Valve World Americas Conference and Expo 2013

Our 2013 show is now over! Thank you to everyone who visited or exhibited at the expo, purchased a ticket for the conference or attended the Valves and Actuators 101 workshop last week.

It was exciting to finally get to meet those of you we’ve been chatting with both on the phone and online for months, and to see the show come together.

Make sure you’re following us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Valve World Americas news, and on Facebook for pictures of the show in a few days.

For those of you forward-thinkers, book your floor space for the 2015 Exhibition right away—it’s moving quickly. This year our waiting list was nearly as long as our list of exhibitors so don’t miss out!

The 2015 show will be even bigger and better than this year’s. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed, Facebook page and this blog page for updates as they come.

We’d love to hear your feedback. What did you like about this year’s conference and expo? (Workshops, networking, food?) What would you like to see at the 2015 show? (New topics?)

We’ll see you in Houston in two years!

Valve World Americas Conference & Expo - Day one

We’ve reached end of day one at the Valve World Americas Conference and Expo. This year we’re at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas, and thankful that the building is air conditioned!

 

We must apologize for the long line-ups at the registration desk this morning and thank you for your patience; all of our delegates and exhibitors got to where they needed to be, whether it was in position at their company’s booth in the exhibit hall, walking the exhibition floor as a visitor or attending one of the workshops in the conference.

 

The delicious breakfast you all enjoyed was courtesy of one of our sponsors, Bray Controls. We’ll see you there again bright and early tomorrow when we start round two.

 

Our chairmen, Ron Merrick and Claire Dwyer from Fluor, gave an inspiring speech to welcome our conference delegates this morning. The workshops were well-attended and abuzz with thoughtful questions for the presenters. 

As we gear up for day two, remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute news, pictures and reminders for upcoming events. We're always happy to hear your feedback, so make sure you share your thoughts!

We'll see all of your smiling faces, new and familiar, tomorrow morning. 

Workshop: Valve Asset Management (Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 2:00pm)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderators:

Benny McCallum, Pentair

Sid Garrison, Pentair

Panelists:

Rajan Hingoray, AramcoServices

Sandro Esposito, GE

Daniel Baxter, Cameron

Description: There can be far more than the loss of mere dollars associated with valve failures, as any experienced plant manager knows. Valves affect all of a plant’s operations and so utilizing predictive techniques within an effective asset management program can optimize maintenance frequency and significantly reduce plant operating costs.

This workshop will discuss best practices and tools for asset management of valves used in various industries: power, oil and gas, chemical, food and beverage, etc.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Workshop: Fit for Purpose (FtP) Valves (Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 10:30am)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

John Gill, Bayer Business and Technology Services LLC

Panelists:

Ron Manson, Cameron, Crane

Rich DeBuck, KSB-Amri Inc.

Mark Fucich, FC Tech

Ron Merrick, Fluor Enterprises

Mirek Hubacek, Velan Valve Corporation

Description: Valve performance is dependent on both the mechanical design of the valve and the materials of the construction. Much design attention is often focuses on the primary pressure containing parts of the valve, but frequently the valve’s internally wetted parts are not given the attention they require.

This workshop will provide insight into the material selection for valve trim, including components such as stems, springs and pins. The goal of this session is to provide the end-user with an understanding of the material options and design considerations for service applications.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Workshop: Fit for Purpose (FtP) Valves (Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:30am)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

Henk Hinssen, iHandl Engineering

Panelists:

Andreas Vogt, FIRST GmbH

Richard Harvey, Norgren

Duke Tran, Mogas

Eric Fillion, Metso

Mike Dennis, Bifold

Ryohei Furuta, Kitz

Guang-Quan Li, ASCO US

Don Muske, Emerson

Description: Automated valves and control valves are key contributors to instrumentation unreliability and case of substantial money loss. This workshop is intended to bring the criteria together to discuss, debate and identify better ways to realize a proper “Fit for Purpose Valves” sizing and selection process. The workshop will discuss way to identify the “high performance” valves during the FEED stage and the fact that not only control valves but also solenoid and automated block valves need to be considered.

The workshop will focus on understanding valve flow behavior such as cavitation, flashing and choked flow as an essential criterion to size and select FtP and how having effective engineering tools that tell you, even during the FEED stage, that reliability is at stake, is a great asset.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Valve World Americas Exhibition

Don’t forget: Entrance to the Valve World Americas Exhibition is FREE.

Stop by to visit all each of our exhibitors. They've been working hard to prepare their booths for you!

Wondering whom to expect? Click here to see the exhibition floor plan.

Leave a comment below to tell us what you're most excited to see at the exhibition or conference.

Workshop: Introduction to HIPPS (Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 10:30am)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderators:

Amaro Bustmante, Aramco Services

Pieter Kok, Pentair

Panelists:

Joe Pittman, Chevron

Ian Ramsay Connell, Yokogawa

Patrick Flanders, Aramco

Kevin Jackson, Mogas

Rens Wolters, Mokveld

Ed Wallis, BEL Valves

Description: Worldwide, we see a growing interest in the use of Safety Instrumented Systems. In the upstream and midstream section of the oil & gas industry, more often High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems are installed to protect the installations. 

What are the effects on the total installation and what is the impact HIPPS has on the total safety and the environment? Knowing and understanding the consequences of using a HIPPS should HIPPS become more used as overpressure protection in lieu of or in addition to conventional safety relief valves.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Workshop: Effective Engineering Valve Tools (Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 10:30am)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

Henk Hinssen, iHandl Engineering

Panel:

Colin Roderick, GE Energy

Andreas Vogt, FIRST GmbH

David Gibson, Aveva

Kevin Jackson, Mogas

Description: Control valves are key contributors to the instrumentation unreliability in our process plants and cause of substantial cost. Root cause analysis revealed that high performance valves are higher contributors to unreliability than “standard” valves and the dominant reason for this unreliability stems from a Less Than Adequate (LTA) sizing and selection process.

This workshop is intended to discuss and identify the “high performance” valves during the FEED stage, interface bi-directionally in batch mode to IDDS (instrumentation design & documentation system) tools, calculate the thermodynamic properties necessary to address valve flow phenomena like incipient and severe cavitation, flashing, choked flow, etc, and yield reliability indicators over the full valve working range.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Valves and Actuators 101

A one-day education program designed to jump-start your career or provide a refresher on valve, actuator and control basics.

One day prior to the start of the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, join industry experts for a full day of instruction, lunch and snacks, plus a CD and a certificate!

What topics are covered?

- Introduction to the Industry: A brief overview of the valve industry, end-user applications, standards, basic piping information, pressure ratings and classes, as well as application issues critical to effective valve application and usage.

- Multi-turn Valves: The different types of gate and globe valves, along with stems, bonnets and other components.

- Check Valves: The unique qualities of check valves, how they work and why correct sizing is critical.

- Pressure-relief Valves: How these important valves do their job and why they play a critical role in plant safety, as well as important maintenance issues.

And much more! Find out more and register for the program NOW.

Workshop: Double Block & Bleed (Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 2:00pm)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

Nitin Parekh, Chevrom

Panel:

Richard Hodgson, Bechtel

Ray Bojarczuk, ExxonMobil

Greg Johnson, United Valve

David Bayreuther, Metso

Description: The workshop will review the various definitions and intent in Federal Regulations for Double Block & Bleed and how these definitions compare with the definitions in the relevant piping and valve codes. The workshop will further cover the sealing characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the various valve types used in the industry to achieve those definitions of Double Block & Bleed, and the new terms of Double Isolation & Bleed and Double Positive Isolation.

Don’t miss out. Register now for the conference!

Workshop: Shale Gas/Update on Demystified Unconventional Energy Sources (Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 2:00pm)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

David Leavitt, Pentair

Panel:

Jason Pitcher, Cameron

Andrew Lee, Chesterton

Greg Peterson, MRC

Description: This workshop will review API-20A Steel, Stainless Steel and Nickel Base Alloy Castings for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry and how it compares to MSS SP-Quality Standard for Steel Castings Used in Standard Class Steels Valves – Sampling Method for Evaluating Casting Quality, with regard to casting quality, applicability and how those standards impact the manufacturer and the end user.

Register for the conference now!

Workshop: Casting Fitness for Service (Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:30am)

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013, Houston, Texas

Moderator:

Rich Davis, Flexitallic

Panel:

Greg Johnston, United Valves (API-20A)

Nika Muckelroy, Chevron

Terry Blackard, ExxonMobil

Jim Pease, Newmans Valve

Alberto Rossi, Orion Valves

Description: This workshop will review API-20A Steel, Stainless Steel and Nickel Base Alloy Castings for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry and how it compares to MSS SP-Quality Standard for Steel Castings Used in Standard Class Steels Valves – Sampling Method for Evaluating Casting Quality, with regard to casting quality, applicability and how those standards impact the manufacturer and the end user.

Get your conference ticket now!

End User Golf Tournament

We are pleased to announce that we are holding the first Valve World Americas Expo & Conference End User Golf Tournament and networking event.

The event will be held at the Wildcat Golf Club in Houston on June 27th, following the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013.

Tickets are only available to End Users and EPCs registered for the Valve World Americas Conference, and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Space is limited, so get your tickets now by contacting Josh Gillen at j.gillen@kciworld.com or call 416-361-7030.

Proudly sponsored by Cameron, Midland ACS, Ari-Armaturen and SCV.

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2013

George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

June 25 and 26, 2013

If you have an interest in valves, you’ll want to come to Texas for the second Valve World Americas conference. Whether you are an end user, an engineering contractor or consultant, a distributor, a manufacturer or supplier, there will be something for you here. Especially if you’re an up-and-coming individual ready to solidify your career, this is the place for you.

How to get involved:

-         Visit the exhibition. Register now for free admission and find out who’s exhibiting by checking the floor plan. It is subject to change, so check back regularly.

-         Purchase a ticket for the conference. You’ll have access to two days of workshops led by experts in their fields, access to the expo and the reception, and breakfast and lunch both days.

-         Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We’ll be posting pictures and updates live from the conference.

-         Keep an eye on this page for updates as they happen. We’ll be posting more information on everything to do with this event.

Tell us what you’re most excited about. Is it one of the workshops? Visiting the exhibition floor to see the displays? The Chairman’s welcome on Tuesday morning? Or simply the networking opportunities?

Let us know!