Delivering the world’s most advanced

DELIVERING THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED VALVE TECHNOLOGY

VTI Ventil Technik is a global technology leader in the design and manufacture of industrial valves. Philip Yorke talked to Holger Rohrer, the company’s new managing director, about the company’s latest innovative product developments, its recent restructuring and its move into new markets.

VTI (Ventil Technik International) was founded in Menden, Germany in 1853 and began by producing semi-finished goods in copper and copper alloys. After a long period of steady growth the company developed its first valves for use with technical gas cylinders and fire extinguishers in 1946. During the past two decades the company has managed to gain new valve businesses which enabled it to become a major global player. However, it was not until 2006 that it moved into what was to become one of its biggest business sectors: the automotive market. Today VTI exports its products worldwide with its key markets being Europe, the Far East and the USA.

Setting new standards

VTI has always put technology and innovation at the centre of its business activities and matches its core valve competences with the highest standards of product engineering. The company’s clear focus on R&D has kept VTI at the forefront of the industry by combining creative engineering with lean production methods and dedicated customer services. This strong technical focus and commitment to innovative technology has always been precisely targeted to the individual needs of its customers.

Naturally, fulfilling its legal production obligations is a standard practice for VTI. However, exceeding these minimum requirements for operational safety and quality is common practice and forms part of the company’s value-added offering to its customers. VTI therefore sets its own high standards by carrying out extensive, additional test procedures to ensure that its

customers can expect the highest levels of safety, reliability and precise performance. The company’s ongoing investment in R&D and the regular launch of new products and advanced technology production processes continues to set new standards within the valve industry.

Mr Rohrer said, “Our main markets are the breathing air, automotive, medical and fire sectors, and we have improved our product offerings in all these key areas. We are the clear technology leaders in our field and market leaders in many countries including Germany, the UK and South Korea. We develop our valve technology at our centre of excellence in Germany where we are developing lighter, smaller and more eco-friendly products and production methods. We are also using better materials that are both more efficient and more cost effective. Our major restructuring in 2012 has meant a change from centralised organisation to more flexible matrix management system that is clearly focused on our individual market needs. This in turn improves communications across the spectrum of our various business activities.

Mr Rohrer added, “We are looking to expand our global reach in the next few years and we see major opportunities not only in the US market but also in South America, in countries such as Brazil, Peru and Bolivia where we will be providing new products for CNG buses and trucks. We will also shortly be opening a new sales office in the USA and this will be followed by others in South America in due course. We are continuing to grow with our customers and will be continuing to develop new innovative products in close partnership with them.”

Five dedicated business units

VTI operates five distinct business units: AIRcontrol, Automotive, FIREcontrol, MEDcontrol and TECHcontrol. The major business application areas are health and safety, automotive, medical, shipbuilding, fire extinguishing and technical gases. Each of VTI’s autonomous divisions is responsible for its own product development and investment in new plant and technology. In 2012 the company invested several million euros across the board and this will increase in 2013. This level of investment is projected to continue until 2015 when further evaluation will be made. Much of this investment will be focused on new product development and business development in VTI’s planned new markets.

In the automotive sector the company specialises in valves, pressure regulators and safety devices. These are designed for use in CNG powered passenger cars, trucks, busses and stationary CNG tanks, as well as for CNG and hydrogen applications. All VTI products are approved according to ECE R1i, ISO 15500, ANSI NGV2, TPED, DIN ISO 10297, as well as KGSC and CCoE certifications.

VTI also provides reliable technology solutions to meet the increasing demand for medical gases in hospitals, medical practices, emergency and rescue operations and Homecare institutions. All these products are approved to meet and exceed all existing directives and certification standards relating to the medical industries.

FIREcontrol is another major market sector that VTI has been pioneering since the company developed its first valve technology back in 1946. The key purpose of these products is to protect life and limb, as well as buildings, vehicles and other assets against damage by fire. VTI’s high quality products are used in fire extinguishing and fire suppression systems throughout the world.

Breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment is another specialised market sector where VTI has developed leading technology products. These are designed for use in such areas as mining and other businesses that deal with high pressure equipment for breathing protection.

The company’s fifth business unit, the TECHcontrol division is responsible for products fitted to compressed gas cylinders, containers and drums and all these products have been developed in close cooperation with clients. What’s more, all VTI’s high-tech products are designed for long lifetime operation and operating times as well as for offering high security standards and ease of operation. n

For further details of VTI’s high-tech products and services visit: www.vti.de