How the Valve Industry Helped Build a Nation 

By: Heather Rhoderick, VMA President

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, many industries are reflecting on their contributions to the nation’s history. While rarely in the spotlight, valve manufacturers — and the suppliers, distributors and service providers who support the industry — have played an essential role in nearly every milestone of America’s development.  

From delivering clean drinking water and powering factories to supporting wartime production, energy independence, space exploration and today’s advanced manufacturing, the valve industry has helped shape the nation we know today. While every generation has presented new challenges, it has also inspired new valve innovations. 

Our industry’s impact continues today. Every time clean water reaches a community, electricity powers a home, fuel moves safely through a pipeline, medicines are manufactured or critical infrastructure operates reliably, the valve industry is helping move America forward. 

As the nation celebrates its past, VMA proudly recognizes the companies, engineers, manufacturers, technicians and workers whose innovation, craftsmanship and dedication have helped build America’s infrastructure and strengthen its economy. But this story is far from over… 

America’s next chapter: Building the next 250 years 

America’s next 250 years will depend on many of the same qualities that built the last — innovation, manufacturing excellence, collaboration and engineering expertise. While today’s challenges are different, they are no less significant. 

America is modernizing its infrastructure, expanding domestic manufacturing, strengthening its energy security, investing in advanced nuclear power, building LNG export capacity, improving water systems, developing hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, and supporting the rapid growth of data centers and artificial intelligence. Every one of these initiatives depends on safe, reliable flow control. 

Just as importantly, the industry must continue investing in the people who make this innovation possible. Engineers, machinists, technicians, sales professionals, repair specialists and manufacturing teams will all play a vital role in shaping the next generation of technology and infrastructure. 

Tomorrow’s valves will incorporate advanced materials, digital monitoring, automation and  predictive maintenance, and they will call for increasingly sophisticated manufacturing techniques. Yet their fundamental purpose will remain unchanged: enabling the safe and reliable movement of the world’s most critical resources — from water and energy to food, medicine and countless industrial processes. 

While today we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the valve industry’s impact extends far beyond our borders. Around the world, industries rely on the innovation, quality and expertise of valve manufacturers to support critical infrastructure, economic growth and modern life. 

As America looks toward its next chapter, the industrial valve industry stands ready to meet the challenges ahead — continuing a legacy of innovation, reliability and engineering excellence that has helped power progress for generations. 

A Roman valve discovered in the ruins of Pompeii; a steam system with an early control valve; a Powell Valve product from the 1930s; employees at Chapman Valve in 1905.