Engineering solutions company BMG is implementing a strategy to enhance its fluid technology services – which includes valves for the mining industry – to meet growing demand in the fluid control market. This strategy encompasses the introduction of new solutions as well as developments in the design technologies and the materials and coatings used on existing and new products.

The company’s expansion programme in the fluid technology sector also involves increasing stockholdings through its more than 140 BMG branches and distribution network in South Africa and other African countries, including Swaziland, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania.

“BMG boosts its fluid technology services with dependable technical support to ensure enhanced safety, efficiency and the extended service life of every system, even in corrosive environments. With broad technical capabilities, the team is able to solve problems in applications where conventional components have failed after short periods of service,” says BMG fluid technology manager Wayne Holton.

The company’s fluid technology services also cover project engineering and consulting, cylinder design and manufacture, training, repair and testing, as well as on-site container services.

BMG’s extensive range of components for fluid technology systems and general industrial applications includes valves, hydraulic hoses and fittings, accumulators, cylinders, heat exchangers, hydraulic motors and hydraulic plumbing, as well as pumps and reservoir accessories.

“Compact butterfly valves, with good flow characteristics and low maintenance requirements, are important components in BMG’s range of valves for industrial flow control,” says BMG valves national product manager Willie Lamprecht.

An advantage of using quarter-turn butterfly valves rather than any other type of valve, is the simple, wafer-shaped design, which uses fewer parts and enables easy repair and reduced maintenance requirements.

Although butterfly valves and ball valves are both quarter-turn, the benefit of butterfly valves is that they open and close quickly as they are actuated pneumatically. The rotational disc in butterfly valves is lighter than a ball and these valves require less structural support than a ball valve of the same diameter.

Unlike a ball valve, the disc of butterfly valves is always present in the passageway within the flow. Therefore, a pressure drop is induced in the flow, regardless of the position of the valve. Ball valves should only be used for isolation, whereas butterfly valves can be safely used for isolation and control of flow.

BMG’s Desponia centric butterfly valves (DN 25 -1600) with an elastomer liner, are designed for safe and reliable regulation of liquids and gases in diverse industries. This range has a maximum working pressure of 16 bar and an operating temperature range of between -20 oC and 140 oC, according to the material used by the valve.

Bianca centric butterfly valves (DN 32 -900) with an on/off and control service have a durable plastomer liner suitable for aggressive and corrosive fluids. These high-performance valves have a 16 bar maximum working pressure and an operating temperature range of between -20 oC and 200 oC, depending on the working conditions.

The ATEX-certified valves in this range are suitable for use in explosive atmospheres.

Other valves available from BMG include seated, knife and wedge gate valves, as well as ball-type check valves, thermoplastic, diaphragm, pinch and angle seat valves.

This range is suitable for reliable performance in diverse industries, including mining, refining, power generation, iron and steel, materials handling, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, paper and pulp, chemicals, sugar and automotive.