Vexve has expanded its trunnion-mounted ball valve manufacturing operations at its Sastamala production facility with the commissioning of a new automated production line aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity, improving product availability and meeting rising demand from district energy markets across Europe. The investment, valued at approximately €1.7 million, covers the complete manufacturing process, including machining, assembly and product testing. The new production line has been specifically designed for the serial production of trunnion-mounted ball valves and is expected to significantly increase the company’s manufacturing output compared with its previous production capacity.
The expansion comes in response to growing market demand for Vexve’s trunnion-mounted ball valves, which were introduced in 2021. According to the company, customer demand has exceeded its initial growth expectations, prompting the investment in additional production infrastructure to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and improve delivery performance.
The valves are primarily designed for district heating and district energy applications, with nearly 90% of production exported to customers across Scandinavia and other European markets. The enhanced manufacturing capacity is expected to support the increasing adoption of energy-efficient heating infrastructure and help meet the growing requirements of utility operators and energy companies.
A key feature of the product range is its modular design, which enables common components to be used across multiple nominal diameter (DN) sizes. This approach is intended to streamline production processes, improve inventory management and provide greater flexibility in responding to customer requirements.
Commenting on the expansion, Henrikki Pekkonen, Product Manager for Trunnion-Mounted Ball Valves at Vexve, said, “The modular design enables us to manufacture larger batches of components for inventory, improving production efficiency while simplifying stock management. This also allows us to reduce delivery times and respond more effectively to customer demand.”
Juho Rentola, Director of the Heavy Valves Business Unit at Vexve, said the investment would strengthen the company’s ability to maintain reliable product availability during periods of high demand. “Consistent product availability remains one of the key factors influencing our customers’ purchasing decisions, particularly during the peak district energy construction season from spring through autumn. The new automated production line significantly increases our manufacturing capacity and enhances our ability to deliver products as demand continues to grow,” he said. Mr Rentola added that the upgraded facility would enable the company to increase production volumes substantially while supporting future growth in the district energy sector.
The investment forms part of Vexve’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its manufacturing footprint and support the transition towards efficient and reliable district heating infrastructure across European markets through improved production capabilities and shorter delivery lead times.
