Sourcing valve and actuator requirements
Process plants and manufacturing equipment use actuated valves for isolation, switching and controlled flow. An enquiry may concern a new assembly, an obsolete actuator or the automation of an existing manual valve. Record the valve reference and its role before comparing actuator products. The actual operating requirement matters more than the name of the industry on a catalogue page.
Send us the valve reference and duty, and our UK engineers will come back with the proposed products, pricing and delivery, with after-sales responsibilities set out in the quotation.
Electric and pneumatic actuation
An electric actuator enquiry should identify the available supply, command interface, feedback, operating mode and required behaviour on power loss. A pneumatic enquiry needs the air-supply conditions, action and mechanism considered with the valve duty. State whether existing control and mounting arrangements must be retained.
RIFT publishes electric and pneumatic valve-actuation ranges. Explore the RIFT catalogue or browse valve actuators. The RSD and RSS records identify scotch-yoke mechanisms; RRD and RRS identify rack-and-pinion mechanisms. Confirm the selected configuration rather than assuming that every product in a group provides the same action or response.
Prepare the engineering and purchasing information
| Topic | Information to include |
|---|---|
| Valve duty | Valve code, operating requirement and motion |
| Integration | Mounting, output connection and accessories |
| Control | Existing control arrangement, command and feedback |
| Energy | Available electrical or air supply |
| Installation | Environment, space, access and maintenance needs |
| Procurement | Quantity, required date and documentation expectations |
Match the application, not just the torque ceiling
A maximum torque entry does not establish the complete installed duty. Review the operating cycle, travel, valve interface and the conditions behind the manufacturer’s figures. If a parameter is unknown, identify it as an outstanding question. Do not fill it with the specification from a neighbouring size.
Food, chemical and specialist process environments
The fluid, cleaning regime, surrounding environment and required documentation can affect the acceptable assembly. Request evidence for the particular configuration and intended use. A product marketed for an industry does not demonstrate every hygiene, hazardous-area or safety qualification needed by a specific plant. The responsible project engineer should define the requirements and verification scope.
Retrofitting existing assets
Send photographs, the full actuator code and the associated valve reference. Explain why the replacement is needed and which mechanical, electrical and control interfaces cannot change. The quotation should identify adapters, configuration and commissioning work in the proposal, together with supply and support responsibilities.
A new connected or AI-assisted supervisory system does not remove the need to verify the physical actuator and valve arrangement. Specify what information is available and who integrates and supports the supervisory functions. Read about AI-enabled automation requirements.
Send a part number for sourcing and pricing, configure the requirement or request current technical documents. For dedicated applications, see water-asset automation and data-centre cooling.