On the choice between imported and domestic valves
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Phenomenon: Nowadays, many well-known valve manufacturers abroad rely on an agency system, and many of these agencies have relatively weak technical capabilities, which leads to difficulties in after-sales service. At present, more and more valve manufacturers in China are striving to improve the quality of their valves; at the same time, prices have also increased (which I believe is inevitable). If, in a particular project, domestic valves compete with imported valves, and the market shows that domestic valves perform better, have a longer lifespan, a slightly lower price (not by much), and offer better after-sales service, would you choose domestic valves or imported ones? Ignoring business considerations, if you choose domestic products, would you still try hard to haggle over the price? If an importer of valve agents offers you a high rebate, while domestic ones do not or offer only a small one, how would you choose?
Support domestic products; learn from South Korea.
The price is slightly lower (not by much); with that being the only factor, there’s likely to be no feedback from the market
It can be said that the quality of domestically produced valves varies greatly at present; especially for large-diameter valves operating under high temperature and pressure conditions, it is very difficult for domestic manufacturers to meet the higher requirements regarding leakage levels and SIL ratings. If there are really that many \"ifs\" as the original poster said, then as a user of such equipment, I would choose domestic products! I’m a equipment supplier, so I choose to import! Reality!
Here, we use domestic products in the vast majority of cases; only those areas where domestic technology is not yet sufficient do we turn to foreign solutions
Supporting domestic products is likely not just the responsibility of property owners and design firms; if domestic valve manufacturers do not make an effort to improve their capabilities, they are unlikely to see much progress. At the same time, **policy support** is also needed.
The issue of imported valves versus domestically produced valves is a topic that is often discussed in project construction. My principle is that valves for critical components must be imported; valves for the key parts of upstream units (the processes that have a significant impact on the unit’s performance) should also be imported, and valves that operate under high pressure differences with low flow rates need to be imported as well； The rest of the domestic products are fine. Following these principles, the technical department prepares a procurement plan in advance before making purchases, outlines the relevant details, and once it is approved by the decision-making level, it can be implemented – thus avoiding issues related to decision-making choices and bribes. Chemical production is a continuous process; only by operating over long periods of time and under high loads can costs be reduced. The substantial investment in valves brings enormous long-term benefits to enterprises.
Valve fittings don’t cost that much, but if poor-quality valves are used, the repair costs when the system stops working will be much higher than those of using imported valves. Those who help out with the work are advised to choose imported products, as this can reduce their workload or the likelihood of accidents in the future. Since it’s not their own money at stake, why not recommend better options? Of course, when it comes to managing money, one should try to use inexpensive domestic products. For low temperature and low pressure applications, where ordinary valves without any special features are used, domestic brands would suffice; however, it is also recommended to opt for more expensive ones. Valves in critical areas must not only be imported, but also originally imported. Many valves cannot be manufactured domestically.
I strongly agree with what you say, as I work in a valve factory. Almost 90% of valve manufacturers in China are private enterprises; the former state-owned valve factories, such as Zigong High-Pressure Valve Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Lianggong Valve Factory, have all been transformed into private enterprises. Do you think business owners in private enterprises would spend a lot of money on researching new products and things like that? They only put the big money in their own wallets. However, in recent years some large domestic manufacturers have indeed adopted foreign technologies, which shows that these large valve producers in China are aware of certain issues. They are under pressure from valve manufacturers in Zhejiang, who offer lower prices; therefore, they need to have better products and better technologies in order to be competitive, which in turn helps drive changes across the valve industry in China. For example, over 20 years ago, ball valves were not available in the Chinese market; this product was introduced later through foreign technology. 6# sleepymanpk
If you are truly sure that domestic products have good quality, then choose the domestic ones. There are many manufacturers of valves in the country nowadays, and the quality varies greatly. Of course, if one really understands the issues involved, it’s not a big problem.
Where exactly is it located? If the requirements aren’t too stringent, it’s recommended to use domestic products – they are not only cheaper but also ensure the proper operation of the equipment. After all, every set of equipment requires maintenance, and components can be replaced at that time. When purchasing valves, it’s important to pay attention to the following points: 1) Sign a purchase contract directly with the manufacturer to avoid risks associated with intermediaries and prevent counterfeit products; 2) Don’t try to cut prices too much – if the supplier loses profit, will they not try to find ways to make up for it by manipulating the quality of the valves? It’s we who will end up suffering as a result. Additionally, when asking for quotes, it’s necessary to specify all relevant parameters. In short, what’s best may not necessarily be the most suitable option! The above are just personal suggestions for reference only!