AMERICAN Flow Control forms innovation branch dedicated to R&D

AMERICAN Flow Control, the valve and hydrant division of AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, has announced the formation of a company dedicated to research and development.

The company, which will be known as AMERICAN Innovation, plans to build the AMERICAN Flow Control Center for Innovative Excellence in Crawfordsville, Indiana, with construction slated to start in summer 2019.

The 30,000 square foot facility will cost approximately $9-12 million (€8-10.7 million) and once complete, will employ eight research and development staff members.

According to the company, the research centre will include the latest equipment and technologies for enhancing existing valve and hydrant products, as well as developing new products related to infrastructure.

“It will expand our research and design functions, allowing us to fast-track innovations to get products to market more quickly,” said John Hagelskamp, division sales manager for AMERICAN Flow Control.

“Crawfordsville was chosen in part because of the variable weather conditions it experiences,” he added. “It will be ideal for evaluating the impact of changing environmental conditions on products.”

The company has recently introduced several new products, including a wide range of large diameter resilient wedge gate valves, an earthquake-resistant valve and hydrant system, valves and hydrants with the ALPHA™ single-bolt restrained joint, and GIS technology for mapping and asset management, among others.