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Editor's note: This is an update to a post previously published October 17th, 2019. It has been republished to reflect current data and trends.
Controlling the flow of fluids can be extremely complicated in industrial settings. Fluid viscosity, corrosivity, extreme temperatures and required precision are just some of the parameters that industrial valve manufacturers must consider when engineering new products.
Some valves may find themselves in use on a nuclear submarine silently moving through the ocean. Other valves make their home on satellites and spacecraft hundreds of miles above the Earth.
Whatever the use, industrial valves are a critical part of the machines and processes that we have come to depend on.
New Developments in the Industrial Valves Market
According to the latest research on the industrial valve market performed by Grand View Research, the rise of automation and smart valve technology is exepected to push the industrial valves market over intial projections, now expected to reach $85.6 billion globally by the year 2022.
Another study, released this month by Marketwatch, offers an even more surprising forecast, with the global industrial valves market expected to reach a value of $92.4 billion by the year 2025.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a measurable impact on valve demand, specifically from pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Due to their relatively simple design, valve innovations do not occur as rapidly as in some other fields of manufacturing, but many can still be found in this growing industry.
Many of the advances involve materials enhancements for better reliability or automation controls to improve efficiency and safety.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has made the monitoring and control of valves and their related systems somewhat easier to manage.
Demand for wireless "smart" valves is increasing, pointing towards a global interest in automating all feasible processes.
Additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, has been used to construct and assemble valvesthat traditionally took many hours of work from master craftsmen.
The 3D printed valves are more precise and require no assembly or post-production finishing.
U.S. Industrial Valves: Current Market Value and Number of Employees
According to MNI, compiler and publisher of the industrial data that powers IndustryNet, there are only 517 companies in the industrial valve sector here in the United States. Nerly half (49.3%) of U.S. industrial valve manufacturers operate in the U.S. South.
in 2021, valve sales increased to $16.5 billion, from $15.9 billion in January 2020 -- a roughly 4% increase. Additionally, worldwide demand has increased the total employment of the sector by 4.8% to 30,419 workers in 2021, compared to 29,003 in 2020.
Top Industrial Valve Manufacturers in the U.S.
Below are the nine largest industrial valve companies as measured by the number of employees on location.
| COMPANY | EMPLOYEES ON SITE | CITY | STATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graco, Inc. | 1,000 | Minneapolis | MN |
| Balon Corp. | 1,000 | Oklahoma City | OK |
| Lee Company, The | 925 | Westbrook | CT |
| Ford Meter Box Company, Inc., The | 500 | Wabash | IN |
| Cameron International Corp. | 500 | Ville Platte | LA |
| Flowserve Corp. | 500 | Raleigh | NC |
| Emerson | 480 | Stafford | TX |
| Cameron International Corp. | 400 | Little Rock | AR |
| Vortex | 400 | Salina | KS |
| Flow Valve, LLC | 400 | Sulphur | OK |
| Emerson | 365 | Aiken | SC |
| Clow Valve Co. | 350 | Oskaloosa | IA |
| Metso Flow Control USA, Inc. | 350 | Shrewsbury | MA |
About the Largest Valve Manufacturers
1. Graco Inc.
Location: Minneapolis, MN.
Employees on site: 1000
Custom valves for delivering precision applications of sealants and adhesives.
2. Balon Corp
Location: Oklahoma City, OK.
Employees on site: 1000
High pressure valves for oil, gas and other industrial fluids.
3. The Lee Company
Location: Westbrook, CN.
Employees on site: 925
This company specializes in small flow control devices including shuttle, relief, shuttle and check valves.
4. The Ford Meter Box Company Inc
Location: Wabash, IN.
Employees on site: 500
Water mains and plumbing systems can be controlled by the valves produced by The Ford Meter Box Company.
5. Cameron International Corp
Location: Ville Platte, LA.
Employees on site: 500
This location constructs rugged valves for offshore and onshore oil drilling.
6. Flowserve Corp
Location: Raleigh, NC
Employees on site: 500
One of the world's largest providers of environmental and industrial flow control equipment and devices.
7. Emerson
Location: Stafford, TX
Employees on site: 480
Safety is the focus at Emerson where pressure relief valves and tank blanketing products are made.
8. Cameron International Corp
Location: Little Rock, AR
Employees on site: 400
This location specializes in valves for the oil and gas industry.
9. Vortex
Location: Salina, KS
Employees on site: 400
Valves for handling dry bulk goods in a variety of industries including grain, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
For More Information
This data on the nation's valve manufacturers was collected and verified by MNI, compiler and publisher of the industrial data that powers IndustryNet. IndustryNet is an industrial marketplace that helps U.S. suppliers connect with industrial buyers. Users can set up a free account, request multiple quotes and information, download catalogs and more. Start your free search today!
