Selecting a valve for dry bulk solids handling is rarely a catalogue exercise. The conveyed product, pressure, hygiene demands, cleaning access, and expected maintenance all influence whether a valve will perform as intended within the wider process. A specification that looks suitable on paper can still create wear, air leakage, cleaning difficulties or unnecessary downtime once the equipment is running.
At DMN-WESTINGHOUSE’s UK office and training facility in Calne, Wiltshire, customers, distributors, and partners can examine equipment closely and assess how different valve types suit their applications. The facility supports the company’s customer base across the UK, Ireland, and associated territories, offering demonstrations and product trials with technical guidance from the local team.
“Customers handling powders and pellets cannot afford to get the valve specification wrong,” says Dave Howell, General Manager at DMN-WESTINGHOUSE UK. “The facility allows us to verify the design in the context of the wider system and build confidence before installation.”
Valve selection at the facility begins with the process. Engineers can review the material being handled, conveying pressure, wear risk, hygiene requirements, and service access. The equipment available covers DMN-WESTINGHOUSE rotary and diverter valve designs, including the MZC rotary valve and PTD diverter valve. Visitors can discuss broader valve considerations before examining the features of a specific design.
The facility also supports practical maintenance training. Service partners can work directly with the equipment while learning inspection and rebuild procedures. This helps organisations plan preventative maintenance and develop capability before carrying out the same work in the field.
A recent enquiry from a local uPVC extrusion company shows how this approach can help. The company was concerned about wear and air leakage around an existing valve, which was affecting conveying efficiency. The UK team reviewed the installed valve and reconsidered the design and specification with the customer. The resulting changes reduced air consumption and improved production uptime.
For OEMs, system integrators, end users, and service partners, hands-on review creates an opportunity to identify weaknesses before installation or a recurring problem becomes accepted as normal. The Calne site provides a practical setting for that work, with direct access to the UK technical support team and DMN-WESTINGHOUSE’s global engineering and R&D expertise.
The aim is to give customers confidence in how a valve will support the process throughout its working life, from specification through to ongoing maintenance.
A video tour of the Calne facility is available at: https://bit.ly/UKCalnevid
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www.dmnwestinghouse.com/en