TPi May 2014

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May 2014 Tube Products International 21
business & market news
New research and development facility
Val-Matic has built a new 7,000ft2
research and development facility in its
second manufacturing plant located in
Addison, Illinois, USA.
The R&D facility includes a materials lab
with equipment for testing elastomers
and metals.
A flow lab equipped with a battery of
water pumps was also constructed, to
perform dynamic check valve tests and
water flow tests to determine flow and
torque characteristics of various valves.
In addition, a 5,000-gallon air tank
allows full-scale air flow testing of large
air valves. The facility is available for
technical hands-on training of industry
professionals.
Val-Matic has also made a number
of personnel changes and promotions,
which became effective on 1 January.
Patricia A Nuter, previously president
and chief executive officer, will assume
the role of chairman of the board of
directors, where she will continue to
play an active role in daily operations.
Ted Makowan was appointed president
and chief executive officer. Mr Makowan
has been with Val-Matic from its
inception in 1966 as co-founder. During
his career with the company he has
served in various roles that include vice
president of sales and marketing, and
most recently executive vice president
and chief operating officer.
John V Ballun, who previously served as
vice president of engineering, has been
promoted to executive vice president
and chief operating officer. Mr Ballun
has been with Val-Matic for 18 years
and has worked in the waterworks and
power industries for over 30 years. He
has also held leadership roles for the
Manufacturers Standardization Society,
serving as president.
Val-Matic manufactures air valves,
check valves and quarter turn shut-
off valves for water/wastewater, power,
industrial, fire protection and HVAC
applications.
Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing
Corp – USA
A flow lab is
part of Val-
Matic’s new
R&D facility
New premises and automatic
storage system
Paul Meijering Metalen bv has moved to
a new business location in Zaltbommel,
Netherlands. With 11,000m2 of ware-
house capacity and an office of
1,000m2 the company is able to offer
its customers more quality and service.
The company is the first in the
Netherlands to store its tubes using the
Honeycomb automatic storage system
from Swiss company Fehr. Around
1,800m2 of tubes are stored in the
11-metre-high cartridge system. The
system automatically checks whether
the correct amount of tubes are picked
or stored. The robot operating within the
system saves warehouse employees a
large amount of work and ensures that
errors are reduced to zero.
Paul Meijering Metalen bv –
Netherlands
Paul Meijering Metalen is using Fehr’s
Honeycomb automatic storage system