KEW Foundries has just completed a multi-million rand order for Gunric Valves, to cast seven valve body and disc sets for use by a large water utility.

The biggest butterfly valves that this leading manufacturer of high quality valves has supplied to the local market to date comprised of DN2500 valve bodies and discs, weighing five tonnes and six and a half tonnes each respectively, to be used on isolation duty.

With diameters of 2.5m (inside) and 3.5m (outside), each fully assembled valve weighs around 13.5 tonnes. The valves are pressure rated for 10 bar. The valve bodies and discs were cast from SG Iron, ideal for this application due to its good pressure-rating and tensile-strength and corrosion properties.

Having received the order in October 2011, KEW Foundries managed to deliver in less than four months as per the client’s requirement, despite the period coinciding with the festive season. The first four sets were provided in November, two sets arrived at Gunric Valves’ factory in December, and the last set followed in January 2012.

KEW Foundries also assisted Gunric Valves with the patternmaking for this order, and acted as consultants for the project. The two companies benefit from a long-standing, 11-year relationship built on mutual trust and respect.

“We find KEW to be very accommodating, knowledgeable and quick to respond to our requests. In a business environment like ours where late delivery penalties are at stake, this commitment is crucial to our success,” says Mark Wilson, Marketing Director, Gunric Valves.

Gunric Valves have several international projects in the pipeline, which will benefit KEW Foundries.