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Welcome to the
Winter 2009 HSP Teesside Newsletter |
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Since our spring Newsletter we have continued to
experience steady growth despite the economic downturn.
More and more customers are experiencing our friendly
service and technical support and all of them appear
to be coming back for more.
We have also been busy with the expansion of our
stock in our Teesside facility with the addition
of over £1m of valves; that's over 25,000
additional valves in our stock since 2008!
Our success at this year's Offshore Europe Exhibition
in Aberdeen was also a great reflection of the professional,
experienced, staff we have on board at HSP. The
Exhibition proved to be the best ever; with record
attendances and plenty of lively conversation on
our Stand. We thank the many customers that paid
us a visit over the four days of the Exhibition.
Closer to home the UK Petrochemical Industry continues
to go through difficult times. We are optimistic
however that 2010 will be a better year and as ever,
we at HSP are poised to assist our customers in
any way we can.
For more information on HSP please visit our updated
website: www.hsp.co.uk.
We hope that you enjoy our newsletter and would
appreciate any feedback.
Peter Everett
Chief Executive |
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 Robin
Glew, Sales Engineer for H.S.Pipequipment's Teesside
operation comments on the current economic turbulence
and demonstrates how H.S.Pipequipment have remained
buoyant through their unrivalled service levels
.
At HSP we pride ourselves in providing the complete
valve solution. Our staff have over 75 years industry
experience. Through this, along with our comprehensive
stock holding and back up from our world-class manufactures,
we have proved a formidable partner for any sites
seeking continuous valve supply.
As a company we have an excellent knowledge of customer
needs and the technical ability to support them.
We have invested significant time monitoring and
identifying the trends within the Petrochemical
Industry and have reacted to the changes by developing
and growing our dynamic team and company. Spending
time with existing and potential clients we recognise
that a real growing problem existed for many sites
regarding service levels. Some suppliers were looking
towards centralised stock which often takes more
than a day to be receipted at site.
Due to the current economic climate, many sites
are under pressure to cut back on their own stock
holding for maintenance. This will inevitably affect
sites during shutdowns or breakdowns, resulting
in many customers struggling to fulfil their requirements
when timescales are crucial. Where many other stockists
are cutting back on stock holding, we have actively
increased our stocks to support our clients, Bonney
Forge stock alone has seen a 75% increase from this
time last year. In addition to increasing stock
levels of existing items we have also added new
product lines to our Maxseal range of solenoid valves
and ancillaries and B.F.E's SpA (Italy) Gate, Globe
and Check valves. Even when non standard items are
requested, we are usually able to source from other
stock held internationally or supply much quicker
than other quoted lead times due to 'Fast Track'
manufacturing processes.
'Fast Track' deliveries have been developed with
some of our manufacturers, which has proved invaluable
for some of the more unique and exotic specifications.
This service has enabled us to significantly reduce
valve delivery times, in some cases, as little as
eight weeks from the standard 24/26 week schedule.
It is through our long standing relationship with
our principals we have been able to develop this
service.
We aim to provide the client with the complete valve
solution by acting as a reliable supply chain partner.
We recently demonstrated this strength during a
shutdown at a power station in Teesside, where we
hold an agreement for some of the more standard
valves. During inspection of the boiler lines, a
number of high pressure chrome moly valves were
identified as needing replacing. We were able to
source and airfreight the valves and deliver within
24 hours. We later assessed the requirements on
site and added a range of these valves to our inventory
to avoid any future potential supply problem. We
are so confident in our service levels that we have
entered local site agreements guaranteeing stocked
items to be delivered within two hours.
We are very aware of the pressures on contractors
and maintenance teams to have plants back online
within set timescales. To assist with this, we offer
a 24 hour call out to the Teesside and surrounding
area, which clients find invaluable during shutdowns
and emergencies. The success of our Teesside operation
is based fundamentally on our attention to detail,
evaluating customers needs and tailoring our stock
to suit as well as our 'Fast Track' deliveries and
company philosophy of reliability. |
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H.S.Pipequipment Provide Valves on Tap at Offshore Europe 2009 |
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 This
years Offshore Europe saw our stand attract plenty
of interest throughout the four day event, generating
quality leads and networking opportunities.
Being in the unique position as the only valve stockist
and distributor exhibiting, provided a steady stream
of visitors onto our stand. Visitors were drawn
to the diverse range of valves and actuators on
display, including a 10" Valbart trunnion mounted
ball valve and Rotork actuator (SIZE), the Hobbs
Valve TVT range of Triple Offset Butterfly valves
and their revolutionary Double Block and Bleed valves
released earlier this year.
Visitors took part in our competition 'Guess the
Weight' of the Bonney Forge Valves to win a framed
and signed Scotland Football shirt. Those who placed
an estimate were awarded HSP branded footballs and
were challenged to put their own skills to the test
on our mini table football.
More importantly, there was an opportunity to openly
discuss our complete valve package solution with
our expert staff - from assisting in the selection
and technical evaluation of the ideal product through
to order placement, expediting and delivery. Due
to our solid relationship with leading global manufacturers,
visitors to our stand had the opportunity to meet
with representatives of Dresser, Maxseal, Bonney
Forge and Hobbs Valve to discuss specific requirements
and enquiries.
As a result of our excellent turn out of visitors
we have been able to quickly respond to all our
quality leads. |
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HSP and B.F.E. SpA celebrate 30 years partnership |
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 H.S.Pipequipment
(HSP) and B.F.E. SpA (Italy) are celebrating a 30-year
partnership supplying valves to the Oil, Gas and
Petrochemical industry. Bringing together two of
the world leaders in their fields; HSP - a UK based
valve distributor, and B.F.E SpA - the leading forge
valve manufacturer, have been able to deliver unrivalled
levels of service due to the strengths of both companies.
B.F.E's core products include Gate, Globe and Check
valves ranging in sizes from 6mm (1/4") to 50mm
(2") with pressure ratings from 150-4500 lbs. Furthermore,
they manufacture API 6A valves, bellow sealed valves,
double block and bleed valves and through conduit
valves. B.F.E valves are available in a variety
of materials including carbon steel, stainless steel,
various alloys and titanium.
Forged valves are universally recognised as being
structurally superior to cast valves. Due to the
continuous flow lines in the process of manufacture
and temperature the crystalline structure can be
ensured. This results in greater consistency, uniformity
and strength. Typically, valves manufactured by
the forging process, do not require the X-Ray examination
that castings sometimes do. Areas of porosity in
castings can subsequently need repairs. However,
B.F.E can still offer a full range of non-destructive
tests if required. The vast array of testing facilities
on offer at B.F.E is backed up by our own facilities
that include cryogenic and fugitive emission testing.
B.F.E continues to expand and develop their products
and recently launched a range of forged pressure
sealed valves. Pressure sealed valves are tailored
for application in high pressure and high temperature
environments e.g. Power Stations. Bonney Forge now
manufactures these valves in sizes from 25mm (1")
to 600mm (24"); using the same high integrity forging
process used for the small bore valves.
B.F.E manufacture valves in their own Forging and
Machining facilities close to Bergamo in northern
Italy. This machining and assembly facility covers
23,400 sq. metres and has doubled in size in the
last five years. The operation includes a wide range
of automated machines that allow for the manufacture
of over 100,000 valves per month and is supported
by comprehensive testing for all classes of valves,
including cryogenic valves.
We recently supplied a range of high-pressure cryogenic
valves, fully in accordance with the strict Shell
MESC codes. Part of the scope of the order included
a three-day witness test program with the client
using B.F.E's testing laboratories. The successful
tests included cryogenic and high temperature gas
tests, helium leak tests, magnetic particle examination,
intergranular corrosion tests, PMI, ultrasound and
dye penetrant all in addition to the standard tests
featured in 3.1. test reports.
The company's fast track facility adds further value
by providing a unique service; based upon the newly
dedicated workshop, which holds separate machining
centres and assembly areas for urgently required
valves. This can ensure faster delivery times than
standard lead times, depending on the specification
of the valve, B.F.E can offer delivery in an eight
week period. We recently supplied a high-pressure
3" pressure sealed bonnet piston check valve on
the fast track service to a UK power station for
a shutdown requirement.
This fast track service complements our established
reputation for professionalism based on responsiveness,
real time delivery and attention to detail. We have
annual sales of £20m and a £5m stockholding
that is augmented by a significant inventory of
valves and components held by B.F.E.
As a result of continuous investment and their 30-year
partnership, HSP and B.F.E continue to offer exceptional
levels of service to customers in the Power, Chemical,
Oil and Gas industry. |
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Improve Maintenance Safety with Double Block and Bleed Valves |
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 In
today's demanding oil and gas applications where
the operating pressures and temperatures are increasing
the need for safety and the need for assured valve
shut off providing absolute and verifiable isolation,
are regularly becoming the standard for critical
applications.
Valves are a vital part of processes in the industry
as they provide flow control and isolation. In an
ideal world all valves would give 100% assured bubble
tight sealing for their life span, unfortunately,
for much of the industry this is not always the
case. In demanding applications, service duties
are rarely clean or kind to valves. The problems
range from high velocities (particularly when opening
valves on gas/ multi-phase flow against high differential
pressure) to fluids that are entrained with foreign
particles or pipelines affected by scale, corrosion,
and other debris.
These problems are exacerbated where valves are
protecting equipment that requires regular maintenance.
In these situations plant operators demand two levels
of isolation to ensure safety and integrity of the
system. As a result, Double Block and Bleed (DBB)
systems have been developed.
Today, there are a number of advanced technologies
available to end-users, each of these offer different
benefits. Through our knowledge and relationships
with manufacturers, we are able to offer a range
of products for DBB applications.
There are two main types of product grouping for
this application, Instrument Double Block and Bleed
(typically 2" and below where the application is
pressure connections, chemical injection etc) and
the larger and more demanding application of in
line valves (typically these valves are 3" and above,
used for process or equipment isolations). The main
products available in the market are:
• Single Ball Valve with DBB seat sealing
capabilities including double piston effects seat
• Double Ball Valve in either cartridge AP1 6D single
valve dimensions or special dimensions
• Double Isolation Plug Valve
• Twin Disc Triple Offset Butterfly Valves
• Split Wedge or Expanding Gate Valves
• Through Conduit Valves
The traditional product for the industry has been
the soft-seated ball valve. These valves can be
vulnerable and often require regular replacement,
typically with trunnion mounted metal-seated valves.
However, in severe environments surfaces can deteriorate
resulting in seat leakage. It is well known that
the softer the seat, the easier it is to get a seal.
In the case of DBB, the pressure upstream may try
to assist in sealing the first valve thought he
seats, though the seats are often damaged due to
high differential pressure.
The first novel approach to Double Block and Bleed
was to use the cavity relief on a trunnion mounted
ball valve to provide verification of leakage. The
problem here was that the seats were still vulnerable
to damage and ingress, various designs have been
utilised to overcome this problem.
In DDB ball valves the finished product can be side
entry, top entry and also welded body and can be
supplied in an above or sub-sea configuration. The
bleed system for these valves can be (globe, gate
or ball valves). The main advantages of these types
of valves compared to the traditional DBB approach
include space and weight saving, lower costs, fewer
leak paths a number operational advantages when
actuation is required.
The DIPV (Double Isolation Plug Valve) design has
two separate valves in one single face-to-face body;
the advantage being the second valve is completely
independent to the first. It is compact, lightweight
and lower cost. Furthermore, it is reliable, rugged
and low maintenance. The design has typically opposed
plugs to maximise the passage through the valve.
The protected seats enable throttling and some multi-phase
flow to occur with minimal problems and the metal
to metal seats trap the sealant film to give 100%
bubble tight sealing, which can be maintained over
the life of the valve.
A newcomer to the market is the triple offset butterfly
valve. The advantage here is the broad seal contact
width that is less susceptible to leakage resulting
from minor damage to the sealing service and the
torque seating capabilities. Furthermore, the design
includes, low initial cost, minimal maintenance,
low weight and a small footprint.
Derrick Mackenzie, General Manager of H.S.Pipequipment's
Aberdeen office comments, "Double Block and Bleed
valves have evolved to provide greater savings in
weight, space and installation times. However, the
greatest savings are the reduction of leak paths
to the atmosphere, which reduces the risk of potential
hazards and improves maintenance safety." |
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H.S. Pipequipment
£5M Stock Holding |
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| Manufacturer |
Types |
Size Range |
Ratings |
Materials |
Specials |
| Bonney Forge |
Gate, Globe, Check |
¼" - 2" |
150lb - 2500lb |
A105N, LF2, F316-L, F11, Duplex |
Cryogenic, bellow sealed |
| Maxseal |
Solenoids |
¼" - ½" |
12 bar - 414 bar |
316 |
Various options in stock for seals, temperature,
voltage, etc. |
| Larson & Toubro |
Gate, Globe, Check |
2" - 16" |
150lb -300lb |
WCB |
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| Audco |
Floating Ball |
½" - 8" |
150lb -300lb |
WCB, LCC, CF8M |
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| Yancheng |
Gate, Globe, Check |
2" - 16" |
150lb -300lb |
WCB, LCC, CF8M |
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Della Foglia
OMS Saleri
Valbart (form. Velan) |
Trunnion Mounted Ball |
½" - 16" |
150lb -2500lb |
A105N/WCB, LF2/LCC, Duplex |
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| Hobbs/Orton |
Triple Offset Butterfly |
2" - 24" |
150lb -1500lb |
WCB/LCC/Duplex |
Metal seated |
| Gestra |
Sprung Disc Wafer Check |
½" - 3" |
150lb -300lb |
CF8M |
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| Crane Stockham |
Dual Plate Wafer Check |
2" - 24" |
150lb - 1500lb |
WCB/LCC/CF8M/Duplex |
Soft & Metal seats |
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