What have the Romans ever done for us?

Phase Stainless Steel Body

Phase Stainless Steel Body

Published: 2nd November 2022 | Issue 79 Share article:

Phase LCSB Switchbox

Phase LCSB Switchbox


Phase LC Actuator

Phase LC Actuator


It is said that the diaphragm valve was originally invented by the Romans, but the modern diaphragm valve, as we know it today, was invented by PK Saunders in 1929. By 1933 he needed investment to help complete his product development and so Heap & Partners became an investor and shareholder in his company. This means for almost 90 years Heap & Partners have been closely involved in, working with and selling diaphragm valves. Now they have taken that knowledge and experience and developed their own range of hygienic diaphragm valves, called the Phase Diaphragm Valve.

It’s not easy to bring innovation to a product that has been around for 2000 years, but Heap & Partners new Phase Diaphragm Valve has not one, but two patents on its innovative new design.

The valve is available with body materials in Stainless Steel, Plastic, Hastelloy and Titanium. Manual bonnets are available in Stainless steel and plastic, whilst the all-new LC actuator is capable of closing off against line pressures up to 16 bar, despite its compact size. Diaphragms are also available in EPDM, silicone, butyl and PTFE backed versions. The LCSB switchbox has also been developed to complement the range and is available in IP66 and ATEX versions for those more demanding areas.

Heap & Partners decided the new Phase Diaphragm Valve would be designed and manufactured in Great Britain, but would be capable of competing with valves coming out of low cost countries like India and China. To achieve this the company has invested heavily in automation; five axis machining centres, laser markers and robotics. The result of this heavy investment is that the company can now produce Phase Diaphragm Valves in Britain that can compete on the World stage. All at the right price but at a far higher quality than has been available before.

Ninety years of diaphragm valve knowledge has brought us the Phase Hygienic Diaphragm Valve range, but Heap & Partners did not stop there. At the same time, they have also developed Valve Cloud. All of their Phase products will have a unique QR code laser marked onto the valve. This will mean customers can use a smart phone or tablet to click on the QR code and they can then directly access all of the QA documentation, test certificates, drawings, brochures and operating & maintenance instructions that go with that specific valve. All at no cost. Think of it as a cloud-based backup system. Available 24/7. Anywhere in the World. Valve Cloud and Phase Diaphragm Valves are two more innovations from Heap & Partners Ltd.

Tel No:      0151 488 7222 
Email:        info@heaps.co.uk 
Website:    www.heaps.co.uk 

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