Smart Alternatives to High-Cost Valves
Sanitary butterfly valves are a reliable, cost-effective alternative to more expensive valve types in applications where USDA dairy compliance is not required. Commonly used in food processing, beverage production, brewing, wineries, and general fluid handling systems, these valves provide dependable shut-off and throttling capabilities while remaining easy to maintain and operate.
Because of their simple, compact design, sanitary butterfly valves require fewer components during servicing, helping reduce maintenance time and operational costs. They are typically used in low-pressure fluid processing systems operating below 145 PSIG and are ideal for applications requiring efficient flow control with minimal downtime.
Sanitary butterfly valves can function as either shut-off valves or throttling valves, depending on the handle style, actuator, or automation option selected. Steel & O’Brien offers several sanitary butterfly valve configurations designed to meet the needs of different industries and processing environments.
The value type butterfly valve is a low-cost, 2-piece manual valve alternative, specifically for the micro or craft brewery industry, and also for smaller wine production facilities. The multi-position thermoplastic/stainless steel trigger handle is well-suited for both shut-off and manual throttling capability.
The standard type butterfly valve is an option-oriented, mid-range priced, 2-piece valve that is well suited for most fluid process applications. The key to the standard type valve is its ability to be customized with a full range of both manual handle and automation options.
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The premium type butterfly valve is a heavy-duty style valve that is available in both standard 2-piece and 3-piece “between flange” types. The 3-piece type allows for even greater ease during maintenance and is more forgiving with slight misalignment issues during installation. Multiple manual handle options allow the user to control the valve in several ways. The automated version comes standard with a heavy-duty canister-style steel pneumatic actuator.
Whether you’re upgrading an existing sanitary process system or designing a new fluid handling application, choosing the right butterfly valve can improve efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and deliver long-term performance. Steel & O’Brien offers a complete range of sanitary butterfly valves — from economical manual options for breweries and wineries to heavy-duty automated solutions for demanding processing environments. Contact our team today to find the right sanitary butterfly valve for your application and discover how our valve solutions can help optimize your operation.