Valve manufacturing in the United States is comprised of approximately 1,100 companies with a combined revenue annually of $22 billion. The industry is dominated by a number of integrated process control companies and also valve makers like American Valve and Wm Powell. The industry is highly concentrated, with the 50 most sizable companies enjoying a 65% share of the market.

Market demand for valves depends largely on construction activity and valve production levels. Construction activity in the housing, water treatment, utilities, petroleum and chemical industries have a particularly large impact on the valve industry. Subsidiary enterprises operating offshore are often sought for their lower-cost manufacturing services. Smaller manufacturers and distributors vie for market share by pushing specialized products and exceptional customer service. If you need to contact valve manufacturers or distributors, use the following as a guide to valve distributors basics.

1. Contact value manufacturers to set up a distributor account.

2. Obtain industrial valves needed for your business.

3. Procure valves needed for pneumatic applications.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contract with valve suppliers to distribute their products

If you are a valve distributor and wish to expand your business by finding new wholesale sources of valves, these two valve wholesalers work with a variety of distributors. Both companies make a wide array of valves.

I recommend: Kennedy Valve is a wholesaler of all types of valves with distributors across the United States. Sun Hydraulics is also a manufacturer and great wholesale source of valves, working with distributors around the globe.

Investigate the wares of an industrial valve distributor

Industrial valves can be sizable; consequently, so can their prices. When you need to procure industrial type valves, it pays to shop for the best price. These sites will give you a good starting point in doing some comparison shopping among various industrial valve suppliers.

I recommend: The website easy2source provides a directory of suppliers of industrial valves from across the country. MacRae's Blue Book is your one-stop source for industrial valve manufacturers and industrial valve distributors. ValveWeb has contact information for hundreds of valve distributors, categorized by state.

Shop air valve distributors to compare prices on pneumatic valves your business needs to buy

If you need to acquire pneumatic valves, solenoid valves or control valves, save time by searching an industry search directory. There, you'll find a number of sources, no matter which type of pneumatic valve you're looking for.

I recommend: A pneumatic valve distributor is not hard find at HVAC Plus' website, which contains an extensive listing of manufacturers of pneumatic valves. Though links to these manufacturers are not included, you can copy and paste the names into your browser search engine to find the companies. IQS Directory is another great source for searching for pneumatic valves. They have a handy Request for Quote tool that saves you time by allowing you to submit your inquiry to all the pneumatic valve manufacturers and suppliers you select. Motioncontrol provides a lengthy discussion about the state of pneumatic (air) valve systems today and a wealth of advice on how you can take full advantage of current pneumatic valve technology in your organization.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In an industrial setting, it's smart to be prepared for catastrophic line breakages with a cost-effective and fast-tripping mechanism that will stop flow immediately when a sudden leakage condition arises. SmartFlow Technologies is one of a number of valve suppliers that carry smart valves. Whether or not your plant has a control architecture in place, smart valves can be used as isolated control packages. In fact, isolated control loops and higher level control architecture can even exist together, whether or not the valve is integrated into a larger system.

Sorting through the multitude of industrial valve suppliers can be very confusing. The best way to wade through a sea of specifications and standards is to focus on getting exactly what you need.

Even if you already have an industrial valve distributor, you might be able to leverage information about other valve dealers to strike a better deal. Don't forget to include intangibles like efficient and reliable customer service into your considerations as you're shopping and haggling; money cannot buy the trust built between business partners.

1. What temperature and pressure limits must your valves meet?

2. Do you already have a valve supplier? Do they meet your needs well?

3. Does your valve distributor provide essential safety equipment?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Follow the advice of your engineering department

Make sure you know exactly what you need before you start shopping industrial valve manufacturers. The engineering department should be able to supply specs and quantities for the valves you need.

I recommend: Check your specs against the Valves International useful information list to clear up any ambiguities. If that doesn't do the job, go the ANSI webstore and input as much information as you can able valve type, material and use into the search form in order to purchase and download standards information.

Shop for industrial valve distributors

Shopping for valve distributors is worth your time, even if you already have a supplier. First, evaluate whether your current supplier fits your needs or not. If they do, your search should be focused on cost, because if you find other valve distributors that provide the same product and service at a better cost, your current supplier might be willing to meet or beat what their competitors offer.

I recommend: If your needs aren't being met, you're looking for somebody that will provide what you need. Either way, Thomas.net and Industrial101 are good places to start.

Check for safety before you buy from valve dealers

Safety features are a worthwhile investment--set a high safety standard to send the proper message to your employees and the public. Once you have safety equipment installed, make sure that your employees know it's there and how to use it.

I recommend: One of the simplest and best safety features in a valve, besides regular inspections and maintenance, is a valve lock. Visit Valvit for customized valve locks. Another option is to install automatic safety shut-off valves from T&A Valve Industries, Inc.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you deal in international markets, you should do more than follow US safety standards. Consider international standards when choosing among the many valve wholesalers.
• •  Make sure to let your insurance company know about any new safety equipment you install--they might be willing to cut your rates. You might also be able to use information from your insurance to leverage better deals with your current valve distributor.

Finding good industrial valve distributors can be a tricky task because of the overwhelming number of available suppliers and distributors. Use dependable valve information websites to compare distributor options and find out more about the suppliers before you choose to deal with them.

With the proper valve distributors education and training you can be assured your equipment will run smoothly. Keep your bottom line and employees' safety in mind when researching valve distributors. A good quality valve can save you time and money. It can also prevent serious accidents or work-related injuries.

1. Look at valve information sites to gain a better understanding of distributors and manufacturers.

2. Join an association of valve users or manufacturers to gain helpful distributor training.

3. Use distributor directories to find valve supplier information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find valve distributors training and education through online information sites

Browse listings of industrial valve manufacturers, compare their valve options and look for valve educational materials that can help you choose which distributors are right for your company.

I recommend: Go to Valve Web to locate all valve resources in one convenient location. Find distributors, valve information and get pricing quotes all in one simplified location. Use Ferret to find out the latest in valve distributor news and trends.

Join an association of your peers to find a good valve supplier

Join an association and keep your eyes and ears open. Some of the best distributor education and training you get comes from others who have experience with those distributors. Communicate with other members to find out what valve distributors they use and deal with successfully.

I recommend: Ask the Valve Manufacturers Association of America for help. They represent about 100 valve manufacturers in the U.S. Joining the National Society of Professional Engineers allows you access to federal, state and local groups that share your interests and involvements.

Browse industrial valve suppliers magazines and newsletters

Find information on the industrial valve distributor online publications. Use reviews written by other companies, and compare prices and other valve-use information all in one location. Get additional information about the latest in valve technology and changing trends.

I recommend: Subscribe to Valve Magazine for a great resource of information about manufacturers and distributors of valves. Valve World is another publication dealing with valves- specifically valves in the oil and gas industry. The online publication includes distributor news, project updates and valve trends. Consider subscribing to Professional Engineering Magazine for a wealth of resources related to valve function and distributors.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're looking for valve distributor companies with good track records, an easy place to start is with your peers. Talk with your peers, competition or other manufacturers that use the type of valve at which you are looking.