10,000 hydraulic valves, one simple online selector from Webtec

With more than 10,000 possible configurations across the two series, the new nine-step guided tool takes users from application requirements to recommended valve model in a matter of minutes. This is a must have tool for any engineers looking to source a valve with specific requirements for different applications in a host of industries including oil and gas, defence, mining and quarrying, agriculture and construction.

The ambition of the product selector is to simplify what can otherwise prove a complex and somewhat uncertain selection process without expert advice. While users still need basic knowledge of hydraulics to answer the online tool's questions, the guided approach progressively narrows the available choices according to the inputs provided. At each step, options incompatible with previous selections are 'greyed-out', reducing the risk of choosing an unsuitable configuration.

The selector begins by establishing the valve application, with options including workholding, lifts and jacks, accumulators, oil and gas hydraulic power units, emergency actuation systems, and portable hydraulic tools. Users then specify the operating environment and hydraulic fluid, helping to determine whether Webtec's compact aluminium 180 series or stainless steel 280 series is most appropriate. The latter is designed for harsh and corrosive environments, including marine and offshore applications. Models offering water-glycol fluid compatibility and an ATEX rating are among 280 series options.

Further stages establish the required centre condition, hydraulic connection, maximum flow rate and operating pressure, before users select the handle design (including rotor action and mounting arrangement). The next step presents additional options, such as pressurised tank port, eight-port version, restricted two-position operation and various position-lock arrangements.

Importantly, the online selector also accounts for controlled-release capabilities. Webtec's proprietary PDP (Pressure Decay Proof) technology provides zero leakage when closed, while interflow options allow the valve to control the size of the flow aperture as the handle moves. This capability provides a degree of flow rate 'feathering', enabling operators to control actuator movement or motor speed.

The final steps request user contact details, valve quantity and required delivery date before the tool presents an overview of input selections and the recommended valve. The new product selector can also flag potentially significant choices, such as the selection of interflow, prompting users to confirm that the feature was chosen deliberately, not accidentally.

Rated for pressures up to 700 bar (10,000 psi) and flow rates up to 38 l/min (10 g/min), the 180/280 valve series represents a flexible choice in demanding hydraulic applications. Hosted on the Webtec website, the new online selector is intended to make that flexibility easier to exploit.