Rotaval

Today, RotaVal is part of the Gericke Group, combining its specialist knowledge in rotary valves with Gericke's expertise in complete powder handling systems. Manufacturing continues to take place in Chippenham, United Kingdom.

Rotary valves for controlled material flow

A rotary valve is used for the controlled transfer of powder or granules between different sections of a process plant. Inside the valve, a multi-pocket rotor rotates, receiving product at the inlet and conveying it onwards to the outlet.

This design ensures a continuous, controlled product flow. Simultaneously, the rotary valve can act as an airlock between two areas with different pressure levels. This is particularly critical in pneumatic conveying systems, where product must be fed into the conveying line without excessive loss of conveying air.

Consequently, Gericke RotaVal valves are utilised beneath silos, filters, cyclones, and vessels, as well as for feeding products into pneumatic conveying systems.

Pneumatic conveying and low air leakage

In pneumatic conveying systems, the clearances between the rotor and the valve housing are critical. Excessive clearances can lead to increased air leakage, adversely affecting both conveying capacity and energy efficiency.

Gericke RotaVal manufactures rotary valves with exceptionally tight mechanical clearances. Depending on the design, the company operates with clearances below 0.2 mm. This aids in minimising air leakage and maintaining the pressure differential between the valve inlet and outlet.

However, selecting the correct valve must always be based on factors such as product characteristics, capacity, pressure differential, temperature, and conveying principle.

Hygienic designs and easy cleaning

In food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, stringent demands are placed on cleanability and access to product-contact surfaces. Gericke RotaVal has therefore developed Fast Clean solutions, allowing the rotor to be withdrawn from the valve housing to provide easy access to internal surfaces.

This design can reduce cleaning and inspection downtime and is particularly valuable for frequent product changeovers or processes where cross-contamination must be minimised.

Furthermore, RotaVal offers solutions engineered for high hygiene standards, including valves tested in compliance with relevant EHEDG and USDA requirements.

Heavy Duty for abrasive products

Not all applications focus on hygiene. Cement, fly ash, silica sand, mineral powders, and other abrasive bulk solids can cause substantial wear on both the rotor and the valve housing.

For these processes, Gericke RotaVal offers Heavy Duty and Extra Heavy Duty configurations. In these designs, material selection, surface coatings, and replaceable wear components can be tailored to the specific operational load.

This enables the application of the same fundamental principle across highly diverse industries—from food and pharmaceuticals to chemicals, minerals, and building materials.

Beyond standard material handling

A rotary valve can perform multiple functions within the same process. In addition to regulating material flow and functioning as an airlock, properly engineered valves can serve as part of an explosion protection concept.

Gericke RotaVal supplies solutions for potentially explosive atmospheres, where the valve—subject to specific certification and installation—can act as an autonomous barrier against the propagation of flame and pressure between different sections of the process plant.

This imposes strict requirements on engineering design, rotor specification, clearances, mechanical integrity, and documentation.

The right rotary valve for your process

While the operating principle of a rotary valve is straightforward, requirements vary substantially depending on the individual application. A fine food powder, a fragile granulate, and a highly abrasive mineral impose completely different demands on the valve construction.

Gericke RotaVal's product range consequently extends from hygienic Fast Clean models to Heavy Duty valves, blowing seals, and custom-engineered solutions. The valves can be applied in pneumatic conveying, vessel discharge, filling, dosing, and process feeding.

Gericke RotaVal's core strength lies in combining decades of specialised engineering with the ability to customise the valve to the exact process requirements. When product properties, capacity, pressure conditions, wear resistance, hygiene, and safety are evaluated holistically, the rotary valve becomes far more than just a component for moving material—it forms an integral part of a stable, reliable process plant.

In summary, Gericke RotaVal is a specialised manufacturer of advanced valve solutions for bulk material handling. With an uncompromising focus on quality, operational reliability, and versatility, the company supports efficient and safe material transfer in modern process plants.