Cover Story
Società Benefit
In its effort to continually improve its standards , OMAL became a ‘ Società Benefit ’ in 2021 . Companies that achieve this status ‘ combine the goal of profit with the purpose of creating a positive impact for society and the environment and operate in a transparent , responsible and sustainable way .’ “ Being a Società Benefit allows us and our employees to be part of a network of companies pioneering a change in the very concept of business , restoring value to humanity and the environment by developing markets and exhibiting those set to be the best and most profitable companies of the future ”, the company states . In terms of product development , it means that OMAL strives to reduce the environmental impact of its products and increase worker safety , both through product characteristics and production methodology .
OMAL specialises in both valves and actuators , selling over 400,000 actuators annually .
The hydrogen evolution
“ As interest in the hydrogen industry has grown rapidly , we ’ ve received several requests from our partners in the natural gas industry to develop a range of valves and actuators for compressed hydrogen ,” continues Mr Coombs . “ The ball valve is our core product , so our design engineers are working on making it compatible with hydrogen processes . There are several
challenges , including high pressure and the small molecule size of hydrogen which requires new sealing solutions . The development of valves suitable for hydrogen is a major step for the industry .”
Fulfilling customer requests
With over forty years of experience in the market , OMAL ’ s product range includes almost any valve or actuation solution
The OMAL engineering team are working on adapting their range of ball valves for the growing hydrogen market . its customers require . Should the need arise , its engineering team can also adjust equipment for unique specific requirements . “ We have the ability to develop a new valve or actuator for a client , but more frequently , we adjust current products to meet their specifications ,” explains Mr Coombs . “ The most common request is for a new sealing compound suitable for a specific application . Our location in the north of Italy places us in an industrial hub of metal machining , valve production and rubber compounds . Within a 100 km range , we have access to hundreds of manufacturers of sealing compounds . Our vast network of partners helps us to develop technical solutions to challenges such as broader temperature ranges , critical media , etc . At least 90 % of the requests we receive are fulfilled with our standard product range , and for the rest , we work with our network of partners and our engineering team to develop a solution .” By way of example , Mr Coombs mentions a gas operator who asked OMAL to make an actuator to fit their unique style of valve . “ Major players in the process industries know we can produce unique , customised solutions for special applications , such as low torque , wider temperature ranges , etc . We have the knowledge in-house to serve all our customers , however demanding their requirements may be ,” he concludes with a smile . www . valve-world . net Valve World February 2023
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