Sales of industrial valves and actuators will exceed $55 billion in 2013 according to the latest forecasts in Industrial Valves: World Markets published by the McIlvaine Company.

Energy applications will account for nearly 40 percent of the total revenues while municipal water and wastewater will account for 18 percent. The chemical industry will generate sales of over $6 billion. There will be a big market for valves for basic chemical applications in Asia whereas the U.S. and Europe markets will mostly be fine chemicals.

The movement toward "smart valves" is accelerating. The condition of valves can be monitored remotely. The actuators comprise up to 25 percent of the value market. Pneumatic, electric and hydraulic actuators are available.

Many of the large valve manufacturers make their own actuators and also sell actuators for competitors valves. A number of large independent actuator companies sell to the original equipment manufacturers and also directly to the end users.

The top five valve companies account for 15 percent of the total market with sales ranging from $2.1 billion down to $900 million. The next five valve companies generate revenues from $900 million down to $600 million. The third tier of five valve companies has sales in the range of $450 to $600 million.

Picture: McIlvaine