Valve replacement market has a bright future

The world market for automatic regulating valves was US$10 billion in 2002 and US$23 billion in 2008. Due to the "Smart" valve, the performance of the valve has improved. At present, all valve manufacturers are committed to the electronic control technology of valves and information technology software. The power station is the second largest market for valves, especially gas turbines. Combined cycle gas turbines require more valves than single cycle gas turbines, and gas turbines use four times more valves than gas turbines.

The intelligent valve positioners and smart actuators in the world's automatic control valve market will be the fastest growing part of the entire control valve market. At present, all valve manufacturers are committed to electronic control technology and information technology software for valves.

The market share of the valve has recently changed due to Invensys FlowControl being merged by FlowServe. Tyco continued to take first place with 6%; FlowServe rose to second place with 4%; Emerson took third place with 3%. The sales of European industrial valves and actuators were US$3.53 billion in 2002 and US$4.1 billion in 2008. The comprehensive annual growth rate is 2.2%.

Technological innovations that result in better performance of valves and actuators, stable oil prices, and increased use of natural gas have increased investment in oil and natural gas, prompting an increase in the market for valve actuators. In addition spare parts are also a big market. The market acceptance of smart valves and fieldbus technology also contributes to the growth of the market. Smart valves will be more widely used in the future. Actuators grow faster than valves. One quarter of the actuators will have a larger market than multi-turn actuators due to their wide use and simple structure.

Recently, ARC Consulting Group investigated the market of actuators and valve positioners, and concluded that intelligent valve positioners and smart actuators will be the fastest growing parts of the entire control valve market, with an annual growth rate estimated to exceed 50%. Sales increased from $20.2 million in 1997 to $158 million in 2002.

China and the United States are the major countries for gas turbines and are therefore the largest users of power plant valves. Valve replacement is also a big market. The United States accounts for one third of the world's gas turbine capacity and is the largest market for valve updating.