Follow the advice of your engineering department

Make sure you know exactly what you need before you start shopping industrial valve manufacturers. The engineering department should be able to supply specs and quantities for the valves you need.

I recommend: Check your specs against the Valves International useful information list to clear up any ambiguities. If that doesn't do the job, go the ANSI webstore and input as much information as you can able valve type, material and use into the search form in order to purchase and download standards information.

Shop for industrial valve distributors

Shopping for valve distributors is worth your time, even if you already have a supplier. First, evaluate whether your current supplier fits your needs or not. If they do, your search should be focused on cost, because if you find other valve distributors that provide the same product and service at a better cost, your current supplier might be willing to meet or beat what their competitors offer.

I recommend: If your needs aren't being met, you're looking for somebody that will provide what you need. Either way, Thomas.net and Industrial101 are good places to start.

Check for safety before you buy from valve dealers

Safety features are a worthwhile investment--set a high safety standard to send the proper message to your employees and the public. Once you have safety equipment installed, make sure that your employees know it's there and how to use it.

I recommend: One of the simplest and best safety features in a valve, besides regular inspections and maintenance, is a valve lock. Visit Valvit for customized valve locks. Another option is to install automatic safety shut-off valves from T&A Valve Industries, Inc.