the 05/14/2008

Valve specialist expands fire protection valve range

Lug Butterfly Valve Industrial valves, control valves, control systems and instrumentation supplier Inbal South Africa

has extended its range of fire protection valves. The company is importing its new range of products from flow control

products manufacturer Nibco in the US, and is now able to supply monitored butterfly valves, check valves, gate valves and

indicator post valves. These valves are all factory mutual (FM) approved. FM approval is an international third-party

certification and approval of commercial and industrial products, including fire protection and prevention equipment. The new

Nibco butterfly valve has a wafer or lug style body, is able to accept internal or external switches, and is available in

sizes from 50 mm to 300 mm. The check valve is also available in wafer style, with a rubber seat, and is spring actuated. The

sizes range from 65 mm to 400 mm. The gate valves have an epoxy coated interior and exterior and come in sizes that range

from 65 mm to 300 mm, with an outside screw and yoke on a non rising spindle. "To sell a trustworthy valve into the fire

protection market at a competitive price, is our company's main objective," says Inbal's managing member John Lowman. The

company has been supplying FM-approved Inbal deluge valves to the fire protection market in South Africa since 1995. Some of

its bigger clients include industry giants such as Sasol, Eskom, Transnet pipelines, ArcelorMittal Steel, Total, and Anglo

Gold. "The Inbal valves were specifically engineered for industrial fire protection systems and have proven to be very

dependable in the market," says Lowman. He explains that each valve is fully tested on a large capacity hydraulic test rig

controlled by a field control system. The test is carried out automatically with actual flow and pressure according to a

predetermined procedure for each individual application and the information is monitored and recorded. The Inbal automatic

control valve is a pressure-operated, sleeve- actuated valve designed from basic concepts, with a built-in actuator to

function as a control valve in fire protection. The valve uses the no moving mechanical parts (NMMP) design, which ensures a

longer life of dependable operation. The small physical dimensions and the low weight enable the valve and the control trim

assembly to occupy much less space and significantly reduce the time and labour needed for installation. The Inbal valve can

withstand pressure surges and is resistant to false tripping. The opening action of the valve is quick, yet smooth,

eliminating water hammer. All the valves are rated at 21 bar, and are available in sizes from 40 mm to 300 mm. The Inbal

valves are made of ductile iron, are epoxy coated and the control trim is made of stainless steel and nickel-chrome plated

brass. The valves are designed to work with potable water and foam, and are also available in special materials for seawater.

In addition to the above, Inbal South Africa has also extended its range of non-FM butterfly and wafer non return valves. The

butterfly and non-return valves are wafer style, and have a cast iron body with a nickel-plated ductile iron or a stainless

steel disc. The valves are rated at 16 bar. Inbal's executive member Christo Murphy estimates that the company's ex-stock

supply is currently standing at more than one-million rand for the butterfly and check valves and in excess of five-million

rand for the Inbal Deluge valves, which reduces the lead times considerably. He adds that the company has strong business

relations with most of the South African valve manufacturers and uses the services of valve sourcing agents worldwide. These

links enable the company to provide short lead times on all valve types irrespective of brand name, size, pressure rating or

materials required. "The company is also able to provide excellent technical support to our clients whether it be

telephonically or onsite," adds Lowman. Inbal South Africa is a Small Enterprise Employers of South Africa rated level two

black economic-empowerment compliant company, its main offices are situated in Midrand.