Arca Valves strengthens ties with Valve & Automation

Feb 2000 Valves, Actuators & Pump Control

Valve & Automation has represented Arca Valves in South Africa for the past three years - a partnership that has seen increasing exposure of a range of products that are already a household name in many parts of industry.

"Arca has long held a significant stake in South African industries as diverse as power generation and food manufacture," says Nel. "We are constantly discovering OEM (original equipment manufacture) systems that contain Arca products that have been brought directly into South Africa.

"Recent strides into emerging markets like China, India, South Korea and Mexico, indicate the company's on-going commitment to investment in developing economies," he adds. "Arca now has seven worldwide production plants - two in Germany, and one each in Switzerland, China, India, South Korea and Mexico."

Arca is currently taking part in the world's largest refinery modernisation project. The company is supplying more than 1000 control valves to the Mexican state-owned company Pemex for its Cadereyta refinery. The fifth largest refinery in the world, Pemex is investing approximately R13 billion in the modernisation of the site. The order for control valves is worth millions of rands. On completion of the contract next year, the modernised refinery will produce 55,65 million litres per day of refined products, with the aid of Arca control valves.

Objectives when developing new products

Before a new product is developed, Arca sets down a number of requirements that the product has to fulfil. The most important of these is reliability. A high level of reliability is backed by decades of experience (Ragnar Carlstedt, the founder of Arca Regler, applied for the patent of his flapper/nozzle-system in 1917 - the product allowed the continuous and automatic remote control by pneumatic auxiliary energy of a valve).

Regular customer research ensures that the customer is given what he needs. Feedback from customers also helps to improve future designs. Arca has embraced new technology, something that is borne out in the recent release of its second-generation intelligent positioner (see sidebar). This smart device supports both HART and Profibus protocols. New product flexibility is further optimised by the use of compact, pipeless and vibration resistant positioners.

Every effort is made to maintain minimum total cost of ownership by decreasing operating and maintenance costs. An example of this is the introduction of the SWS-seat (quick-changeable trim combination) that allows for double-side use by simply reversing the seat.

With increasing importance being placed on environmental issues, Arca has joined the 'green war'. Environmentally friendly technologies include double use of auxiliary energy with the pneumatic multi-spring diaphragm actuator. Nel believes that Arca's 'magic triangle' is the final key to customer satisfaction. "This triangle consists of shortening delivery time, minimising costs and at the same time providing higher technical value, improvements and quality," he concludes.

Valve & Automation

(031) 579 2593

(011) 397 2833

(0351) 51 1458

[email protected]

www.valve.co.za

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Valves, Actuators & Pump Control

Arca Valves strengthens ties with Valve & Automation

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