SPOTLIGHT ON : Ladish Valves and the Family of Brands combined square feet , spanning three Houston , TX facilities .
Today , the Ladish Family of Brands provides a wide range of engineered products in an impressive array of specialty alloys for the chemical , petrochemical , refining , midstream LNG , power , and naval markets . “ Our dedication to manufacturing quality products that meet the needs of ever-changing industries has led us to create products following a three-stage system . The implementation of this system results in a complete and innovative portfolio designed for the most demanding corrosive , erosive , and high purity applications ,” said Dobson .
Three Stages of Success
Through an intricate design and production process , and a dedicated service team , the company provides its customers with controlled quality , corrosion resistant valves which maintain integrity throughout their entire life cycle , all while delivering unmatched customer service .
Valve testing .
Design
Before the valves ever reach the shelves or a customer , they undergo in-house inspection and testing to ensure metallurgical integrity and follow a five-step traceability process from the receipt of the raw material all the way through to shipment .
“ Valves that require high nickel alloy are often used in the most toxic and corrosive services in the industry , such as petrochemical and specialty chemical . This makes the reliability of the valve very important , and that is not something we take lightly ,” said Hoeffner . “ Most clients need several testing procedures , and quality traceability that goes back to the design of the product itself ; we can provide that ,” he continued .
Their products are designed to meet stringent requirements , often above applicable industry standards . With a large team of drafters and engineers on staff , there is no shortage of valve expertise when it comes to crafting custom de- signs and / or testing per the end user ’ s specifications .
“ Having in-house testing equipment allows us to perform numerous tests to determine which valve will be best suited for the end user ’ s application ,” stated DiStefano . Some of its testing capabilities include :
• Design & fabrication of proprietary test equipment
• Hydro-Pressure testing equipment capable of testing up to 15,000 PSI
• Inert gas pressure testing up to 3000
• Fully submerged underwater inert gas test tank
• Horizontal to vertical valve test equipment for large diameter valves
• Vacuum testing with mass spectrometer sniff detection equipment
• Cryogenic testing rig capable of testing up to 24 ” diameter
• Digital Radiography for RT testing to B16.34
• In-house PMI , PT , UT , RT & Ferrite
• High temperature fugitive emissions testing ( ISO 15848 & API 624 )
Production
The company ’ s manufacturing facilities are located in Houston , giving them the flexibility to design , machine , assemble , test , verify , and expedite customers ’ orders . Ladish maintains one of the largest inventories of stainless steel and nickel alloy valves and prides itself on its engineered designs , and its focus on the nickel alloy market .
What differentiates Ladish is their ability to provide extensive in-house NDE testing , and customization of products such as cryogenic extensions , and end connections . “ We maintain a large inventory of cryogenic valves that meet industry standards ,” said Distefano . “ However , if a customer needs custom cryogenic column lengths , Ladish can design , manufacture , and test within its own facilities – that is what makes us different .” The ability to facilitate all of this in-house allows Ladish to fulfill customers ’ orders on time and often beyond industry standards .
“ Put simply , we can supply products that have specifications and requirements that other companies are not willing to address ,” stated Hoeffner . “ For example , category M valves are making a comeback .”
Category M standards are one of the few ways clients can express the requirements of a toxic service . These applications require special inspections , packings , and integrity . While there are not many standards for toxic services , Ladish is able to create valves that meet the necessary requirements . “ We have a history of offering a variety of unique capabilities to serve the market . This is one of the many things that continues to distinguish us from our competitors today ,” Hoeffner continued .
Services
We have always made strides in the industry for the sake of progress and will continue to do so for the next 100 years . We pride ourselves in being problem solvers for our end users .” Barry Hoeffner
“ In terms of service , we offer an impeccable customer experience and maintain a high-quality inspection shop ,” continued DiStefano . “ Ladish is equipped with all the necessary testing equipment , and a full-service clean room , as well as an RT bunker , where we can complete any service our clients need .”
“ One thing that makes Ladish stand out is that we pay attention to , and communicate with our customers and end users ,” remarked Keith . “ Providing top of the line service from the inquiry all the way through the life of the valve is incredibly important to us and our customers .”
Keys to success
Ladish takes pride in its design team ,
its manufacturing team , its quality control team , and its shipping team ’ s ability to deliver products on time , without defects , and with personalized service .
The Customer Comes First
Remaining a leader in the industry for nearly a century is not possible without a thorough understanding that the customer must always be the top priority . “ I think a notable differentiator between us and our competitors , is that we build a relationship with the individuals we work with ,” Hoeffner explained .
End users and customers understand that if they have any issues or questions , Ladish has expert engineers and sales team members who are more than willing to discuss the inquiry at hand , and promptly put their concerns put to rest . No one needs to wait days to get an answer , or a solution .
Ladish has persevered through several significant industrial changes by following the same principles and values on which the company was established when they opened doors of the first facility in Cynthiana , KY . “ We understand that the company achieved the success it did because of the people and values they withheld ,” DiStefano said . “ By maintaining those values and implementing them now , we will be able to not only grow , but flourish .”
The Future of Ladish
Ladish Valves continues to be the industry leader , specializing in stainless steel and high nickel alloy industrial valves . To many , the Ladish Family of Brands symbolizes a reputation that is emblematic of the highest quality standards , unmatched design , and metal working craftsmanship .
While the company is consistently focused on enhancing testing , qualifications , and new technologies , it has many projects planned . “ We will not be stagnant ,” said Keith . “ In addition to expanding our existing product line and engineering capabilities , there are continual plans for both organic and acquisition-based growth .”
“ We strive to become more flexible and offer additional services by acquiring companies that would enhance the Ladish name ,” added DiStefano .
As the industry moves towards the manufacturing of renewable fuels , Ladish is prepared to continue providing the bestin-class products and testing . “ We have a history of responding to specific and complicated needs in the industry , and today our aim is to continue doing just that . We have always made strides in the
industry for the sake of progress and will continue to do so for the next 100 years ,” Hoeffner concluded . “ We pride ourselves in being problem solvers for our end users .”
Ladish warehouse inventory .
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the profiled company and may not reflect the position of Valve World Americas .
www . valve-world-americas . net • September 2022 | Valve World Americas 3