Sales of industrial valves and actuators will exceed $55 billion in 2013 according to the latest forecasts in Industrial Valves: World Markets published by the McIlvaine Company. (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

 World Industrial Valve and Actuator Revenues ($ Millions)

Energy applications will account for nearly 40 percent of the total revenues while municipal water and wastewater will account for 18 percent. The chemical industry will generate sales of over $6 billion.  There will be a big market for valves for basic chemical applications in Asia whereas the U.S. and Europe markets will mostly be fine chemicals.

The movement toward "smart valves" is accelerating. The condition of valves can be monitored remotely. The actuators comprise up to 25 percent of the value market.  Pneumatic, electric and hydraulic actuators are available.

Many of the large valve manufacturers make their own actuators and also sell actuators for competitors’ valves.  A number of large independent actuator companies sell to the original equipment manufacturers and also directly to the end users.

The top five valve companies account for 15 percent of the total market with sales ranging from $2.1 billion down to $900 million.  The next five valve companies generate revenues from $900 million down to $600 million. The third tier of five valve companies has sales in the range of $450 to $600 million.

For more information on Industrial Valves: World Markets, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#n028.

Semiconductor manufacturers will spend $2.3 billion in 2012 for flow control and treatment products.  This includes products used to extract water from sources, purify it for use in chip washing and other purposes and to purify effluent prior to discharge. These totals are based on extracts from six McIlvaine market reports.

 *Less the other items listed separately below

The water used in semiconductor processing needs to be extremely pure. Water from a river or even water already processed in a municipal drinking water plant must be subjected to a series of steps which often include granular media filters, cartridges, reverse osmosis, ion exchange and degasification. The water must be carefully monitored for a number of parameters.  For example, dissolved oxygen must be measured and controlled at a few parts per billion.

The pumps and valves used in processing the ultrapure water are uniquely designed to minimize any contamination.  This includes special materials of construction. The piping, tanks and other components of the ultrapure water system also have to be built to eliminate contamination.

 One of the recent design changes is to reuse water where possible. Rinse water which was delivered to a tool but not used, can undergo less stringent treatment than water that was used as incoming plant water.

The semiconductor industry is growing at rates faster than GDP thanks in part to photovoltaic production as well as mobile communications. Asia is the largest producer.  Its lead is forecast to grow.  China is gaining on Korea, Taiwan and Japan as a major producer.

The demands for even more pure water are increasing as the line sizes on the chips are decreasing. This aspect, coupled with the opportunity for water reuse, is creating new opportunities.

For more information, click on the individual report information as shown at:

Air and Water Monitoring Markets http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/air.html#no31