Chances are, when you go to the car wash, you don’t think about the soap and wax metering systems or the low-pressure function controls that work to get your vehicle sparkling clean. In fact, a wide range of industrial and commercial applications rely on equipment behind the scenes to precisely control the flow of liquids and gases – from water treatment and food processing to healthcare environments that depend on sterilization systems. In all these applications, solenoid valves provide the precise flow control they depend on.
Thanks to decades of design and development experience, GC Valves has built a product catalog of more than 35,000 solenoid valve variations that get the job done in these kinds of environments and more. They manufacture them in sizes ranging from miniature to 6 inches and engineer them to handle virtually any liquid or gas. That range includes vacuum to high flow and pressure, cryogenic media to steam, natural gas to fuel oil, air and water to reagents and enzymes and ultra-pure to corrosive fluids.
GC Valves products address a wide range of fluid control challenges, including:
- High-pressure systems, such as misting equipment and energy generation
- High-temperature processes involving steam and hot oils
- Cryogenic applications using liquid nitrogen, argon, oxygen and CO₂
- Potable water systems for drinking water, hospitals, commercial buildings and food and beverage applications
- Chemical processing requiring specialized material compatibility
- OEM applications requiring custom manifolds, connectors or coil configurations
Pioneering the Solenoid Valve and Fluid Control Industry
GC Valves’ heritage has its roots in the founding of General Controls in the 1930s. Through a series of thoughtful acquisitions and partnerships over a span of 80 years, that one company has grown to be a globally recognized and trusted brand covering dozens of markets and hundreds of applications.
Today, GC Valves produces more than 1.5 million solenoid valves annually and is the combination of two industry-leading organizations: Components for Automation in Simi Valley, CA, and GC Valves in Charlotte, NC, under the DEMA Engineering Company umbrella. DEMA Engineering is a 4th-generation family-owned business that acquired GC Valves and Components for Automation in 2016, consolidating manufacturing in Charlotte and boosting production.
Beyond standard valve offerings, GC Valves designs solenoid valve manifolds and assemblies for dispensing and sampling industrial and scientific gases and liquids. A comprehensive engineering team of mechanical and electrical engineers, designers and technical support staff works closely with customers to develop reliable fluid control solutions for every need.
GC Valves at AutomationDirect
Solenoid process valves from GC Valves contribute greatly to AutomationDirect’s selection of general purpose valves. They are simple 2-way or 3-way electrically controlled valves that control fluid flow through a pipe or other process. Supported fluids include compressed air, inert gases, coolant and water.
- Several styles support a range of applications, including zero differential, high-performance, piloted diaphragm and direct-acting valves.
- Available in port sizes from 1/8” to 2”; in coil voltages of 24 VAC, 120 VAC or 24 VDC (12 VDC replacement coil available for select models); in body materials of nylon, stainless steel and brass; and come in normally open or normally closed styles.
Manifold valves feature a brass or stainless steel manifold, in a 2-, 3- or 4-station design. A wide selection of rebuild kits and several replacement solenoid coils are also offered.
GC Valves NSF potable water valves are 71 series 2-port water valves constructed of durable lead-free brass.
- Certified to NSF/ANSI 61 and have NSF-approved EPDM diaphragms
- A great choice for drinking water applications and ported for the most popular NPT sizes (up to 2″) with a 120 VAC or 24 VDC solenoid coil
- Offered in normally closed (N.C.) or normally open (N.O.) styles
- Have a piloted diaphragm and include an 18mm (DIN 43650A) style wiring plug.
- Feature a 150 or 200 psi max operating pressure
A Trusted Provider
“Our company culture is family-first. While we have grown beyond our roots as a small family-owned business, we still operate like one,” said Matt Brandt, Vice President of Industrial Sales for GC Valves. “We value long-term commitment over short-term gain, treating our customers’ success as our own and building those relationships. We never lose focus on our dedication to understanding customers’ needs and providing exceptional experiences. These values are core to our business and make us the trusted provider of solenoid valves and solutions for some of the most respected names in their respective industries.”
Today, DEMA Engineering employs more than 420 people worldwide and continues to invest in the future of GC Valves.
Brandt added, “We are moving into a new facility that will more than double our current production space and allow us to better serve our customers for years to come. Whether they need to design around temperature, pressure, chemical compatibility, flow or reliability, GC Valves can provide a fluid control solution to meet those needs.”