JC Valves is a Spanish valve manufacturer established in 1968. The company has now grown to operate factories and subsidiaries around the world. It provides a range of services, including the design and manufacture of custom-built valves, for customers in the oil and gas industry. Albert Aguila, Sales Manager, explained more to Hannah Barnett.
Working from an HQ in Barcelona, JC Valves may be Spanish in origin, but it is a truly international operation.
“We have a global presence with our subsidiaries and an extensive distribution network,” said Sales Manager Albert Aguila. “So our customers can find the right support locally, wherever they are. They don’t need to wait for the Spanish branch. There are JC Valves representatives from Southeast Asia to North America ready to service them.”
Overall, JC Valves has a presence in seven countries: “Four are locations of factories and three are what we call service centres, stocked with parts and offering the possi -
bility to repair valves and do special mountings,” explained Mr Aguila.
The company now employs 400 people around the world. It recently secured the investment to move its (still relatively new), factory in Chennai, India, to another location with a larger production capacity. It is also due to open a new factory in Indonesia, as a joint venture with a local partner.
A company overview
2023 started productively for JC Valves, as the company achieved API 641 fugitive emission certification. This accreditation is aimed at quarter-turn valves, covering many different designs, temperature ratings and sealing components. The test focuses on the performance of the packing as well as the boundary connections, using methane as a test medium.
This year, the company also continues to invest in new equipment and systems to increase efficiency and sustainability. “We recently installed solar panels on our rooftop in Barcelona,” said Mr Aguila, “in order to be
self-sufficient in power generation. We will be extending those to other premises in China and India too. We have also increased warehouse and office capacity at our subsidiary in the Middle East.”
Alongside this investment into facilities, JC Valves continues to develop products,
with a new cast trunnion valve on the market and improvements in the design of its floating valve range. The company understands the sector well enough to successfully adapt to the needs of an evolving industry. It has embraced 3D modelling and all its designs are created that way now:
“And we have launched a specific valve range to cover the hydrogen market,” Mr Aguila added: “because we intend to be part of this challenging energy transition market.”
All this growth, expansion and success is complemented by the figures. In 2022, JC Valves recorded a turnover close to 100 million EUR. This was split fairly evenly
around its bases, according to Mr Aguila: “around 40 per cent in Europe, 30 per cent in the Middle East and the other 30 per cent mainly in North America and Southeast Asia.” During the same period, the company produced and supplied close to 150,000 valves to customers around the world.
Solid investments
JC Valves recently invested in a new ERP system, which is already running at its headquarters, and will be implemented in factories and subsidiaries worldwide over the coming years. The new system
is intended to improve operations and internal coordination.
Alongside the software upgrade, machinery is also being improved: “We have invested in two new automatic test benches at the factory in Spain,” Mr Aguila said: “One is already in operation and the second will be fully installed by Q4 of this year.”
The company continues to be busy in the US and Canada, especially for work in gas treatment and onshore oil. The company supplies many of its trunnion mounted ball valves to the North American market.
These valves have metal seats for application in high temperatures, making them ideal for use in gas treatment plants.
“Of course, we are also very active in the Middle East,” added Mr Aguila. “We sell a lot of applications for water management in oil fields there. With customers like KOC, Qatar Petroleum and ADNOC, it’s a really big market.”
Ahead of the competition
One of the ways JC Valves maintains its competitive edge is by offering an extensive product line. Its valves can be manufactured
in a wide scale of sizes, ranging from half-an-inch up to 42 inches. In addition, a well-stocked inventory is essential.
“Part of our commercial policy is to keep one of the highest stock levels in the market,” explained Mr Aguila. “We hold roughly 30 million EUR in stock. The service we provide is therefore very high – especially considering we are a manufac turer. And there is the stock held by our distributors, which is in addition to the 30 million EUR worth that we have.”
Like any successful business, especially one which places so much import on being well-stocked and maintaining its longevity, a strong relationship with suppliers is crucial.
As Mr Aguila explained, JC Valves looks for suppliers with a similar vision and strategy: “We are quality- and service-oriented and want to work with suppliers who are too: and we want to keep prices stable where possible. That is part of our DNA. Although
raw material prices are fluctuating and energy costs are rising, we always try to look at the long-term scenario. So we need our suppliers to understand and commit to that vision too. And in return, we support them in the good times and in the challenging times.”
Looking forward
JC Valves is undoubtedly well prepared to navigate whatever the future brings, alongside certain set goals and objectives. For example, the company is committed to its social responsibility and always striving to improve working conditions. Additionally, JC Valves aims to decrease the gap in representation between men and women employed in the sector.
The company is set to keep growing steadily. “As a private business, we are focused on sustainable growth,” Mr Aguila said. “We don’t plan to grow by acquisition, but do plan to keep growing, step-by-step,
year-by-year.” For Mr Aguila, who has worked with JC Valves for 20 years, this remains an exciting and dynamic role.
“When I started, I thought I would be here for three-to-five years, and then move on to the next place,” he concluded. “But somehow, JC caught my interest. I love leading the sales team and having the chance to interact with different people in different countries. It’s an active job, so I never get bored. And I prefer working in a Spanish company with an international view, rather than working in a multinational company for the Spanish market. I think I still have a good few years left to go with JC Valves!” n
