Steel, tube and valve supplier Stewarts & Lloyds’ Pipes & Fittings division has received its first consignment of vacuum break valves from local valve manufacturer Variant Air and has distributed the stock to its outlets for sale to clients.

Stewarts & Lloyds has been selected as an agent for the full range of Variant Air vacuum break valves, with the manufacturer to provide quality service and technical support.

The Variant Air vacuum product range is 100% locally designed and manufactured at the company’s factory in Uvongo, KwaZulu-Natal.

Stewarts & Lloyds Pipes & Fittings consultant Rob McCutcheon tells Engineering News that the Variant Air range is unique in that it is now manufactured from molybdenum reinforced nylon 11, which has decreased the number of valves being stolen in the field.

The body of the valves used to be made of stainless steel, which is a metal of great resale value.

“There is little to no resale value of the molybdenum reinforced nylon 11 material as scrap; this makes the valves a less desirable target for theft,” he enthuses.

The range can be used in raw-water bulk systems, clean potable water and sewage-treatment applications.

“The internal designs of the components enable the products to perform to all engineering required specifications,” McCutcheon adds.

Additionally, the pressure ratings of the range as standard are nominal working pressure rating (PN) 16 and PN 25 in male screwed and flanged ends.

Higher pressure-rated units are available on request, owing to local manufacturing flexibility.

McCutcheon points out that the air valve is complemented by T-pieces and standpipe combination sets to suit the installation of the air valve.

The inclusion of the T-system and standpipes negates the loss of products prior to installation, as well as further theft prevention after the commissioning of the system.

He explains that a slide-over lockable sleeve prevents accessibility to the air and isolation valves, unless the operations department individual has permission and is given the permit key to unlock and remove the sleeve for inspection or maintenance.

Further, Stewarts & Lloyds has added a range of firefighting valves to its valves offering.

“The valves are manufactured and certified to international specification and carry strict standards approvals from mutual insurance firm FM Global and Underwriters Laboratories as demanded by the fire protection industry and inspection authorities,” says McCutcheon.

Meanwhile, McCutcheon says Stewarts & Lloyds’ has an area-centric strategy, so the main branch for pipes, fittings and valves is based in Alrode, Gauteng, which successfully supports the full branch network across South Africa, as well at its new branch in Windhoek, in Namibia.

All products are stocked in all the Stewarts & Lloyds outlets, in relation to the demand in the various regions, while most of the company’s outlets have dedicated fluid control sales teams at the branch, he says.