Alfa Valvole, an Italian ball valve maker located in Casorezzo near Milan, has been specialising in tailor-made executions of valves for the production of chocolate. It has developed jacketed wafer pattern ball valves in two different designs, A1JG and A1JG/I. The company collaborated closely with two leading chocolate producers to overcome the particular difficulties in the handling of chocolate. In order to keep the temperature of the valves constant, the jacket was so designed that it covers the entire length of the valve. After the development of a few prototypes, the new products were made and are now successfully installed and operating satisfactorily.