Blackhall News

Automatic Recirculation Valves from Blackhall: a case study

At Blackhall Engineering, we continue to supply spares for valves that we supplied to clients more than two decades ago, which we believe is testament to their quality and the longevity they provide to businesses seeking such long-term peace of mind. But that's very easy for us to say, and we can't just expect you to take our word for it, which is why, this month, we thought we'd offer a case study of Blackhall Automatic Recirculation Valves. Supplied 25 years ago and still going strong, we feel this particular study is a case in point as to the importance of taking the long view.

General purchasing considerations

Defining considerations when making a purchase vary considerably depending upon many factors. When it comes to industrial equipment, that carries a high degree of risk if things go wrong or if components are hard to access once installed, reliability and longevity are key driving factors when making these decisions. Adopting a long-view is always the better option as downtime can be incredibly costly, which is why you need equipment that you can count on to work consistently and efficiently over the long-term.

But what happens when that equipment eventually requires maintenance or spare parts, especially if it's been in service for decades? Given the cost of replacing expensive assets, well-managed firms create a capital expenditure budget (monies used to acquire, upgrade and maintain physical assets such as property, plants, buildings, technology, or equipment) to plan for future asset purchase. Budgeting for asset purchases is critical because replacing assets is required to operate the business. A manufacturer will budget for equipment and machine replacement while a retailer allocates funds to update the look of each store. It is a balancing act that requires vision, an eye on cost-effectiveness

Valves for the Oil & Gas industry – a case in point

The Ineos Group is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products, who chose to purchase Blackhall Automatic Recirculation Valves over twenty-five years ago. Back then they recognised that this type of investment would aid in the increase and scope of their operations and provide future economic benefit to their global ambition.

When Blackhall supplied these pieces of specialist industrial equipment, we knew that they had to be built to last, conscious also that by creating a symbiotic relationship with Ineos would see us grow as a company too. And we were right! Today, they are still going strong with only minimal intervention required to ensure continued performance and what's more we're still being commissioned by Ineos!

Ken Mason, our external sales manager, played a pivotal role in this project. He engaged in detailed discussions with the customer, negotiated the project specifics, and established an execution plan. Ken's expertise and exceptional negotiation skills ensured that the customer's needs were fully understood and incorporated.

Steve Howarth, our spares engineer, stepped in next to contribute his expertise. Steve managed the commercial aspects of the project, diligently handling quotations and ensuring the best possible customer service during the purchase order process. His commitment to excellence guaranteed that the customer's requirements were met with utmost satisfaction.

Looking ahead, Kash Samra, our service manager, will soon take charge of the comprehensive refurbishment process. Once Ineos sends the valves along with the spares, Kash will manage the entire refurbishment process, ensuring the valves are meticulously restored and enhanced to deliver long-term operational efficiency.

Together, the exceptional contributions of our valvologists - Ken, Steve, and Kash - form a seamless chronology in delivering outstanding customer service throughout this project. Their seamless dedication and expertise as valvologists are at the core of our company's values, enabling us to consistently provide comprehensive support to our customers.

So, even after nearly three decades, we can still offer comprehensive support to customers through a combination of advanced technology, enhanced materials and experience; consistently refurbishing valves that are seemingly beyond economical repair to a standard which far exceeds the original valve's performance. This means they can continue to benefit from the reliability and cost-effectiveness of their Blackhall Automatic Recirculation Valves and will do so for many more years to come.

What are automatic recirculation valves?

These valves, sometimes referred to as pump protection valves or minimum flow valves are installed on the outlet of a centrifugal pump discharge line. Their purpose is to prevent the pump from overheating by ensuring that there is a minimum flow through the pump at all times, even in the harshest environments. The valve is tailored to the client pump characteristics, using our proprietary CFDA technique verified by empirical flow testing since 1989. This means that every valve is custom-built to deliver the best possible results for each individual application.

Longevity and support

Having manufactured ultra-reliable automatic recirculation valves for over fifty years, and the valves supplied to Ineos over twenty-five years ago, we believe they are a testament to the quality and technical design of the product. And after some minor remedial repairs these very same valves are expected to last for another 30 years, making them an incredibly cost-effective and reliable solution for the long-term.

The Blackhall Automatic Recirculation Valve range includes both on/off and modulating options, as well as straightway and angle pattern designs for in-situ maintenance. And because our valvologists are always embracing leading technologies, the team uses the latest materials, CFDA, finite element and seismic analysis to ensure that customers receive longer life valves that outperform any alternative on the market.

In short, when it comes to cost-effective and long-lasting performance, Blackhall Automatic Recirculation Valves are the ultimate solution, that carry with them a highly credible after-sales support service, that ensures continued performance and reliability of the product for decades to come. Within the grand scheme it is a decision that, once made by a business as part of their capital investment programme, becomes an integral part of their long-term growth strategy. In short, this sort of capital investment is generally made to increase reliable operational capacity, ultimately leading to capture a larger share of the market and generate more revenue.