Fluid System Product FAQs

Each valve type is built to do one job well: ball and gate valves isolate a line by going fully open or fully closed, globe valves throttle flow and hold a controlled pressure drop, needle valves handle fine, incremental metering in sampling and instrumentation systems, and check and relief valves manage backflow and overpressure. We carry all of these, plus plug and DBB (double block and bleed) valves, through our Hy-Lok valve line.

It comes down to what the line needs to do. If it just needs to be fully open or fully closed, a ball or gate valve is the right call. If it needs regular throttling or a controlled pressure drop, a globe valve fits better. If it needs precise, incremental adjustment rather than on/off switching, a needle valve is built for that.

Fittings join, branch, or transition between sections of pipe or tube so a fluid system holds its seal at the pressure the line runs. We have several types of pipe fittings in stainless steel, carbon steel, and other alloys.

Match the fitting to three things: the pressure class of the line, the pipe or tube size, and the material the media requires. We stock fittings from 150 to 2500 ANSI and from 1/4" to 24", so most industrial and instrumentation lines are covered without a custom order.

A pressure gauge monitors system integrity, helping catch leaks or pressure changes before they affect operations. We stock industrial, process, commercial, differential, duplex, test, and high-pressure gauges. 

It depends on what you're measuring and how. A differential gauge reads the pressure difference between two points, useful for tracking filter or vessel loading. A duplex gauge gives two independent readings in one housing for redundancy. A test gauge is built for certified accuracy on calibration checks, while process and industrial gauges handle everyday continuous monitoring.

These products measure and monitor temperature in a process line, vessel, or piece of equipment, feeding that reading to a display, transmitter, or control system so operators can respond before a process runs too hot or too cold. Our industrial temperature sensors include thermocouples, RTDs, bimetallic thermometers, and thermowells, among other sensor types.

Thermocouples cover a wide temperature range and respond quickly, which suits high-heat or fast-changing processes. RTDs read more precisely over a narrower range, which suits applications where accuracy matters more than range. A thermowell isn't a sensor itself; it's a protective housing that lets you pull or replace a sensor without draining or shutting down the line.

An industrial steam trap removes condensate from a steam system while holding back live steam, which keeps energy loss down and protects downstream equipment from water hammer and corrosion. We carry Ogontz CTV, TD thermodynamic disc, and OPT pinch traps.

Match the trap to the load and the install. A CTV trap suits lighter loads and recovers heat from the condensate through a liquid seal. A TD thermodynamic disc trap handles higher capacity, over 2,900 lbs per hour, and installs vertically or horizontally. An OPT pinch trap is the right call where dirt is a concern, since it self-drains and vents air automatically.

Welded tubing is formed by rolling and welding a seam along its length. Seamless tubing is extruded with no seam. The two trade off differently on strength and cost, and we stock both in stainless, carbon, and alloy steel. 

It comes down to the service the tubing is used for. Stainless steel handles corrosion resistance and high-purity applications, carbon steel covers general industrial and standard-pressure service, and alloy steel is built for high-pressure, high-temperature environments and is only available in seamless construction.

A flexible hose connects two points in a fluid system that need to move, flex, or absorb vibration, something rigid pipe can't do. We supply flexible metal, PTFE, rubber, and composite hoses, including custom builds to spec.

Match the hose to pressure and temperature first. Corrugated metal hoses in bronze, steel, stainless steel, or Monel handle full vacuum up to 12,000 psi. PTFE hoses trade some of that pressure range for more flexibility and handle temperatures up to 500°F.

A cable tray supports and routes cable runs through a facility, keeping cables organized and protected. We stock channel, wire basket, ladder, NEMA, railed, solid, and perforated cable tray, along with tube and pipe clamps.

It depends on the run and the environment. Ladder and wire basket styles suit open runs where airflow and access are essential. Solid or perforated trays suit runs that need more containment. Our snap track system, available in 2", 4", and 6" widths, is built for layouts that need to expand or reconfigure later without a full re-install.

Anti-seize compounds keep threaded metal connections from galling or seizing over time. Thread sealants keep the joint sealed against leaks once it's assembled. We carry over 20 product lines across both categories, plus RTV silicone, gasketing materials, and cleaners.

Match the formulation to the metals and the environment. Nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, graphite, and silver-based anti-seize compounds each suit different metal combinations and temperature ranges, and a food-grade formulation is available where the line feeds a food or pharmaceutical process.