods, and quality assurance standards from Germany were copied and adapted to fit Coperion K-Tron Salina’s extensive machining capabilities and quality management system.”

This joint effort ensures the American made valves will perform to the highest technological and performance standards, for which the German manufactured valves are known. Best of all, this effort, along with a considerable investment of stocked inventory, will allow Coperion to deliver and repair valves for the Americas market with significantly shorter delivery times. In fact, standard grey cast iron and stainless steel ZRD rotary valves will be available to customers within 4 to 6 weeks.

The Coperion ZRD rotary valve is specially designed for food, mineral, plastics and chemical applications. The valve is engineered for heavy-duty industrial service with pressure differentials up to 21 psi(g) [1.5 bar(g)] and temperatures up to 212°F [100°C]; higher temperature options are available. The ZRD is often used as a discharging and metering valve for conveying products in powder and granular form.

An extensive range of sizes is available, with large throughputs ranging from 500 to 400,000 + lb per hour (subject to bulk density and application). The valves have a pressure surge-proof, (pressure shock) rating of 145 psi(g) [10 bar(g)], and are suitable for isolation according to NFPA standards (for select sizes up to 12 inch). The ZRD comes standard with air purged seals completely mounted with plastic or stainless steel tubing, solenoid and filter regulator with gauge. Standard seal option includes the popular T3 PTFE and quad ring assemblies, which eliminate the need for air purge in most applications. In addition, the ZRD comes with a sealed-for-life outboard bearing arrangement, separated from product, with and without purge gas by way of a dedicated relief opening.

Victaulic Introduces Industry’s First In-Line Maintenance Knife Gate Valve

Victaulic, the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe-joining systems, has launched its new Refuse-to-Fuse™ Series 906 Knife Gate Valve (906 KGV), the industry's first in-line maintenance KGV for HDPE pipe. The new valve simplifies installation and maintenance, reduces downtime, and improves worker safety.

The 906 KGV for HDPE pipe is ideal for fluid lines containing solids or abrasive materials common in mining, wastewater treatment, power generation, and other industrial settings with applications such as slurry and tailings lines or cyclones.

"For years, workers had to endure the labor-intensive process of removing the entire valve from the pipeline service to facilitate maintenance, rebuild and repair, but our new 906 KGV can be maintained in-line without having to disconnect the valve from a piping system to address worn parts," said Jane Zhang, product manager at Victaulic. "With this product, we are proud to demonstrate Victaulic's constant expansion of innovative Refuse-to-Fuse technologies that solve the most complex piping challenges across industries."

The new valve also improves worker safety because only one component has to be replaced versus removing the entire valve from the pipeline. This first-of-its-kind, revolutionary design eliminates the need for rigging with heavy chains and pulleys swinging over the heads of maintenance crews.

"The 906 KGV is an advanced technology that encloses all wear parts into a single replaceable seat cartridge kit, which reduces maintenance downtime by up to 95 percent and generates up to 60 percent savings in annual maintenance costs," said Mike Prince, product engineer at Victaulic. "Both durable and highly resistant, we have witnessed our KGVs lasting more than five times longer than alternative products currently on the market."

The Victaulic Series 906 KGV joins plain end HDPE pipe. It is available in sizes 3-8 inches and rated to 150 psi | 1034 kPa | 10 bar, or the maximum rating of the HDPE pipe, whichever is lower.

Additional features include:

· Installation-Ready™ integrated coupling design

· A self-clearing seat that eliminates debris pushing to the floor

· Unidirectional polyurethane seat that is highly resistant to abrasive wear

· Flush port in lower housing for easy valve cleaning

Bernard Controls Announces New Range of Actuators

Bernard Controls is proud to present its fully new AT range of multi-turn electric actuators. This completely new range has been designed to address customers’ need for solutions combining performance, user-friendliness and competitiveness in the power and water industries.

With 6 models under the FIRST BC label, the AT range of multi-turn electric actuators has been created for moderate environmental and operational constraints, to offer to users the essentials: the key functions to operate their valve safely and efficiently in case of standard applications.

Indeed, with a fully new innovative design, AT actuators combine user-friendliness, high quality, reliability and competitively. These products propose key features, such as powder coating with higher mechanical resistance, a modular position sensor which enables up to 1700 turns with the same product, or a wide stem acceptance. Moreover, AT models are also easily adaptable for rising stem valves. Last but not least, AT actuators offer Bernard Controls usual features for increased reliability and easy use: declutch-free handwheel with motor priority, adjustable torque sensor on every model, self-locking technology and S4 motor service duty. Those are suitable for On-Off (Class A), Inching/Positioning (Class B), as well as Modulating applications (Class III).

AT range is available with two levels of controls: SWITCH - electromechanical non-integrated - and LOGIC integrated control, which has been specially redesigned to include all functions expected from modern integrated control. Now featuring a large LCD display, this turn-key system enables non-intrusive settings and is compatible with the most common fieldbus protocols. Bluetooth communication (as standard) also enables the actuators to communicate with Bernard Controls’ new mobile application BC APP to set up, operate and maintain electric actuators in a few clicks!

Thomson Extends Actuator Line

Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has extended the capability of its popular Electrak HD electromechanical linear actuator line to loads of up to 16 kilonewtons (kN) (3600 lbs). This new offering delivers heavy load handling capacity comparable to hydraulic technologies but with greater controllability, smaller footprint and low maintenance. The Electrak HD expansion also sets a new stroke length and durability performance benchmark for electromechanical actuators.

“Hydraulic cylinder users are increasingly converting their hard-to-maintain, hard-to-control systems to low-maintenance electromechanical technology with onboard electronics,” said Chad Carlberg, Product Line Manager - Industrial Linear Actuators-Americas at Thomson. “By expanding our popular Electrak HD capacity to 16 kN, we offer clean, compact and smart electromechanical replacement for hydraulic actuators in just about any size application. And along with that comes best-in-class electromechanical stroke length and durability.”

Hydraulic systems require integration of many components, including a motor, pump, reservoir and hoses, as well as the cylinders themselves. Any control capability desired, such as position feedback or dynamic braking, requires additional equipment, and the fact that hydraulic systems are prone to leakage adds additional operating and maintenance costs.

Smart electromechanical actuators accomplish all operation and control functions with onboard electronics, dramatically reducing footprint, installation and maintenance costs. Electrak HD actuators simply connect to a power supply and PLC or other control source to bring the benefits of onboard electronics to high load applications for construction and agriculture, material handling, and factory automation.

By expanding from 10 kN (2250 lbs) to 16 kN and enabling that capability at stroke lengths up to 500 mm (20 in), Thomson has also set a high performance and durability benchmark for electromechanical actuators with onboard intelligence. Its minimum duty cycle of 25 percent among stroke lengths up to 500 mm is the highest in the industry, assuring maximum continuity of operation with minimum current draw. For 16 kN loads at those stroke lengths, Thomson also offers speed options up to at least 5 mm/s (0.197”/sec).

With enhanced functionality provided by an advanced onboard Electrak Modular Control System (EMCS) and its optional functions, the Electrak HD line offers a simpler method of control and communication, which reduces operating costs, requires less space and simplifies setup and installation. Optional out-of-the-box J1939 CAN bus communication enables control and monitoring, while optional low-level switching, end-of-stroke indication output, choice of analog or digital feedback, and a customer control interface provide additional versatility.

Contributing to durability in high-load operations are unrivaled environmental resistance ratings of IP69K static, IP67 static and IP66 dynamic. Even with high loads, the actuators will operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to +85°C (-40 to +185°F), can withstand salt spray for 500 hours, and are CE, RoHS and REACH (EU) compliant.

Likewise, when operating at loads of up to 16 kN, Thomson still delivers unique functionality such as manual override, anti-rotation features, integral thermal overload protection, load lock in case of nut overload failure, a high-quality ball screw, and flexible front and rear clevis options. Higher load options also comply with Thomson test plan requirements, which certify optimal performance regardless of the severity of the application.

McIlvaine Company

Northfield, IL 60093-2743

Tel: 847-784-0012; Fax: 847-784-0061

E-mail: editor@mcilvainecompany.com

Web site: www.mcilvainecompany.com