Control Valves Product Research (January 2005)

Research was undertaken to gain a better understanding of Control Engineering subscribers’ applications and needs regarding control valves.

By Control Engineering Staff February 10, 2005

Executive Summary

•Among those specifying, recommending, and/or buying control valves, 80% do so for in-plant requirements and 36% do so for OEM requirements.

•Nearly half of those surveyed report both continuous and batch manufacturing as their primary application.

•Over four-fifths state the medium mostly handled by their control valves is liquid. Nearly two-thirds of respondents cite air/gas.

•Pneumatic actuators are the predominant type for the following control valves: ball & V-ball, butterfly, diaphragm, globe, and plug. Electric actuators are dominant for all other types.

•Solenoid valves are the most commonly specified accessory to ball, V-ball, diaphragm, plug and other control valves. Limit switches tie positioner and I/P combinations for the most votes when it comes to globe valves. Limit switches stand alone as the most popular accessory to butterfly valves.

•Regardless of the valve type, reliability is the most important product selection criterion. Low maintenance is the second most influential factor for all valve types. Fifty-eight percent of respondents say availability from stock is very important to them when selecting a control valve supplier. Cost and repairability round out the three most important supplier selection criteria.

•HART, then DeviceNet, are the most used digital networks for valve applications.

•More than one-third of survey participants have purchased control valves from Fisher Controls in the past 12 months, making them the most popular manufacturer. Over one-fourth bought from Parker-Hannifin. 439 was the average number of control valves each respondent purchased in the past 12 months. This equated to average spending of $90,957 per respondent. Survey results suggest purchases of control valves will grow over the next 12 months.

•On average, 56% of the control valves purchased in the past year had electrical accessories mounted. Within this segment, an average of 24% were in hazardous environments.

•Forty percent of respondents say their average frequency of control valve repair/service is once per 3 or more years.

•Nearly two-thirds of survey participants state their own maintenance shops most frequently provide their control valve repair/service.

•Fifty-three percent of Control Engineering subscribers responding do not receive IAN. Fifty-nine percent do not receive Control Design.

Control Valves Product Focus Study 2005