By Michel François Bolle
The champions race for survival is on
About the author
Mr Bolle is the CEO of Hinni AG , a company that is active in hydrant control , maintenance and revision . He is also an industrial valves expert and enthusiast . Michel has authored several bestselling books with a worldwide community of readers and followers . He is also a regular contributor to the valve industry with technical articles
He can be reached on : Phone : + 41 79 835 57 14 Email : Michel . bolle @ hinni . ch
Looking at the amazing number of social media posts from the IVS and IFAT exhibitions , packed with smiling faces , thumbs up poses and friends greeting friends , you get the true impression that all ’ s well in the exclusive microcosm of the global valve industry . Unfortunately , there will be a tomorrow and the future is not looking as bright for everyone . The valve industry will go through a massive overhaul over the next five years . The global pandemic crisis which lasted almost two years , and the Ukraine conflict are showing how vulnerable we have become due to globalization . Out of control prices for raw materials and transportation , just to mention a few . Who expected this three years ago ? The golden years with massive power generation and oil & gas projects are history . New markets popped up like LNG and hydrogen applications . Unfortunately , those will never feed everyone present in that market . Technical valve specifications are getting more and more complicated and demanding and such things as the “ easy path ” like “ API partner monograms ” have disappeared . Luckily , there is also excellent market news . The global water and hydro market will continue to grow massively over the next 15 years . The global need for clean water and appropriate wastewater treatment , but also new hydropower projects popping up here and there made many valve manufacturers extend their range to water application products . Unfortunately , it is easier to add a few products to your existing range than to sell them in one of the world ’ s most traditional valve markets . The water industry ! Excellent product knowledge and being able to make all kinds of calculations and simulations are necessary if you want to sell into the added-value markets like hydropower or desalination . Top-end quality products along with extended warranties and service offerings are needed to enter and survive in the water market . Saying that , the “ World champions ” of making “ fake European ” products imported from far east , will not survive the race for survival over the next 5 years . The rule will be very simple : “ No local factory to show – no certifications – no business ”. The true revolution and opportunities in the valve industry will only grow over the next few years . IoT , artificial intelligence , and the capacity to offer complete systems to reduce water loss will be integrated directly into the valves . Every valve can be an entry point into a water ( or other fluids ) system . Valves being able to detect leakage in water networks , measure pressure & temperature , as well as water quality aspects , will gain massive market shares over the next years . The end-user industry is hunting for the smart monitoring systems of the future . Valve manufacturers will also need to have excellent competencies ( or make alliances ) in the fields of IT , IoT , electronics , etc . to guarantee the quality , reliability , service & maintenance of their systems . Gathering data , treating , and interpreting it the right way , and building up user-friendly frontends are only a few challenges . Unfortunately for smaller players , this market will only be accessible to the “ Olympic Gold Medal Champions of the market ”. The need to develop and innovate will need massive capacities of investments , in both technical equipment and human resources . However , this is also good news for SME ’ s as future needs of the end-user markets will also open new doors to small- and mid-size companies . If you come along with a value-adding innovation , flexibility , and reactivity , you will be able to gain a massive market share . I truly believe that we are looking forward to amazingly interesting years in the valve business . The “ champions race for survival ” is on !
30 Valve World August 2022 www . valve-world . net