According to the VDMA valves manufacturers association, the German manufacturers of industrial valves saw a nominal increase in sales of 14% in 2007. This result is even slightly better than the previous year’s positive development (plus 13%). Home sales rose by 12% and foreign sales increased by 16% compared to the previous year. As in the previous year, the control valves manufacturers achieved the best result with an increase in sales of 18%. However, the manufacturers of safety/monitoring and isolating valves also recorded an encouraging increase in sales of respectively 17 and 11%. Again, this positive trend in terms of sales was countered by high costs caused by a double-digit increase of material prices (for instance unalloyed merchant / flat steel: + 22%). For 2008, the valves manufacturers association expects an increase in sales of ten percent on the domestic market and of 12% on the exports markets. As a result, total sales would rise by approximately 11%. The industry expects particular impulses from the power plant business, the petrochemical industry, the iron and steel industry, the chemical industry as well as from the shipbuilding industry. Public water supply and wastewater management remain a topic of major concern, although the general conditions for higher investment have improved.
