Pinch valves from AKO control the transport of acidic water

A manufacturer of steel cables and wires uses pinch valves from the VF series from AKO Armaturen to control the acidic water (pH value: 2–3). The sleeves and complete valves from AKO Armaturen have not yet needed to be replaced to this date.

Steel cables are used in many sectors, whether on ships or oil rigs, for the construction of bridges and buildings or in trade and industry, etc. The acidic water with a pH value of around 2–3 that accumulates at the plant during production of the steel cables is removed with the help of pinch valves constructed by AKO.

The first pinch valves were installed at the plant more than 40 years ago because the company was unhappy with the butterfly valves and knife gate valves that were previously installed there. These types of valve did not seal tightly enough.

Do you also work with acidic water in your plant?
Our pinch valves are the ideal control valves for this purpose! 

The company switched over to pinch valves from the manufacturer AKO Armaturen a number of years ago and since then not a single valve or sleeve has had to be replaced. Due to the frequency of the closing cycles and the application & environmental conditions, we anticipate that the sleeves installed inside the pinch valves – which come into direct contact with the acidic water – will have a service life of more than 10 years. The sleeves installed in this case are made out of a particularly anti-abrasive natural rubber mixture.

When one of the sleeves needs to be replaced, AKO Armaturen has special maintenance & installation sets available on request. These sets allow the sleeves to be replaced easily on-site by the company's own employees. It is no longer necessary to completely replace the entire valve or send a valve off for servicing, which avoids any protracted downtimes due to maintenance work.