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Fluid Power and Process Equipment for the Petrochemical Industry
A sticking process valve, contaminated instrument air or a leaking transfer hose can interrupt production and create a safety risk. Keeping petrochemical plant running requires equipment selected for the process fluid, operating conditions and site environment.
At Control Gear Group, specialists in compressed air and industrial equipment, we supply and service the systems behind those operations. Our work brings together compressed air, nitrogen generation, process automation, filtration, hydraulics and fluid transfer, with maintenance and testing to support their continued use.
Petrochemical Support From Treforest, South Wales
We are a family-run fluid power specialist, founded in 1973 by John Morris and Ron Bevan. From our base in Treforest, we serve South Wales and the South West of England, with UK-wide supply and support.
That gives your procurement and maintenance teams access to more than 50 years of industrial equipment experience across connected service areas.
We are an authorised distributor for Atlas Copco, IMI Norgren and HYDAC, and an official partner for Festo. Our independence matters when your plant contains equipment from several manufacturers. We can work from your application requirements and existing equipment specifications, rather than treating every replacement as an opportunity to change brands.
50+
years of industrial equipment experience
Compressed Air and Treatment for Process Duties
We sell and service air compressors, alongside the drying and filtration equipment needed to prepare their output. For petrochemical sites, selection starts with the pressure, flow and air quality required at each point of use.
Instrument Air and Pneumatic Equipment
Instrument air needs to meet the requirements of the valves and actuators it supplies. Moisture, particles and unsuitable oil levels can affect downstream equipment, so compressor selection and air preparation need to be considered together.
We supply pneumatic components from IMI Norgren and Festo, allowing us to address the air supply and the equipment using it. Our page on air compressors for the chemical industry covers the compressed-air part of this sector in more detail.
Oil-Free Air and Purity Requirements
Where your process specification requires oil-free air, we supply Atlas Copco equipment, including compressors with Class 0 certification for oil. The required air quality must still be specified for particles, water and oil, the contaminant categories covered by ISO 8573-1:2010 (iso.org).
An oil-free compressor does not remove the need to select appropriate drying, filtration and distribution equipment. We consider the required quality at the point of use when discussing the system.
Nitrogen Generation for Blanketing, Purging and Inerting
We supply Atlas Copco on-site nitrogen generators for applications including blanketing, purging and inerting. Selection depends on the nitrogen purity, delivery pressure and flow your process requires.
The compressed-air supply is part of that assessment. Generator demand, upstream filtration and drying need to be considered alongside the plant’s other air users.
On-site generation is a purchasing decision that remains application-specific. Intermittent demand, existing cylinder arrangements or a particular purity requirement can change the case for investment. We can discuss the equipment against your actual duty, rather than assuming generation is the right route for every site.
Process Valves, Actuators and Pneumatics
Through our Festo process automation offering, we supply equipment for process valve actuation, alongside pneumatic valves, cylinders and air preparation components.
For an actuated valve, the specification needs to connect the process duty with the actuator requirements. Fluid compatibility, operating pressure, temperature, available air pressure and required fail position all influence selection.
Your maintenance team also needs to know whether the proposed component fits the existing assembly. We work from equipment details and application requirements when discussing replacements.
Where actuator performance is affected by supply pressure, our guide to air compressor pressure explains the pressure terminology behind the readings your team uses.
Industrial Filtration and Hydraulic Services
Filtration requirements vary with the medium being handled. A compressed-air filter, hydraulic filter and process filter perform different duties, even when they sit within the same production area.
We supply HYDAC industrial and process filtration equipment, as well as compressed-air filtration. Selection should identify the fluid, required cleanliness, operating conditions and allowable pressure drop. Chemical compatibility belongs in that specification from the outset.
Our hydraulic offering includes equipment supply and hydraulic services, supported by hose and fittings. We can discuss pumps, cylinders, seals and filtration as parts of the operating system.
If a hydraulic function becomes slow or inconsistent, replacing the visible component may leave the cause unresolved. Our engineers can assess the hydraulic equipment and its operating conditions before recommending the work required.
Chemical Hose, Metallic Hose and Fluid Transfer
We supply chemical hose, hydraulic hose, metallic hose and fittings for industrial fluid transfer. The conveyed medium and its concentration need to be considered alongside working pressure, temperature and the movement expected in service.
For a replacement assembly, dimensions and end connections are only part of the specification. Hose construction, fitting compatibility and routing also affect suitability.
Our metallic hose offering includes assemblies for applications such as petrochemical duty, steam, compressed air and vacuum. The appropriate construction remains dependent on the particular service.
We also supply Graco fluid handling equipment, connecting transfer equipment with the hose and fittings carrying the fluid.
Hazardous Areas, Pressure Systems and Air Quality
Equipment selection on a petrochemical site must account for the hazards where it will operate. A suitable pressure rating alone does not establish suitability for a hazardous area.
Hazardous-Area Requirements
Hazardous-Area Requirements
Provide the area classification and equipment requirements when requesting a specification. ATEX concerns equipment and protective systems for potentially explosive atmospheres. For further reading, see HSE’s guidance on ATEX and explosive atmospheres (hse.gov.uk).
We discuss products against those requirements. Suitability needs to be confirmed for the particular equipment and application.
Written Schemes of Examination
Written Schemes of Examination
We provide Written Scheme of Examination services for pressure systems. Where the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations apply, the scheme identifies the equipment requiring examination and the examination arrangements.
Regulation 8 requires a Written Scheme of Examination for periodic examination by a competent person. For further reading, see HSE’s pressure systems guidance (hse.gov.uk). Statutory examination and routine maintenance serve different purposes. Both protect people working around pressure equipment.
Breathing Air Quality Testing
Breathing Air Quality Testing
We provide breathing air quality testing where compressed air supplies respiratory equipment. Process-air quality should not be treated as evidence that air is suitable for breathing. Give us the supply arrangement and breathing-air use points so the testing requirement can be discussed accurately.
Servicing and Monitoring Around Production
We service air compressors and provide leak detection, flow monitoring and air quality testing. These services help establish what is happening in the operating system before equipment changes are considered.
For a planned shutdown, the useful starting point is your equipment list, known faults and available maintenance window. Our engineers can discuss the servicing scope alongside related pneumatic, hydraulic and hose requirements.
Our wider equipment supply includes industrial tools and automation, chillers and coolers, and industrial gases. These can be included where they form part of the plant requirement.
For maintenance explanations between service visits, our blog covers compressor faults, air treatment and industrial filtration.
Discuss a Defined Equipment or Service Requirement
For a useful technical discussion with Control Gear in Treforest, provide the site location and the duty you need to support. Include the following where available:
- Equipment makes, models and component references.
- Process fluids, concentrations, operating pressures and temperatures.
- Required air or nitrogen quality and flow.
- Hazardous-area classifications and site specifications.
- Existing faults, examination requirements and shutdown dates.
Send those details with your enquiry so we can discuss the appropriate supply, servicing or testing scope for your petrochemical plant.
Get in touch
Contact Control Gear today
Tell us about your site and we’ll come back with the right service, audit or system recommendation.
- Visit us Heol Groeswen, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF37 5YF
- Call us 01443 843126
- Email us enquiries@control-gear.com
Mon–Fri · 09:00–17:00
24/7 emergency call-out available