The following is part of a "Case Studies In Innovation" series of blog posts we will be running on the FlowStream Blog in the coming weeks to highlight winners of the 2013 Flow Control Innovation Awards program.
A leading U.S. manufacturer of high-quality grocery equipment systems for produce misting, humidity, and water filtration was having disruptive supply chain problems with its composite-bodied solenoid valves. These non-corrosive valves were used to perform water inlet control on the company’s three major product lines, including a reverse-osmosis system.
“For years, we had unbelievable supply problems with this valve type,” recalls the company’s vice president of engineering. “Moldings would leak, plunger assemblies would fail, the wrong product would be shipped, or the maker would miss our deadline.”
The company turned to ASCO’s 212 Series of composite solenoid valves to solve its reliability and delivery problems. The valve’s ultra-high pressure ratings (up to 150 PSI) easily handled the company’s requirements and proven operation up to one million cycles eliminating any quality concerns.
“We grabbed the chance to beta test the new ASCO composite valve,” said the company’s president and CEO. “These valves can take the pressure. We’re operating them up to 70 PSI.” In addition, he says the valve NSF rating met the system’s NSF certification requirements. “It’s very important that our valves also have that certification.”
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The user is also pleased that the ASCO composite solenoid valves are proven reliable up to 1 million cycles. “We’re seeing maybe 100,000 cycles per year," said the company’s CEO. “Plus, we’ve had on-time delivery since the composite valve launched.”
The company also valued the 212 valve’s FasN connection system—a turn-and-lock technology that quickly attaches the valve to a wide variety of fitting types for rapid assembly and design flexibility. Like other quick-connect systems, FasN maximizes ease and speed. But unlike some previous systems, it also prevents leaks. FasN-equipped valves can be used with all three types of standard valve-to-pipe end connections—threaded pipe types with NPT thread; CTS or PEX tubing with turn-and-lock; and PVC with solvent bond.
“I’d say we’ve put in over 700 of the valves already. And every one has performed," said the president. “So our equipment now lasts longer than the whole grocery case.”
