Industrial ultra-low-temperature valves no longer rely on others.

　　Tech Daily News (Reporter Liu Zhiwei) — On January 17, the Petrochemical Equipment Professional Committee of the China Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering Research Association awarded the plaque for the "Industrial Ultra-Low Temperature Valve Technology Center" to Hubei Taihe Petrochemical Equipment Co., Ltd. Notably, this marks the first Industrial Ultra-Low Temperature Valve Technology Center established within China’s petroleum and petrochemical research institutions. During the award ceremony, Ding Wu, Secretary-General of the association, highlighted that Hubei Taihe has successfully broken foreign monopolies and is now at the forefront of the nation in industrial ultra-low temperature valve manufacturing technology.

　　Hubei Taihe Company, located in Zigui County within the Three Gorges Reservoir area, is a privately owned enterprise specializing in the production of high-end, professional valves and pipe fittings—such as cryogenic valves, as well as high-temperature and high-pressure models. Chairman Zhang Wenzhong previously spent seven years working at a British-owned valve company. His experience abroad gave him deep familiarity with international manufacturing standards, quality control practices, and advanced scientific management techniques. When Zhang Wenzhong returned to China in 2007 to start his own business, his vision was clear: to create Chinese products that could compete on par with the world’s highest standards, ultimately breaking the Western monopoly.

　　But this "simplicity" has been pursued relentlessly—for a full 10 years. During that time, Zhang Wenzhong and his team encountered numerous challenges, especially in 2014, when the bank abruptly withdrew its loans, pushing Taihe Company to the brink of collapse. To mitigate the risks, the management team collectively agreed to forgo their salaries for 10 months, while the company laid off 70% of its workforce. Yet, a dedicated research and development team was carefully preserved, ensuring that scientific innovation continued without interruption.

　　Liquefied natural gas (LNG) ultra-low-temperature, high-pressure valves—capable of operating in extreme conditions ranging from -256°C to 540°C and with pressures spanning from 150 to 2,500 psi—have long been dominated by foreign technologies and products. According to Zhang Wenzhong, developing these demanding ultra-low-temperature valve solutions requires countless rounds of selection, design, and testing to ensure the safety and reliability of LNG systems. This process not only demands significant financial investment and an extensive timeline but also carries substantial risks, including potential research failures, as well as the threat of corporate losses or even business closures.

　　In mid-July 2016, Hubei Taihe Petrochemical competed alongside international peers in a high-stakes bidding process. After several rounds of intense competition, they successfully secured the Zhoushan Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving and Bunkering Project order—providing ultra-low-temperature, high-pressure LNG valves capable of operating at -196°C. "Although the contract value was only around 10 million RMB, this marks the first time China’s industrial sector has broken the foreign monopoly on ultra-low-temperature, high-pressure valves, achieving a groundbreaking milestone in domestically producing these critical components," said Zhang Yi, Project General Manager of China National Overseas Engineering Corporation. He added that if imported products had been used for this project, the cost would have been at least three to four times higher.

　　Hubei Taihe Company has independently developed over 20 innovative products, including a bidirectional pressure-bearing, three-dimensional, three-disc metal hard-sealed butterfly valve, a dual-guided high-pressure differential labyrinth-type control valve, and cryogenic low-temperature valves. The company currently holds 25 national patents and has earned prestigious international certifications such as the European CE mark, as well as standards from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Germany’s TÜV-H model. Previously reliant on imports for ultra-low-temperature valves, China’s demand is now being met by Taihe’s cutting-edge solutions—products that have not only been successfully deployed in 68 domestic liquefied natural gas projects but have also gained traction in key markets like the UK, Germany, and the United States.