The U.S. Valve Industry in World War II(1)

While valves didn’t directly sink ships or shoot down planes, the American valve industry played an important role in winning World War II for the allies. Without the contribution of the industry, many key chemical and petrochemical developments that helped secure victory could not have been made. In addition, the floating arsenal of democracy—naval ships, liberty ships and victory ships—could not have been built without tons of well-built valves delivered on time.

The expertise and productivity that the industry developed over the first third of the 20th century was rapidly eclipsed during the years 1940 to 1945. Out of necessity, new designs and materials were called upon to control new processes in the chemical, petrochemical and refining industries.

For example, “I think we wouldn’t have won the Battle of Britain without 100 octane fuel—but we did have the 100 octane,” Geoffrey Lloyd, Great Britain’s petroleum director, said. ­Germany’s lack of sufficient amounts of 100-octane aircraft fuel meant that the British Spitfires and Hurricanes could climb faster, fly higher and fly faster that the swastika-emblazoned enemy aircraft they faced.

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