Valve Could Mix It On World Markets

Valve Could Mix It On World Markets

From the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology For immediate release

VALVE COULD MIX IT ON WORLD MARKETS

Auckland company Technology Development Group is looking to crack a US$850 million world market with its new, computerised industrial water-mixing valve. "Our research shows that US$850 million is the value of the potential industrial valve market," says general manager Harold Forrest. Mr Forrest says the control system is self-contained in the valve, rather than being elsewhere in the system. This provides a more precise temperature mix that cuts costs and allows better industrial network management. "If you want a temperature of 46 degrees, it gives you 46 degrees exactly, and for as long as you want it. This is the future for industrial uses of water-mixing valves," Mr Forrest says. The new valve - which combines a computer, electronics, sensors and small motors - is a spinoff from an electronic domestic shower valve that the company had designed and made, and for which it has sold the rights to a United States public company. Technology New Zealand - part of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology - supported the research to develop the valve. Mr Forrest says Technology Development has already sold one of the new valves, which is being put into a new dairy plant. As well as industrial uses, it can be employed in such places as hospitals and apartment blocks. "These are high-value items, worth thousands of dollars each and we see huge opportunities in the world market," he says. Technology Development Group is a small development company - "average age of staff 32" - that employs electronics and mechanical engineers, and a fitter and turner. The project has enabled the company to increase its technological capability. "We can now do advanced design and development work using the Internet to get casts made overseas, which we couldn't do before," Mr Forrest says. -ends-

Contact: * Harold Forrest, Technology Development Group, 30-34 Swanson St, Auckland. Ph: (09) 307-0700. Fax: (09) 307-0800. Email: hforrest@t-dg.com. Website: www.t-dg.com * Ian Gray Technology New Zealand at the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (Auckland Office), (09) 912-6730, or 021 660-409. Website: www.technz.co.nz

Prepared for the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology by ID Communications. Contact Ian Carson, (04) 477-2525, ian@idcomm.co.nz

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