Against the backdrop of global carbon neutrality goals, governments and industries worldwide are accelerating the transition to low-carbon development, which has brought profound changes to the valve industry. Valves, as core flow control components in industrial systems, account for a non-negligible proportion of energy consumption in fluid transmission. Reducing energy loss through technological innovation and promoting the application of energy-saving products have become the core direction of the industry’s transformation and upgrading.
With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence (AI), the integration of smart technology into valve products has become an inevitable trend. Smart valves equipped with sensors, actuators, and data transmission modules can realize real-time monitoring, remote control, and predictive maintenance, greatly improving the operational efficiency of industrial systems and reducing maintenance costs, which are widely favored by downstream industries.
Recently, leading valve manufacturers have launched a new generation of IoT-integrated smart valves, which can collect real-time data on fluid pressure, temperature, and valve operation status, and transmit it to the cloud management platform through wireless communication. This technology not only enables remote adjustment of valve opening and closing but also predicts potential faults through data analysis, reducing unplanned downtime by more than 40% compared with traditional valves.
In response to low-carbon demand, energy-saving valves with optimized structural design and high-sealing performance have become the mainstream of the market. For example, the newly developed high-efficiency butterfly valves and globe valves adopt advanced sealing materials and flow channel design, reducing energy loss by 15%-25% compared with traditional products. These products are widely used in thermal power, chemical, and HVAC industries, helping enterprises achieve energy conservation and emission reduction goals.
According to the latest market research report, the global smart valve market size is expected to reach $18.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% from 2024 to 2030. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market, driven by the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization in China, India, and other countries, as well as the strong demand for smart manufacturing and energy conservation.
The integration of smart technology and low-carbon transformation has accelerated the reshuffling of the valve industry. Enterprises with strong R&D capabilities and technological advantages are continuously expanding their market share, while small and medium-sized enterprises that lack innovation are facing increasing competitive pressure. Many enterprises have increased investment in R&D, focusing on the R&D and production of smart, energy-saving, and corrosion-resistant valves to enhance their core competitiveness.
The valve industry is entering a new era driven by smart technology and low-carbon transformation, said a senior researcher at the Global Industrial Equipment Research Institute. Smartization can improve the efficiency and reliability of valve operation, while low-carbonization can meet the global energy conservation and emission reduction requirements. The combination of the two will become the core driving force for the long-term development of the industry.
In the future, the valve industry will continue to focus on three key directions: first, the deep integration of smart technology, realizing the intelligence of the entire life cycle of valves from design, production to operation and maintenance; second, the development of more efficient energy-saving products, promoting the application of new materials and new processes; third, strengthening international cooperation to promote the standardization and globalization of smart valve products.
Smart technology and low-carbon transformation are reshaping the development pattern of the valve industry, bringing new development opportunities and challenges. With the continuous advancement of technological innovation and the increasing demand for energy conservation and environmental protection, smart, energy-saving valves will become the core force driving the high-quality development of the industry, providing strong support for the global low-carbon transition and smart manufacturing.