Cover Story
Taihe ’ s new Cryogenic Valve Smart plant includes six flexible production lines .
Life cycle management powered by digitisation
As a specialist focused on LNG cryogenic valves , Mr Zhang and his team place LNG applications at the heart of the company ’ s managerial strategy and operating model . Accordingly , Taihe has used digital technology to build a unique cryogenic valve full lifecycle management system . The system covers the entire manufacturing process - from raw material inspection , admission and secondary inspection to processing , inspection , flaw detection , intensive pressurising , assembling , cryogenic testing , room temperature testing , and coating - through to installation , operating and maintenance . All information involved is digitised and entered into the management system . Customers have access to all data relating to the valve products they use . Mr Zhang also attaches great value to the quality control of the supply chain for LNG valve materials and parts , with resources invested in production and supply . The goal
A 14 ” Class 1500 ball valve ( left ) and a 42 ” cryogenic butterfly valve
is to reduce or even eliminate any possible quality issues by ensuring a sound supply chain .
Outstanding quality
As Taihe has grown to a globally recognised brand in the field of LNG valve products , a commitment to outstanding quality remains the major driving factor , according to Mr Zhang . In the early years , before the company had an established brand and track record , Taihe kept a proactive attitidue and accumulated experience in LNG valve maintenance and repair . Occasionally , their valves were used in LNG projects as substitutes or transitional products . These opportunities allowed the then-unknown brand to exhibit remarkable competitive power due to outstanding quality . While competitor valves experienced issues , Taihes ’ LNG cryogenic valves operated smoothly as expected , even though they were considered temporary replacements . This proved to be a decisive advantage in demonstrating Taihe quality , allowing it to gain trust and a prominent reputation from worldwide customers .
Cryogenic Valve Smart Manufacturing Project
Taihe ’ s Cryogenic Valve Smart Manufacturing Project , representing an investment of RMB 286 million , will soon be complete , with equipment installation and commissioning underway . The new plant occupies 60,200 m 2 with a total floor area of 34,842 m 2 . It houses over 500 items of equipment , such as highperformance inspection instruments , a CNC centre , numerical control machine tools , welding robots , etc . The smart plant combines digitisation , informatisation , integration and eco-friendly principles under one roof . On completion , production capacity will increase by a factor of five while significantly reducing the production time . Annual output is expected to soar to RMB 800 million . In addition to satisfying the increasing needs of domestic customers , Taihe will supply the international market . Advanced digital equipment and unmanned production lines reduce human intervention during manufacturing , leading to improved product standardisation . Combined with precise full-process quality inspection , this will significantly contribute to the outstanding quality and performance of Taihe valve products . The new plant will also serve as a platform for product upgrading and R & D .
10 Valve World March 2024 www . valve-world . net