Custom Gate Valves for Port Talbot Steelworks

Port Talbot Steelworks, owned by Tata Steel, is an iconic part of the Port Talbot landscape. Having employed up to 20,000 at its peak in the 1960s, the site plays a vital role in the UK’s manufacturing industry, outputting millions of tonnes of product a year.

The Problem

Legacy gate valves in the steelwork’s private water distribution network had become unreliable overtime, unable to maintain a watertight seal and degrading beyond the point of being economic to repair.

Replacement valves were needed within a very short time frame to facilitate a period of planned maintenance at the site that would ensure the continual and uninterrupted operation of the steelwork’s furnaces. Due to the high level of disruption and financial losses that unplanned downtime would present, a fast and direct valve replacement without the need for on-site amendments was crucial to the project.

The legacy valves’ non-standard face-to-face dimensions and non-standard flange drillings made sourcing a suitable replacement difficult, so the site’s specialist mechanical engineering contractor approached T-T Flow® for a custom solution.

The Solution

Our experienced design engineers delivered two DN750 wedge gate valves rated to 16 Bar, imperially drilled to BS 10 Table E to match existing pipework flanges and directly mounted with site-specific extension spindles and bevel gearboxes for safe ergonomic operation.

The gate valves were fabricated in carbon steel, coated in a WRAS listed epoxy coating for corrosion resistance and longevity. Precision machined weld deposit overlay bronze seats ensure optimal sealing performance, while an acid-resistant non rising stainless-steel stem with rolled thread provides a reduced operating torque.

Before their timely delivery to Tata Steel, the metal seat gate valves were subject to rigorous in-house hydrostatic testing facility to ensure performance and compliance with EN12266-1. 

Medium Bevel Gearbox

2x DN750 Wedge Gate Valves

Unique Solutions

If you’re in need of a custom solution, a fast turnaround or support from a proven valve supplier, contact a member of T-T Flow® today by calling 01630 647200, emailing ttflow@ttpumps.com or completing our online enquiry form.