In what turned out to resemble a mini-PVF Roundtable networking meeting, Newmans Valve recently hosted a grand-opening crawfish boil celebration at its headquarters and warehouse facility in Stafford, Texas. The event attracted many familiar faces from the local Houston PVF market.

Newmans’ history spans more than 80 years dating back to 1936 in wholesale plumbing and field-salvage operations. In 1946, the company was incorporated under the Newmans name and the focus shifted to the PVF industry.

Over the years, Newmans has grown through joint ventures and acquisitions. In 2016, Newmans’ previous owners bought the Newmans name and secured the company’s designation as the original mater distributor for Newco and OIC products to inventory, sell and distribute Newco valves.

“Customers loved the original Newmans Valve for its serve and industry knowledge,  but felt this attribute was lost when larger companies acquired Newmans,” Newmans General Manager Sara Alford told Supply House Times. “We want to let them know Newmans is back with that same excellent customer service and many of the same industry experts who served them over the past decade.”

Newmans serves industries such as petrochemical, oil and gas production, power, LNG, waterworks, pipeline, pulp and paper, and marine industries. “We serve just about every industry that uses valves,” Alford said.

Alford noted Newmans stocks one of the largest selections of Newco non-commodity items in the United States, including hard-to-find valves and pressure seals. Newmans is a master distributor of gate, globe, check and ball valves ranging in size from 1/4-in. to 72 in., ANSI Class 150 through 4,500 lb. Valves are manufactured to ASME, API and MSS specifications from carbon (cast and forged), stainless (cast and forged) and other alloys. Newmans also offers value-added services, including modifications or actuation and installation of bypasses, bore changes and gear operators for its valves.

“If we don’t have it in stock, we can get it – even hard-to-find valves,” Alford said. “Our huge inventory enables us to offer competitive pricing and we pride ourselves on rapid response. We have decades of experience in manufacturing, warehousing and purchasing, and we’re experts in non-commodity items.”

Alford said Newmans is in a growth mode in 2017. “Our top priorities are to give our customers great service at competitive prices and to let everybody know ‘We’re Back,’” she said. “In addition to continuing to grow our U.S. business from our Texas Gulf Coast headquarters we look forward to adding stocking locations on the East and West coasts by the end of 2017. Our long-term goals are to expand into the international market and be considered the most reliable valve source in the industry.”

Alford, like many others in the industrial PVF space, sees improving market conditions. “Customers are optimistic and their confidence is reflected in our upswing in orders,” she explained. “We look for business from scheduled shutdowns and turnaround through our distribution customers to increase this year. We’ve already seen an influx in hot-shot and rush orders for the downstream market. We expect a strong 2017 and an even better 2018.”