Track record of innovation - high-technology valves

Industry Sectors Dedicated solutions for the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries >

WELCOME TO
KOSO KENT INTROL LTD

WHAT'S IN
A NAME? Open

The company known today as Koso Kent Introl has had more than its fair share of names over its 40 year history. Starting with Introl and then moving on to Kent Introl, Kent Process Control, Kent Instruments, ABB Control Valves and finally Koso Kent Introl Limited. Ownership has changed six times during this period. All of these changes, under different circumstances, could have created difficulties for the company, but instead they have brought benefits through capital investment and access to new markets. We are pleased to report that the “raison d’étre” for the formation of the company, namely to design and manufacture control valves for severe services and to provide pre-sales and post-sales customer service, has not changed.

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A HISTORY OF
THE COMPANY Open

1967

- Introl Ltd is founded by Edward Singleton, offering improved designs for conventional control valves, incorporating special features to meet customers’ requirements.

1968

- The Introl multi-stage HF series of low-noise trims is developed.
- Patent granted for multi-stage control valves.
- First low-noise (four-stage + diffuser) valves supplied to North Sea platform - gas-to-flare service.

1969

- Introl enters the power-generating industry with the development of boiler feed water control valves, start-up valves.

1971

- Introl acquired by Luton-based George Kent Group and is renamed Kent Introl Ltd.

1974

- The Kent Group is acquired by Brown Boveri of Switzerland and renamed BBC Kent Process Control Ltd, Introl Control Valves.
- Introl develops desuperheaters and combined pressure-reducing desuperheaters.

1975

- Due to its developing business, Introl requires a larger factory and the company moves to its present site at Brighouse.
- Topside choke valves developed for the oil and gas production industry.

1976

- Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson officially opens the Brighouse factory.

1981

- Factory No.2 built at Brighouse on the same site as No.1.
- Introl enters the trans-continental pipeline surge control business with a modified HF multi-stage design, and supplies all anti-surge valves for the Alyaska pipeline.
- Introl heavily involved in control valve noise testing. The company develops its own noise-prediction technique.

1982

- The Duke of Kent officially opens factory No.2.
- Turbotrol anti-cavitation valve is developed.

1983

- Order received for Iraq pipeline for anti-surge valves.

1984

Rotrol anti-cavitation butterfly valve developed. A patent is granted.

1985

- Brown Boveri Corporation (BBC) merges with Swedish ASEA to form ABB.
- Introl develops sub-sea choke valves with hydraulic and electric actuators, which are maintainable by remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
- Michael Heseltine, Secretary of State for Industry in Margaret Thatcher’s government, visits the company.
- The first tungsten carbide trim is supplied for a choke valve.

1987

- Introl becomes the first control valve company to be accredited to BS5750 (ISO 9001) quality accreditation.

1988

- Introl develops the Series 12 range of globe control valves.
- The first sub-sea choke valve is supplied to a sub-sea processing project.
- Exxon places an order for an enlarged ethylene plant at Mossmoran.

1989

- The company supplies the first quick-closing sub-sea actuator.

1990

- Edward Singleton retires as Managing Director, but is retained as a technical consultant.
- First diver-retrievable sub-sea choke valve is supplied.

1992

- New factory at Nashik in India is completed and commences operations.
- First ROV insert retrievable sub-sea choke valve is supplied.

1996

- The Series 14 range is developed – a rationalised design of control valve with various improvements including packing box designs to comply with environmental directives.
- The first API 15K choke valve is supplied.

1998

- First major order received for the Caspian region from BP/Agip – Karachaganak.

1999

- Introl is awarded ISO 14001 environmental accreditation.

2000

- ABB transfers Introl to Vetco Gray UK Ltd (an ABB Group company) and the company is renamed Kent Introl, a Division of Vetco Gray UK Ltd.

2001

- Kent Introl hyperbarically qualifies a choke valve for 2,200 metres water depth.

2002

- Kent Introl obtains Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) approval to module H.

2003

- The manufacture of sub-sea choke valves is transferred from Brighouse to Vetco Gray in Aberdeen.

2004

- Denis Westcott is appointed as Managing Director.
- Kent Introl supplies the first 8” sub-sea retrievable control valve.

2005

- Nihon Koso Co Ltd of Japan purchases Kent Introl from Vetco Gray and the company is renamed Koso Kent Introl Limited (KKI).

2007

- The severe service Vector labyrinth-type trim is developed for high pressure-drop applications.

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THE LATEST
NAME Open

Takashi “Ike” Ikegaya first became aware of Introl when he visited an Interkama exhibition in the early 1990’s. Ike was struck by the presence of a specialist control valve business, which at that time was active in not only control valves and topside choke valves but also sub-sea choke valves. Ike had founded his own business “Koso Controls” in 1965 around 2 years prior to Edward Singleton founding Introl. During its life to now Koso had established a very strong presence in the East and North America but held no presence in Europe. Also the company had held the licence to manufacture the labyrinth trim technology of a well known severe service control valve producer for around 15 years. Today Koso produces its own “VeCTor” Velocity Control Trims, in 3 distinct ranges; these are all based on proven multi–turn labyrinth technology.

It was very timely for Ike to learn in 2004 that the Introl Company was available for acquisition. It was a major opportunity for Koso to not only form a presence within Europe but also a chance to acquire a company with a major presence in the Oil and Gas supply chain. The key attractions to Ike were partly the location and history, of Introl, but primarily the reputation and brand recognition that Introl had for being a severe service and specialist solutions provider.

The union of Koso and Introl is allowing the union of the Koso technology, including the “VeCTor” Velocity Control Trim and the Introl “Multi-hole Multi-step” technologies and experiences to combine to give the Koso Group one of the strongest control valve and choke valve ranges on offer.

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