Dixon Opens New Valve Actuation Workshop

Market-Leading Hygienic Product Range Dixon Group Europe are proud to announce the opening of their new Valve Actuation workshop offering custom automated valve packages from their Preston offices, most of which can be dispatched within 24 hours thus reducing customer process downtime. All valves are tested prior to dispatch and issued with full certification. The entire range of high quality ball and butterfly valves can be actuated to customer specification and with a range of stocked accessories that includes limit switches, solenoids and positioners, All actuators have been type-tested to 1,000,000 cycles. Full technical and sales support is available from their qualified technical sales team. Dixon offer same day and next day delivery on most standard actuated valves and custom fabrications subject to customer requirements. With on-site 3D design, full technical and sales back-up, and BSI approved manufacturing and engineering departments, Dixon can design and produce individual bespoke valves and fabricated configurations to quickly and efficiently solve customer problems. SubmitDixon Hygienic offers a market leading range of stainless steel fittings, unions, tube, pumps and valves for the food, dairy, beverage and brewery industries. Fittings are available ex-stock in a variety of types (RJT, SMS, DIN, IDF & Triclamp) with sizes from ½" - 12" and are either fully polished or complete with polished OD and bright annealed or tumbled ID. The range includes full FDA and 3A approved products and also includes high purity BPE standard biopharm weld fittings, tees, elbows and reducers for use in pharmaceutical applications. Complementing these are a range of manual and actuated multiway hygienic and industrial ball valves from ½" to 4", and hygienic butterfly valves with EPDM, Silicone or Viton seals from 1" to 10". Valves for non Hygienic Application – A Case Study The Dixon range of valves is not restricted to hygienic applications. Dixon also offers industrial actuated valves for use within many process industries. In some cases a hygienic valve can be used in a multitude of applications not first thought. Sometimes the best solution to a process problem can be found outside of its traditional industry supply base. Dixon Hygienic have offered solutions to numerous industries. In one instance a paint manufacturer required a solution for moving paint which was accumulating in the void behind the ball on its non-encapsulated SVF ball valves. On being presented with the problem Dixon Hygienic investigated and found that the titanium dioxide additive within the paint was causing premature failure of the standard ball valves being used. The paint manufacturer had made the decision to remove ball valves from the production line completely until Dixon came up with the solution that the existing valve supplier had overlooked. Not being dissuaded by the fact that this was not a traditional hygienic valve application, Dixon Hygienic developed a successful solution. Analysing the current industrial ball valve being used, it was determined that the best solution would include an encapsulated ball valve. This would minimise titanium dioxide paint migration between the ball and valve body. Dixon concluded that a seal with higher abrasion resistance would be beneficial due to the nature of the titanium. Additionally the size of the actuator was increased to produce more torque. This ensured valve rotation if the process fluid began to solidify. After a complete study of the application and the unique additives present in the media, Dixon Hygienic offered a complete solution consisting of: 1. Supplying an encapsulated ball valve to minimise internal voids. 2. Using 15% fibreglass reinforced PTFE seats and seals for abrasion resistance and increased cycle life. 3. Utilising a larger actuator to overcome resistant forces inherent to solidifying paint. This valve system was put through a one year in-service test and was a success. It resulted in greater service life than the current system and it was all done at a competitive price; much to the delight of the paint manufacturer. Therefore in most cases a solution is readily available, if not within existing expertise, it may be from another industry. But it all starts with detailed analysis and by aligning Dixon Group with solution partners that can provide different industry perspectives.