| What is the Valve Repair Council? | If you repair and rebuild valves and actuators... if you believe that safety, quality and good service go hand-in-hand... then you'll want to be a part of the Valve Repair Council, which advocates the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approach to repair. The proliferation of valve and actuator repair and rebuild shops around the country has led in some cases to facilities that operate without adequate quality control procedures, use substandard parts and do not have access to OEM specifications. In 1989 the member companies of the Valve Manufacturers Association of America (VMA) saw a need to promote both safety and quality in valve and actuator repair. As a result, the service operations of VMA members banded together to create the Valve Repair Council (VRC). VRC membership is open to all VMA members who have either in-house service operations or out-of-plant service facilities, as well as their authorized independent facilities. | | VRC Objectives | The VRC was formed to provide all qualified repairers and rebuilders of flow-control equipment-who are repairing to OEM specification-with a means to meet the following objectives: - To promote safety through proper repair and rebuild
- To establish and promulgate guidelines for proper repair and service
- To educate manufacturers, rebuilders and customers on the importance of proper service and the dangers inherent in substandard service
- To publish a list of members' qualified service facilities for the benefit of end-users
- To provide a forum for the legal exchange of information that will advance the quality and integrity of service
- To promote open discussion among OEMs, repair shops and users on problems relating to maintenance and repair
- To cooperate with standards' development bodies and regulatory agencies in the development of appropriate standards and regulations pertaining to service
| | Who Can Join? | To qualify for membership in the VRC a company must meet the following criteria: - Be a member of VMA operating an in-house service operation or out-of-plant service facility, or be an authorized independent facility of a VMA member
- Have formally operated a valve or actuator repair facility for a minimum of two years
- Rebuild to original manufacturers' specifications
- Use OEM parts or parts manufactured to OEM specifications
- Adhere to written quality control procedures appropriate to the markets served and acceptable to VRC
- Use service personnel qualified in accordance with written requirements of manufacturers whose products they are authorized to repair
- Permanently tag repaired valves and actuators, indicating by whom and when repaired. When alteration to OEM specifications has occurred, the original descriptive information shall be replaced with current information
- Provide written warranty covering materials and workmanship
- Retain adequate records of all service work performed
- Carry appropriate product liability insurance
- Not engage in the purchase and resale of surplus valves or actuators (defined as valves and actuators that have left the OEM's distribution chain), or have a subsidiary or affiliate that engages in the purchase and resale of surplus valves, or actuators
| | How To Join | To download a membership form, click here. For more information about the VRC, please contact Heather Rhoderick at 202.331.4039. | | Upcoming Meetings | The VRC Annual Meeting will take place October 2-4, 2024, in Park City, UT. This is held in conjunction with the VMA Annual Meeting. Click here for registration and additional details. |
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