Annual Meeting: Sandler Celebrated, New VMA Leaders Announced
Bill Sandler spent much of the 81st VMA/VRC annual meeting being surprised and honored for his 42 years of service to the association and the valve industry.
#maintenance-repair #VMAnews
Ten Years and Counting: VMA’s Valve Basics Celebrates the Power of Change
One of the founding members of VMA’s Education & Training (E&T) Committee, Ed Holtgraver (QTRCO), remembers the excitement created by the first Valve Basics Seminar held in Houston a decade ago.
#VMAnews #basics
Speakers Share Market Outlook for the Rest of 2019, 2020 and Beyond
Members attending the VMA Market Outlook Workshop, August 8-9 in San Diego, received good news and bad news about markets important to the valve industry, as well as recent overall economic conditions domestic and worldwide.
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Process Instrumentation and Automation Market to Grow at 4.4%
The process instrumentation and automation market in the United States, currently valued at $13.9 billion, is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% and reach a total of $17.3 billion in 2023, according to a market forecast published by the Measurement, Control & Automation Association (MCAA). The percentage increase over the five years is projected to be about 24%. The reported market value slightly exceeded the $13.6 billion projected for 2018 in the 2014 MCAA Market report.
#VMAnews #automation
Exploring a New Area of Knowledge at This Year’s Forum
Attendees at this year’s Valve Industry Knowledge Forum received a fresh dose of education on a subject not previously covered at VMA meetings: marketing and management.
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Speakers Share Expertise at 2019 Knowledge Forum
Technology has been advancing at a pace that may be faster than our ability to protect it, according to Pat Toth, cybersecurity program manager with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Toth was keynote speaker at the second VMA Valve Industry Knowledge Forum, April 9-11 in Birmingham, AL.
#iiot #VMAnews #standards
Highlights from VMA’s 2019 Leadership Forum
Valve industry executives gathered in Toronto last month to network, exchange ideas and learn about diverse topics relating to their leadership, including economic issues, digitization of enterprises and how to adapt as a leader in a changing organization.
#basics #VMAnews
VMA President Bill Sandler Announces Retirement
After more than four decades as a VMA staff member and more than two as its leader, VMA President Bill Sandler announced he will retire at the end of 2019.
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Solenoid Valves: Direct Acting vs. Pilot-Operated
While presenting in a recent VMA Valve Basics 101 Course in Houston, I found myself in a familiar role: explaining solenoid valves (SOVs) to attendees. (I work with solenoids so much that one VMA member at that conference joked that I needed to be wearing an I Heart Solenoids t-shirt). During the hands-on “petting zoo” portion of the program, which involves smaller groups of attendees, one of the most frequently asked questions I get from people came up: What’s the difference between direct-acting and pilot-operated SOVs, and how do we make a choice?
#basics #solenoids #automation
National Compassion Fund and Mueller Create Aurora/Pratt Survivors’ Fund
On Feb. 25, 2019, the National Compassion Fund and Mueller Water Products announced creation of the Aurora/Pratt Survivors’ Fund to aid families of victims and employees physically injured or traumatized by their presence at the February 15 shooting in Aurora, IL, at Henry Pratt Company, a Mueller subsidiary.
#water-wastewater #VMAnews
2019 VMA Knowledge Forum Tackles Broad Range of Issues
When VMA first combined three meetings into one—the Valve Industry Knowledge Forum—it did so with the idea that attendees would have a much more varied range of topics from which to choose as well as an opportunity to mingle and exchange information with peers in positions that are different from their day-to-day jobs.
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John Spears: Advisor to the “Oil Patch”
Many people in the valve industry recognize the name John Spears because he has been a featured speaker at VMA’s Market Outlook for many years.
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Looking Toward 2019 at Power Gen and Valve World
Two recent events over the last month brought together valve manufacturers and end users, and VMA members and staff were there to learn all that’s new in the industry.
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VMA’s New Chair Cites Deep Need for Technical Know-How
Ask David Hughes, the new chairman of the Valve Manufacturers Association of America (VMA), what he sees as the most significant pressure the valve industry of today faces and he’ll point to the need to find new ways to offer and create expertise.
#pressure-relief #VMAnews
Employee Retirements Show Depth of Industry Expertise
Emerson recently honored three top officials for their many long years of service in promoting and growing the Fisher brand of valves within the process industries.
#maintenance-repair #VMAnews
Valves in the Construction Industry: 2019 Outlook
Alex Carrick, chief economist at ConstructConnect, shared many valuable insights concerning the construction market during VMA’s 2019 Market Outlook event and during an interview with VALVE Magazine.
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Market Outlook 2019: Cautious Triumph
There are most certainly influences causing concern for some of the presenters at VMA’s 2018 Market Outlook Workshop, but there was also much to celebrate and an optimistic outlook for 2019 and 2020.
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Factory Workforce Training: What You Need to Know in 2018
It is no news to the valve manufacturing industry, and it is something VMA with its Valve Careers initiative is working to alleviate: As the most experienced and knowledgeable workers retire from manufacturing and process control, business leaders must find ways to fill the positions they leave.
#VMAnews #basics
The VMA Knowledge Forum, Part Two: The Human Factor
By: Judy Tibbs, Editorial Consultant, VALVE Magazine
Finding and retaining the right talent is a continual challenge to manufacturers who say the skills shortage has negatively impacted their ability to expand.
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The VMA Knowledge Forum, Part One: Technology at the Forefront
The first VMA Valve Industry Knowledge Forum, April 11-13 in Savannah, GA, provided a potpourri of topics for valve industry professionals from all disciplines.
#VMAnews #automation