Manufacturer which engineered the world’s largest water gate valve joins delegation

A West Yorkshire manufacturer which engineered the world’s largest water gate valve is today part of a delegation looking to increase export prospects and promote investment opportunities for such firms to re-locate to the region.

Leeds City Region’s manufacturers of valves and pumps will be showcased to international buyers and manufacturing CEOs at Valve World Expo 2018 today. The purpose of the region’s presence is to meet new customers, increase exports and attract new investors. The event is the largest international trade exhibition for this sector and is held in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Companies showcasing their products and capabilities with Leeds City Region include JB Valves, Blackhall Engineering, Brooksbank Valves and Valve Connect. In total there are eight companies exhibiting from the region; Advanced Actuators, Alco Valves, Brooksbank Valves, Gee Graphite, Koso Kent Introl, Severn Unival, Weir Flow Control and YPS Valves. The trade fair attracts 12,500 delegates and 700 exhibitors from over 40 countries.

James Blackhall, owner of Blackhall Engineering, based in Brighouse, said“It’s great to work with the LEP to showcase the world class capabilities we have in this part of the world. Here at Blackhall, we engineered the world’s largest water gate valve for Texas. They stand 100 feet tall and weigh 117 tonnes each. We also manufactured valves that control 60 per cent of the water going into New York. From Leeds City Region we are enabling global infrastructure projects for mega cities.”

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said:“Our aim is two-fold; to increase export prospects for our leading manufacturers of valves, pumps and supply chain whilst promoting investment opportunities to international companies with UK relocation plans. We have a world class cluster of manufacturers and the scale of their impact significant. Products made here are used around the world. Slurry pumps made by Weir Minerals in Todmorden are used in the world’s largest mines in Chile.”

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