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Top Side-entry Ball Valve Manufacturers and Suppliers in America
2025-07-26
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Content Menu
● What Are Side-entry Ball Valves?
● Leading Side-entry Ball Valve Manufacturers and Suppliers in America
>> Velan ABV
>> RKSfluid (China with US Presence)
>> IMI Critical – Trunnion Mounted Side-entry Ball Valves
● Applications of Side-entry Ball Valves
● Advantages of Side-entry Ball Valves
● Industry Standards and Certifications
● Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
>> 1. What is a side-entry ball valve, and how does it differ from a top-entry valve?
>> 2. Which industry standards do side-entry ball valves comply with?
>> 3. What are the main materials used for side-entry ball valves?
>> 4. How does double block and bleed function improve valve safety?
>> 5. Can side-entry ball valves be automated for remote operation?
In the energy and industrial sectors, especially across oil and natural gas upstream, midstream, and downstream fields, high-quality ball valves are critical components for flow control and pipeline safety. Among the different types of ball valves, side-entry ball valves stand out because of their robust design, ease of maintenance, and reliable sealing, making them highly sought after by operators and engineers worldwide. This article delves into some of the leading Side-entry Ball Valve Manufacturers and Suppliers in America, exploring their product offerings, technical advantages, and applications to provide a comprehensive understanding of this important valve category.
What Are Side-entry Ball Valves?
Side-entry ball valves are characterized by their unique construction in which the valve body is assembled from the side, allowing easier access to the ball and seats for maintenance and inspection without disturbing the pipeline connection. This design contrasts with top-entry valves, making side-entry valves preferable in certain pipeline systems, especially those requiring frequent serviceability.
Side-entry ball valves often feature trunnion-mounted balls, double block and bleed (DBB) capacity, fire-safe designs, and compliance with stringent international standards such as API 6D, API 6FA, ISO 17292, and ASME B16.34. These valves can be customized with soft, metal, or composite seats to suit various operating environments, including corrosive or high-pressure conditions.
The side-entry design also contributes significantly to valve durability. By enabling easier access to internal components, maintenance personnel can conduct inspections, repairs, and replacements without removing the entire valve from the pipeline, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. Moreover, this construction method offers enhanced pressure containment capacity and improved structural integrity compared to top-entry designs.
Leading Side-entry Ball Valve Manufacturers and Suppliers in America
Velan ABV
Velan ABV, based in North America, is a prominent manufacturer specializing in fully welded two or three-piece side-entry trunnion ball valves designed for high-pressure and critical isolation services. Their side-entry valves incorporate features such as fully welded bodies that reduce potential leak paths, solid double trunnion balls that provide enhanced stability, and independent seats for bi-directional sealing, ensuring reliable shut-off under extreme conditions.
These valves are designed to be fire safe and comply with stringent fugitive emission requirements, reflecting the increasing importance of environmental safety in industrial processes. Materials used by Velan range from carbon steel to high alloy steels, customized to accommodate sweet and acid gas processes, offering versatility across different applications. Their product line supports sizes from 2 inches up to 56 inches with pressure classes from ASME 150 to 2500, meeting varied operational needs in pipeline isolation systems, especially for onshore petroleum applications.
Velan emphasizes testing and certification, including proof tests, fire tests, and API 6D compliance, ensuring their valves perform reliably in demanding environments. Additionally, Velan offers customization options, such as different actuator mounting arrangements and control integrations.
RKSfluid (China with US Presence)
RKSfluid is a Chinese manufacturer that has established an R&D center in Houston, Texas, providing high-quality ball valves for global markets, particularly focusing on floating ball valves, trunnion ball valves (ear shaft), and metal-seated ball valves. Their products often feature carbon steel and stainless steel materials (CF8, CF8M), covering sizes from 1/2" up to 12" and pressure ratings from 150 to 600 lbs.
RKSfluid ensures compliance with major international standards including API6D, ASME, ISO, ANSI, and the Chinese GB standards. Their strong presence in the American and global market is strengthened by their ability to provide OEM services for international brands, offering customizable designs and certifications to meet diverse client requirements.
This manufacturer's combination of competitive pricing and quality makes them an appealing supplier for both direct sales and OEM partnerships. RKSfluid is especially noted for their flexible design options, allowing tailored solutions in floating and trunnion ball valve technologies suited for petrochemical, oil and gas, and water treatment industries.
IMI Critical – Trunnion Mounted Side-entry Ball Valves
IMI Critical offers a range of trunnion-mounted side-entry ball valves designed for high-performance applications with robust constructions. Their valves maintain compliance with API 6D, API 6A, ASME B16.34, and ISO 17292 to ensure safety, reliability, and durability across challenging industrial conditions.
A notable feature of IMI's valves is their variety of seat options—soft, metal, or composite—enabling the handling of diverse fluids and pressures. IMI's valves support double block and bleed capabilities both in the closed position and optionally in the open position, which improves operational safety by providing positive isolation and leakage detection during maintenance activities.
The company also emphasizes fire-safe design and rigorous testing to guarantee valve integrity in hazardous environments typical of upstream and downstream oil and gas operations. Their two-piece and three-piece body designs afford operational flexibility and facilitate in-line servicing. The valves are commonly deployed in offshore platforms, refineries, and pipeline infrastructure, where high reliability is crucial.
Applications of Side-entry Ball Valves
Side-entry ball valves are widely used across numerous industries due to their robust design and adaptability. Their versatility and reliable performance make them crucial for the following applications:
- Oil and Natural Gas Extraction, Refining, Transport, and Distribution
Side-entry ball valves play a vital role in isolating pipeline sections, controlling flow rates, and maintaining safety within extraction wells, refining units, and transport pipelines. Their capacity to withstand high pressures, extreme temperatures, and corrosive fluids is fundamental in these sectors.
- Offshore and Onshore Drilling Platforms
These valves' maintenance advantages and reliability reduce downtime in challenging offshore environments where safety and operational continuity are paramount. Their fire-safe construction ensures compliance with safety regulations pertinent to offshore rigs.
- Pipeline Isolation and Flow Control
Side-entry ball valves provide effective isolation capabilities with double block and bleed features, allowing safe pipeline maintenance and minimizing environmental risks. They are often integrated into critical pipeline control systems requiring reliable shut-off functionality.
- Sea Water Desalination Plants
The valves' resistance to corrosion and ability to handle seawater and brine solutions make them ideal for desalination applications. Their ease of maintenance facilitates continuous operation of water treatment systems without excessive downtime.
- Petrochemical and Chemical Processing Plants
These environments demand valves with high chemical resistance and tight sealing to safely manage aggressive media. Side-entry ball valves with metal or composite seats offer suitable solutions for these demanding processing needs.
- Power Generation and Water Treatment
In power plants and municipal water treatment facilities, side-entry ball valves help regulate flows, isolate equipment during maintenance, and maintain process integrity, contributing to operational efficiency and safety compliance.
Advantages of Side-entry Ball Valves
Beyond the applications, it is important to highlight specific advantages that make side-entry ball valves increasingly favored:
- Ease of Maintenance:
The side-entry design enables quick and simple access to internal parts, so servicing can be performed without removing the valve from the pipeline, saving both time and costs.
- Reduced Downtime:
Maintenance and repair operations are streamlined, minimizing interruption to production or service.
- High Pressure and Temperature Handling:
These valves often support very high pressure classes (e.g., ASME 2500) and withstand elevated temperatures, making them suitable for diverse industrial applications.
- Double Block and Bleed (DBB) Capability:
This design feature ensures enhanced sealing safety, with two independent sealing elements and an intermediate bleed valve to detect leakage, which is critical for hazardous fluid containment.
- Fire-Safe Design:
Many side-entry ball valves are built to remain tight even after exposure to fire, complying with regulatory requirements in critical industries.
- Wide Material Selection:
A range of body and seat materials can be selected to accommodate various media, including sour gas, acids, or seawater, which enhances valve longevity and performance.
- Automation Ready:
Side-entry ball valves often come equipped with ISO mounting pads for actuators, allowing flexible integration with pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric automation systems, supporting remote operation and control.
Industry Standards and Certifications
Manufacturers and suppliers of side-entry ball valves adhere to several key industry standards to ensure product safety, reliability, and compliance:
- API 6D: Pipeline valve standard detailing design, manufacturing, testing, and documentation.
- API 6FA: Specifies fire safety requirements for valves used in hazardous locations.
- ISO 17292: International standard governing ball valve design and inspection.
- ASME B16.34: Covers pressure-temperature ratings, dimensions, materials, and testing for valves.
- ANSI and GB: American and Chinese standards that may also be adhered to depending on application and market.
Complying with multiple standards guarantees that valves can be used globally and meet stringent safety and operational criteria demanded by various industries.
Conclusion
Side-entry ball valves are vital components in the global energy infrastructure, offering superior performance, ease of maintenance, and adaptability to various demanding applications. American manufacturers like Velan ABV and suppliers with a US presence such as RKSfluid and IMI Critical provide world-class side-entry ball valves meeting stringent standards and customized to worldwide industrial needs.
Their products not only ensure reliable flow control and isolation in the oil and gas sectors but also support critical operations across chemical processing, water treatment, and power generation industries. The growing demand for such reliable valves has driven manufacturers to innovate in design, material selection, and testing techniques, making side-entry ball valves an industry benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a side-entry ball valve, and how does it differ from a top-entry valve?
A side-entry ball valve features a body design that allows access to the ball from the side for maintenance without disturbing pipeline connections, whereas a top-entry valve is disassembled from above. Side-entry valves are easier for in-line servicing, reducing downtime and maintenance complexity.
2. Which industry standards do side-entry ball valves comply with?
Common standards include API 6D for pipeline valves, API 6FA for fire safety, ISO 17292 for ball valve design, and ASME B16.34 for valve pressure classes. Compliance ensures operational safety and reliability.
3. What are the main materials used for side-entry ball valves?
Materials typically include carbon steel, stainless steel (CF8, CF8M), and exotic alloys depending on the corrosiveness of the application. Seat materials may be PTFE, metal, or composite to suit the fluid and temperature conditions.
4. How does double block and bleed function improve valve safety?
It ensures two independent seals isolate the pipeline with a bleed valve in between to detect leakage, providing enhanced containment and maintenance safety by alerting operators to seal failures before isolation points are compromised.
5. Can side-entry ball valves be automated for remote operation?
Yes, ISO mounting pads allow integration with pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric actuators for automation and remote control, which is critical in hazardous or hard-to-access locations, improving safety and operational flexibility.