VMA News

VMA Reflects on 2022 Accomplishments and Sets 2023 Programs

2022 was the start of VMA’s implementation of the newly adopted Strategic Plan, and no time was wasted getting underway! In terms of new activities, VMA’s first “Fly-In” to Capitol Hill took place in the Spring, meeting with six congressional offices. A guide for our members to use while meeting with elected officials at their facilities was also made available.

Education and networking have been and will continue to be a core component of VMA. 2022 marked the return to in-person for all VMA’s events except for the Market Outlook Workshop, and not surprisingly education and networking continue to be the top reasons participants tell VMA that they attend VMA’s events. VMA continued with its virtual learning program launched during the pandemic, with the Virtual Valve Basics program and five webinars held throughout 2022. In total, more than 840 participants took part in VMA events in 2022. Here are a few highlights of what those individuals experienced and thought about the events:

100% of survey respondents for the Annual Meeting and Market Outlook Workshop would recommend the event to colleagues
Excellent line up of speakers
Topics were robust and informative
Great networking, meeting new colleagues and renewing old acquaintances

To help spread the word about the industry, this past year VMA was proud to offer scholarships to four deserving students who are exploring education related to our industry and whose parents or guardians work for a member company. We also continued with updates on communication pieces to members and nonmembers with a refreshed design.

VMA was spotted at two events this year — the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) where we visited with potential members and at the international ValveWorld Expo. This was the first time since the pandemic that ValveWorld was held in Dusseldorf, and while there was a notable absence of Asian companies, industry exhibitors showcased plenty of new products and technology. One theme seen at many booths was a focus on sustainability and carbon reduction and how valves and actuators can help with both. VMA also met with the other international valve associations and agreed to share information going forward.

VMA is proud to welcome 14 new members in 2022, listed below, and thanks to all VMA members (see page 38 for the full list) for their participation, expertise and support.

Manufacturing Members:

IMI Critical Engineering
Portland Valve
descote
Cornerstone Valve

Distributor and Supplier Members:

eCoat
WedgeRock
JACQUET
Caltrol
AWC
John Brooks
MA Stewart & Sons
VAC
DVT
FloSource

What’s to come in 2023?

VMA will continue its focus on education and networking with our cornerstone events, as well as new regional networking activities taking place throughout the year. Tools and resources for those new to the industry or those who join the industry in the future will also be developed. Providing actionable business intelligence to help our members make the best decisions possible will continue with more information on regulatory insights to help companies understand how government policies and programs affect them. A new ‘pulse survey’ on business climate will be launched the first quarter of 2023.

Helping our members benchmark and address business and technical issues in areas such as standards, sustainability, energy transition, IIoT and similar topics will also take place.

Two new categories of end user and academic associate memberships will also be available. Combined with VMA’s other education and training, this will help the association expand our reach and continue with our efforts to educate the industrial valve industry value chain and promote knowledge transfer on technical and industry issues. Guided by the VMA Strategic Plan and our members, watch for more changes to come.

VMA Welcomes New Members

Cornerstone Valve

Cornerstone Valve is an employee-owned company that designs and manufactures specialty ball valves for severe service applications in industrial and defense markets. Their core competency is custom engineered, fit-for-purpose unique solutions. Founded in 1990, Cornerstone Valve has proven to be a leader in custom engineered ball valves built around very challenging applications and providing value addition to customers.

Caltrol

Photo Credit: Caltrol Inc.

We’d like to welcome Caltrol to the VMA. Caltrol is a leader in sales and distribution of industrial process control products, including valves and controls, with over 80 years of industry experience. The company also provides consulting, engineering, service and support on solutions of all sizes and complexity. Caltrol is an Emerson Impact Partner and exclusively promotes their complete valve portfolio in California, Nevada and Arizona. We look forward to working with Caltrol to advance the industrial valve industry!

descote, Inc.

Founded in 1974 and with a deep history in the French nuclear industry, descote specializes in the design, manufacturing and sales of globe valves for chemical industries handling hazardous fluids.

FloSource

We’d like to welcome FloSource to the VMA! FloSource is a family-owned and operated valve and valve automation and steam specialty distributor located in the Midwest. They take pride in their quality solutions and unbeatable service. We look forward to working with FloSource to advance the industrial valve industry!

Portland Valve

As a part of the CIRCOR family, Portland Valve manufactures a full line of high-performance butterfly valves as well as the controls to accompany them, together creating dependable valving systems for a wide range of Navy applications. Portland Valve (PV) began refurbishing valves in 1994 and has delivered over 1‚500 refurbished valves to customers.

Valve Forum Conference & Exhibits Offers New Programs for 2023

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VMA’s Valve Forum, April 17-19, 2023, in San Antonio, is open to anyone in the industry and is known for the expert content and speakers on technical, manufacturing, business and marketing topics. The event also has an exhibit area with tabletop displays and small booths. Attendees will find even more this year, with a track title “Valve Fundamentals,” for those needing the basics or who are new to the industry; hands-on experience with valves and actuators at our “petting zoo;” students and schools participating; and an offsite networking event. Registration is open and early bird rates are available through February 28, 2023, for the entire industry. Special end-user rates are also offered! For more information visit www.vma.org/valveforum.

Valve Repair Seminar in Summer 2023 Offers the Latest Insights

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the fifth biennial Valve Repair Meeting and Exhibition on June 1-2, 2023, at the Houston Area Safety Council in Pasadena, Texas. Developed by the Valve Repair Council (an affiliate of VMA), this conference is designed specifically for professionals in the valve repair and rebuild industry who will receive a day and a half of educational sessions, have the opportunity for a half-day of touring a valve repair facility and get a chance to visit with vendors during the tabletop exhibition. Some of the topics that will be covered at this event include:

API RP 578 Third Edition New Technologies
Chlor/Alky Valve Presentation
Repair and Fugitive Emissions
Pipeline Valve Repair
Welding Presentation

A popular feature of this meeting is a tour of a local repair shop. Attendees of this event will go to the Setpoint IS facility in nearby Deer Park. The tour will focus on safety solutions that reduce employee exposure as well as various advanced manufacturing solutions.

Registration for the meeting is open to both VMA/VRC members and industry non-member companies with a price discount for companies with multiple attendees.

The exhibit portion of the program will take place on June 1, and a luncheon and an evening reception are currently planned to take place when the exhibition is open. These tabletop exhibits feature an array of products and services that professionals in the repair and rebuild industries depend on to do their jobs.

Meeting registration and display information will be available in early 2023. For more information, contact Marc Pasternak, executive director of the VRC at mpasternak@vma.org.

VALVE Magazine Top 10 Articles of 2022

Not surprisingly, the majority of the top 10 most clicked on valvemagazine.com articles from last year are valve basics related, continuing to demonstrate the need for this type of information. In addition to VALVE Magazine, VMA also provides this type of basics content through the Valve Basics virtual and in-person programs, and at the Valve Forum: Conference & Exhibits.

1. Piping Codes and Valve Standards

As with every intended use for valves, piping carries its own set of standards that valve companies and users need to understand. valvemagazine.com/articles/piping-codes-and-valve-standards

2. An Overview of ASME B16.34-2017

The content of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard B16.34 is essential to those who deal with flanged, threaded and welded-end valves. valvemagazine.com/articles/an-overview-of-asme-b16-34-2017

3. An Overview of Butterfly Valves

A key advantage of selecting a butterfly valve is the reduction of space and weight to a system compared with other options such as ball, check, globe or gate valves. valvemagazine.com/articles/an-overview-of-butterfly-valves

#4 – Differences Between Double Block and Bleed and Double Isolation

There is an important distinction between DBB and DIB, as they often fall under the same category and are used interchangeably within the industry.

valvemagazine.com/articles/differences-between-double-block-and-bleed-and-double-isolation

5. Understanding Torque for Quarter-Turn Valves

Valve manufacturers publish torques for their products so that actuation and mounting hardware can be properly selected. valvemagazine.com/articles/understanding-torque-for-quarter-turn-valves

6.Testing of Hydrogen Valves

Valves control all types of fluids, and while some are easy to manage, others can be a challenge. At the top of the challenging list sits hydrogen, the smallest, lightest molecule known to man. valvemagazine.com/articles/testing-of-hydrogen-valves

7.The Dos and Don’ts of Isolating Pressure Relief Valves

Typically, isolation valves block off a pressure safety valve (PSV) from system pressure, so that maintenance on the valve or related equipment can be conducted without a shutdown. valvemagazine.com/articles/the-dos-and-don-ts-of-isolating-pressure-relief-valves

8. Hardfacing for Valves

Valve internals, such as seats and closures, are often at risk of erosion, abrasion, corrosion, galling and damage from cavitation.

valvemagazine.com/articles/hardfacing-for-valves-materials-and-processes

9. Back to Basics: Globe Valves

There are many applications where the globe valve outshines other designs, so the future is still bright for these long-time favorites of the flow control industry. valvemagazine.com/articles/back-to-basics-globe-valves

10. The Fundamentals of Gate Valves

The venerable gate valve remains a primary choice for many service applications. valvemagazine.com/articles/the-fundamentals-of-gate-valves

Consider writing an educational article for VALVE Magazine and VALVEMagazine.com!

Are you an expert in your field? We want to hear from you and have your contribution to our publication and website.

The benefits:

1. Know that you are passing on your hard-earned knowledge to those who will be running our industry in years to come.

2. Bring recognition to your company… and to yourself.

3. Create and use handouts and web links for your own educational efforts.

4. Lift your image in the eyes of your customers and peers.

If youʼre not a writer, donʼt worry: our skilled editors will assist you in your efforts. Please note: VALVE Magazine only publishes articles that do not promote a particular companyʼs products or services, and are peer-reviewed by the VALVE Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. VMA members are also provided the first opportunity to provide an article or be interviewed. Please contact Heather Gaynor (hgaynor@gardnerweb.com) for our editorial guidelines or for more information.