Encouraging growth in process industries in China, especially chemicals, petrochemicals oil, gas and nuclear power generation segments, is essentially enhancing the demand for industrial valves and actuators.

The restructuring of power generation plants to conform to the Chinese government's emphasis on energy saving and environmental protection is likely to drive demand in the valves market, particularly in the specialty valves segment,observes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Vickertal Chen.

Several major national projects especially oil and gas pipeline-related projects are being launched. This provides several opportunities to industry participants to increase market share.

The impending national key project South-to-North Water Diversion Project can stimulate huge demand of various valves and sophisticated actuators, thereby increasing revenue growth of this market.

The increasing rate of urbanization is leading to severe water pollution. The Chinese government has extensively invested in the development of sewage treatment infrastructure. This is likely to drive total industrial valves and actuators market revenues since pipeline construction necessitates a high percent of valves.

Traditional manual valves without of self-diagnosis and data exchange capabilities through fieldbus are unsuitable for recent trends of automation. Intelligent valves integrated with embedded system, fieldbus and computer-based controls capable of self-diagnosis, data processing and networking with computer-based control systems through profibus or modbus gear can optimize valve system management.

Improvements in networking and increasing popularity of computer-based control systems such as distribute control system (DCS) in the process industry are enhancing the efficiency of valves management. This technology facilitates end users to monitor and control production processes online, and enables them to conduct remote diagnostics and calibrations through a computer terminal.

Such technological advancements are increasing investment in the research and development of valves. Further improvements toward more reliability, stable performance, and extending functionalities are likely to occur as specialty and sophisticated valves gain wider acceptance.

Applications of other technologies extend the functions and improve the ratio of price to performance of valves and actuators,- notes Chen. "Hence, manufacturers can take advantage of product diversity and explore new markets to increase their revenues."

Several industry participants are carrying out acquisitions and mergers to offer robust products and to sustain or increase their market position due to the increased competition in the industrial valves and actuators market.