Ball Valve Quality Points of Difference

Our specifications on our stock holdings surpass market requirements.

LF2 Trunnion ball valves are available fitted with Elast-o-lion 985 A.E.D. o-rings, which provide a wider temperature range (down to -45ºC) but are also methanol resistant and have superior resistance to ethanol and sour oil and gas for A105N Starline, JC, Sferova and APV. Our standard is Viton AED FR58/90 or Norsok M710-certified (and Shell MESC-approved) Hutchinson Equivalent.

Ball valves are stocked with CPTFE, graphite, PTFE, PEEK and metal-to-metal seats. Also in JC, Starline, and Australian Pipeline Valve, we hold a full range of spares in stock, including spare seats in graphite, bronze-filled PTFE, carbon + graphite PTFE, Tefzel, PEEK, etc. We also stock spare seals, packings, and body gaskets, enabling us to reconfigure valves to suit any requirement. (We are fully approved by our manufacturers to do factory acceptance testing).

We stock a full range of APV (Australian Pipeline Valve), JC and Starline 316SS levers, locking devices, stem extensions and brackets.

JC, Starline, Sferova, and APV hold certifications and approvals, including SIL3, AGA approval, API607 6th edition (ISO 10497) firesafe certification, API licenses, and conformance to standards such as API6A, API6D, API608, ANSI B16, AS4629, and AS4617.

Alloy Steel floating and trunnion ball valves are often specified with PTFE (PFA) coated silicon o-rings (or solid PTFE Chevron/ LIP o-rings) in lieu of conventional Viton o-rings. This provides a lower and higher temperature range as well as the much wider chemical and temperature resistance spectrum provided by using PTFE in lieu and the removal of viton. In floating ball, by increasing the stem packing area, the Viton o-ring is no longer required in smaller sizes, hence in CF8M/316 firesafe and non firesafe floating ball, we also stock elastomer-free valves.

Firesafe certified with 3rd party Lloyds/DNV witness on floating and trunnion APV/ Sferova/ Starline/ JC ball valves and APV with coverage of all sizes and classes as required by API607 5th and 6th edition and API6FA.

We stock accessories such as deadman levers, multi-turn and quarter-turn, and APV declutchable gearboxes; Italian-made actuator adaptors and brackets; 316SS/17-4PH ball valve levers, etc.

Starline, JC, Sferova, and APV trunnion-mounted ball valves are available ex-stock with F51 (31803), F6A, 17-4PH, or XM-19 (Nitronic 50) stems, trunnions, seat retainers, and balls in larger sizes and higher classes.  Other manufacturers use 316 or, worse, CF8M, even in much larger sizes.  F51, 17-4PH, 4130+ENP, F60+ENP and F6A/410 is stronger than 316 and is required to handle extra torque, especially if particulates become entrapped in the seat area or if the ball is left in one position for a long period of time, the high quality Italian made Rotork® Gear boxes (standard on JC, Starline and Sferova) and Diamond Gear® (standard on APV) will still open the valve without risking damage to the stem and without the need to grease the seats (which can then attract more debris to the seat, risking seat damage).  With the trend towards Devlon and hard PEEK® seat inserts due to their hard-wearing (and higher temperature) capabilities, the torque of trunnion ball valves becomes a significant factor in the higher pressure classes, especially when fitting an actuator.

The other advantage of F51, 17-4PH, F6A/410, and XM-19 stem and trunnions is that they are approximately 50% harder than 316 and therefore more scratch-resistant.  The same applies to F6 (410 series) and F51 stainless ball.  Since a ball is highly polished, there is no corrosion disadvantage with F6/410 compared to 316 in the service types encountered by an LF2 or A105 valve.  F6 is also lower in cost and is increasingly being specified in lieu of 316. Also, 316 is subject to H2S embrittlement, whereas 17-4, 410, F6A, etc., are not. Partnering F51, 17-4PH, in XM-19 or F6 with PEEK provides a strong, hard-wearing valve.
Stocking high-strength stem and lower-torque seat materials is an advantage when fitting an actuator, and GSL Engineering are authorised to automate and perform factory acceptance testing for all the brands we stock.  Also, for many of the brands we stock, the lower trunnion is available in ENP or full stainless steel.  Other manufacturers rarely do this, as smaller sizes up to 250NB (10”) (depending on the class) have an external lower flange which is integral with the lower trunnion, so supplying the entire assembly in full stainless steel would be cost-prohibitive.  Also, 316SS sealant-injection fittings and zinc-plated bolts are standard for all stocked valves. Where you would throw away another valve, Starline, JC, Sferova and APV valves are built for life.

All seat insert materials used (PEEK, Delrin, Devlon-V, POM, RPTFE) are Shell MESC 77 approved and Norsok M-710 certified for sour service.

We also stock trunnion ball valves with A105 or LF2 or F52 + ENP .003″ (76 micron) ball/trunnion. APV, Sferova, JC & Starline use high-phosphorus EN plating that has a Brinell hardness of 500 minimum as standard (further hardening can be performed up to 900BHN). 316 Stainless steel is very soft and has no minimum ASTM hardness level. An .003″ EN plated ball resists scratches much easier than 316SS. Also, it is smoother and provides a better seal in higher classes.  The Corrosion performance of EN plating is proportional to the plating thickness.  3 mil plating provides an excellent barrier protecting the base material (A105N, A350, LF2 or F52) in acidic PH conditions as low as 4. ENP 25 micron (.001″) should be limited to sweet service and neutral PH process.

Our JC, Sferova, APV and Starline stock profile also includes full offshore specification floating and trunnion ball valves with all 316SS external fitments, including lever, top works, gearbox handwheel and stem, sealant fittings, bleeds and drains.  In addition, bolting is Xylan or zinc plated as standard in all brands stocked, and o-rings are in AED FR58/90 (or Norsok M-710 certified Hutchinsons equivalent) or Viton GLT-AED or Elast-O-Lion 985.

Anti-corrosive film on internals and gasket face.

Full 316SS top works components.

API608/API6D/ASME B16 floating ball valves with high tensile bolting, even in stainless body, not Taiwanese light wall valves with light duty bolts.

Our F51 stock has corrosion test & ferrite test, Duplex or B8M plus Xylan-coated bolts, stainless steel levers, etc.

ENP trim on ball valves 0.003″ (0.76mm), not 0.001″ like many other brands. In addition, it is hardened to a minimum of 500VHN/530 BHN.  The A105/LF2 gland and trunnion is also specified as ENP or F51/F6A, unlike many other brands. Looking for 20NB to 100NB (3/4″ to 4″), 150 to 2500 class, small bore, trunnion mounted? We have Shell-approved Starline and Australian Pipeline Valve in stock! No one else in the world stocks very small and low-pressure class trunnions. Looking for compact/short pattern, full-port, 150 NB to 400 NB (6″ to 16″), 150 to 600 class trunnion ball valves? APV can do it! Others can’t!

Lockable gearboxes with stainless steel input shaft.

Superior stem & stuffing box smoothness.

316SS levers & lock device.

Chesterton 1622 fugitive emission packing.

World’s largest stpock range of valves, actuators & strainers. For stock list click here. Supplying major CE/PED certified European brands and Australian Pipeline Valve worldwide.