Gas and liquid valves are used throughout the medical device industry, in major part due to their automated functions, along with their excellent reliability and long life. They are used to control the flow, direction and pressure of gases (oxygen, for example) or fluids (including reagents and other aggressive or non-aggressive media) being used by a device. Air and oxygen valves, as well as liquid “isolation” valves commonly used in medical and diagnostic devices must also meet stringent regulatory requirements to assure compliance with FDA, CFDA, MDR amongst other standards demanded in this field.

“Many variations in valve and actuator dimensions and characteristics have come into play especially now that we have worldwide vendors,” said Paul Souza, training manager at AUMA Actuators in a presentation at the Valve Manufacturers Association Virtual Valve Forum in November 2020. Souza covered standards and good practice for flanges and drive couplings. This article reports on the flange considerations.

With the coronavirus pandemic, travel has become awkward and possibly dangerous, requiring COVID testing and/or quarantine when passing from one country, or even from one state, to another. As companies have sought ways to get the job done while keeping employees and customers safe during the pandemic, video meetings have become commonplace.

As the interface between a valve and its control system, positioners play an important role in ensuring reliability and optimal performance in automated process plants.

In many facilities, it is not uncommon to find valves and positioners in spots that are not easily accessible by personnel, such as in confined spaces or at heights. This makes servicing and/or replacement of the positioner a difficult and often time-consuming task that necessitates the use of lifts, scaffolding and extra protective measures to ensure technicians’ safety.