By Diane Silcock
THE recent expansion of EMVAfrica’s Cape Town operation entailed the relocation of its ENERGYValves division to a larger facility, alongside the metals division. This move effectively doubled ENERGYValves’ operational capacity and stockholding, positioning it ideally to capitalise on the growing demand for valves in the region.
ENERGYValves is supporting Cape Town’s big industries like petrochemicals, marine, water engineering, agri-food processing, the wine industry and renewable energy sectors, with innovative valve technologies.
Located on the same premises as EMVAfrica’s stainless steel metals business, the two divisions work hand in hand, especially when it comes to large scale projects, offering a complete one stop solution that includes high quality products sourced from reputable and highly certified manufacturers.
EMVAfrica Cape Town branch manager Justin Orwin says, “People working on big projects or even medium to small sized projects, want a solution. They don’t necessarily want 10 different suppliers. We can supply valves from small scale requirements, right up to the largest water treatment plants and desalination plants which are multi hundred-million-rand projects. At the same time, we can source the piping and the flanges, so it really becomes convenient for customers to be able to deal with us across multiple product groups.”
Anti-corrosion valve solutions for coastal industries
ENERGYValves is ideally placed in Cape Town to address the corrosion issues experienced by companies on the coastline. “Stainless steel valves form the bulk of our range,” says Cameron Du Plessis, Cape Town valves sales manager. “As a solutions provider, with 32 years of experience supplying the industry, our customers depend on us to solve challenges, such as supplying super duplex valves for corrosive environments. We offer two to three options and if a valve does not fall within our range, our global network of suppliers equips us to source the appropriate solution for our customers.”
Valves that ensure safety in high stress environments
In demanding environments such as petrochemical or where there is high temperature, valve safety is crucial as people’s lives are at stake should a valve fail. ENERGYValves therefore takes very seriously the sourcing of their products and the specifications. “We do an enormous amount of work when quoting a customer as we aren’t just presenting a product and a price, it’s a solution, which means the job will get done efficiently, and at the right price, to ensure the highest level of safety,” says Orwin.
Collaboration is key
Orwin emphasises that collaboration is vital and that service, really is collaboration. “We work together with everybody who walks through our door, who phones us or who emails us.” With an intellectual understanding of the market, and having been in business for over 30 years, ENERGYValves willingly offers their advice and imparts their knowledge.
The division offers a personalised service, carrying out onsite inspections of valves inline to understand the requirement, what may need repairing or replacing, and once determined, to undertake the work as quickly as possible. Due to valves and actuators being high spec and very complex, customers look for solutions rather than merely the supply of a valve or actuator.
“We have a 360 degree approach to problem solving. Stock is king, but by offering the complete solution, makes the customer’s job easier. With all our valves, from the smallest fitting or valve to the biggest, even with the pipes and fittings, everything is traceable,” concludes Du Plessis.
