WHEN a medical supply customer urgently required uninterrupted softened water for sterilisation processes, Allmech was able to deliver a reliable duplex water softening solution within just two days, despite having no conventional duplex control valves in stock at the time. The team turned to an alternative already proven in practice by Runxin: a ceramic 3-way L-type ball valve configured to manage two softener vessels in a continuous-duty system.
Allmech is a leading South African manufacturer of boilers and supplier of water treatment equipment and chemicals and services customers across a wide variety of sectors. “We know that in healthcare-related environments, any interruption to water quality or supply can have immediate operational consequences,” says Anelia Hough, water treatment consultant at Allmech. “The customer required a production capacity of 4m³/h and continuous availability of softened water, with no tolerance for downtime during regeneration cycles.”
Drawing on recent exposure to the system in operation during a Runxin factory visit in China, Allmech’s managing director, Lionel Maasdorp, proposed using the Runxin ceramic 3-way valve to create a duplex configuration. The valve was installed on the outlet of the system and wired directly into the existing control valves.
“The key was ensuring the correct electrical connections so the system could function as a true duplex softener,” explains Maasdorp. “Once that logic was in place, the solution was surprisingly simple.”
The working process is cyclical. When the resin’s capacity to remove hardness from the supply water decreases to zero, a signal is sent to the 3-way ball valve to change direction. Water is immediately routed from the second softener vessel, which has already completed regeneration, while the first vessel begins its regeneration cycle. Once regeneration is complete, the first vessel returns to standby, and the valves continue alternating automatically.
“The system was assembled, tested, and made available for collection within 48 hours. Performance has met expectations, delivering the required flow rate consistently and ensuring uninterrupted supply,” says Hough.
Beyond speed, the solution offers structural advantages over traditional duplex manifolds. Ceramic 3-way valves generally outperform conventional manifold arrangements in durability and reliability, particularly in abrasive or corrosive environments. While ceramic valves carry a higher upfront cost, their longer service life and reduced maintenance requirements can offset the expense of frequent manifold rebuilds over time.
