(Jan. 22, 2014) – To respond to the growing global demand for reliable valve technology, Metso has decided to build a new green-field global valve technology center in Chungju, South Korea. The investment will strengthen Metso’s control valve and service capabilities for customers in the oil & gas and power industries, both locally and globally. The new facility will be ready to begin global deliveries in September 2014.

In addition to manufacturing, the new center will feature control valve testing facilities and engineering services. The new center will also house research and development, engineering and service support units for South Korean EPC companies, which play a major role in many projects worldwide.

Metso has an ambitious growth strategy to develop its valve business. The new technology center investment in South Korea is a natural continuation of Metso’s previous investments in global valve manufacturing capabilities, which saw a valve technology center opened in Shanghai in 2010 and a similar center opened in Finland in 2011. These were followed in 2012 by the inauguration of a new valve supply and service center in India, and the completion of expanded valve production premises in the U.S. The new technology center builds on the foundation provided by the globe valve technology and service company that Metso acquired in South Korea in 2012. Additionally, Metso operates valve technology and supply centers in Brazil and Germany.

All these centers are backed up by field service expertise from over 55 Metso Automation service hubs and over 30 valve service centers around the world.

Metso provides control valves for petrochemical, chemical, oil & gas and power customer through its Neles rotary control valve, globe valve and intelligent valve controller offering. Neles standard and severe service globe valves represent an important element in Metso’s portfolio of control valves.

“Neles globe valves offer innovative, fundamentally simple construction and excellent operational and maintenance features to optimize process performance at the lowest cost,” says Markus Hauhia, Metso's Director, Globe Valve product line, Automation. “When paired with our internationally acclaimed Neles ND9000 intelligent valve controllers, these devices provide very smooth response for exceptional process stability and remote diagnostics for highly cost-effective predictive maintenance.”

“Neles globe valves are used in wide variety of applications. Metso also offers a specially designed steam conditioning valve. Each of our offerings is available with a variety of seat, seal, trim, and actuation options to make them ideal for a wide range of process conditions.”

Metso is a process performance provider, with customers in the mining, construction and oil & gas industries.