Flow control partner spotlight: Niagara Controls
Sep 27, 2024
Channel partners provide a valuable network to support our flow control customers all over the world. This time we get to dive into the daily business of Niagara Controls. Niagara Controls (division of the Collins Companies) is a certified Valmet partner for the Flow Control business line in New York state, US.
Could you describe your company in few sentences?
The Collins Companies specializes in distributing industrial pipes, valves, fittings (PVF), and engineered specialties, serving a variety of industries, including power generation, gas utilities, chemical processing, and pulp and paper. In 2019, Collins broadened its services by acquiring International Valve and Instrument, allowing us to offer valve repair, service and testing as well. Additionally, we expanded into the maintenance and installation of compressed air systems, further enhancing our capabilities to serve our customers.
Can you tell us briefly about your history of cooperation with Valmet?
Our partnership with Valmet started back in 1989 with the usage of Jamesbury™ products. Our only location, at the time, was about an hour drive from Valmet location in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; home to the Jamesbury products. Getting to know the Jamesbury products started a great relationship between us and Valmet for many automated flow control products.
Can you give us a good example of one of your latest customer success cases?
Our relationship with this large alumin manufacturing plant in New York started back in early 2018 supplying a variety of different products for daily maintenance, including Valmet’s flow control products. In 2021 they decided to expand their manufacturing location and at the time the plant had several different brands of control valves installed. However, when the engineering firm hired for specifications decided that uniformity was advantageous for the end-customer, we saw an opportunity. To date, Niagara Controls has been busy providing over 250 Jamesbury valves for the site. The series of valves include for example Jamesbury™ Wafer-Sphere™ butterfly valves, Jamesbury™ standard port flanged ball valves and Jamesbury ball valves. Also, Neles™ series B actuators, Stonel™ limit switches were delivered to the site.
What was the original challenge they had? Why did they end up choosing Valmet’s flow control solutions?
At the time, another flow control product was being considered for the project, but Valmet’s flow control solutions were chosen because of their known quality and technical documentation such as drawings. Ultimately the all-round competitive solution was a winning factor in this big project.
What are the results? How did the solutions help them?
The delivery of the Jamesbury valves to the customer site increased water flow to the plant which increases the plant’s production levels. This helps the end-customer with securing their process efficiency and reliability in the future.
How would you describe the collaboration between you and Valmet?
Valmet flow control and Collins have been extremely close partners for many decades. We have been growing together as Collins expanded into New York and Maine. With the constant collaboration and support from the Jamesbury and Neles product lines, we have built a solid territory for both companies. In this project, close communication allowed rapid responses to quotations to adopt to end-customer’s changing needs. It comes naturally to say that we have also built a solid friendship over the years which has just been icing on the cake.
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