There are hundreds of standard types of valves that are readily available as off-the-shelf types of parts and components. As replacement valves or for use in standard types of equipment, these valves are often the most cost-effective and practical solution for any OEM to consider.
This is true if the OEM is using miniature valves for dental equipment or if the valves are required for larger systems such as food and beverage production, vehicle parts, or other types of applications. However, not all products and systems are designed to work with standard valves, which creates a challenge for the OEM.
The Options
When the OEM has a problem in matching a standard valve to a specific application, there are two options to consider. One is to redesign the specific elements of the system to be able to incorporate the use of the standard valve. This can be time consuming and costly and can delay the product getting on the market.
The other option is for the OEM to work directly with industrial valve manufacturers to create a custom valve option. This may have a different combination of ends, ports, seals, or body configurations, but they designed to match the given needs of the new design.
The benefit of this for the OEM is the avoidance of the redesign process. When working with the larger industrial valve manufacturers, the turnaround time for valve orders is extremely short, limiting any delays in getting the new product, system, or equipment on the market.
At the same time, by working with industrial valve manufacturers for custom valves , the OEM also creates an aftermarket component for additional sales. It also ensures that system-critical valves have to be replaced with the correct part, eliminating possible issues with system performance if a cheaply made standard valve is used as the replacement.
