The Cold, an Often Underestimated Industrial Factor

In Quebec, winter is more than just a climate constraint. For industrial valve networks, it is a true test of endurance.
Water, steam, glycol, compressed air, oil, chemicals: all process fluids are impacted by low temperatures. Freeze-thaw cycles, condensation, and thermal variations induce significant mechanical stresses on valves, seals, and actuators.

Under these conditions, standard equipment can quickly become a weak point. This is not a matter of comfort but of operational reliability and safety.

The Effects of Cold on Valves

When temperatures plummet, valves are put to the test.
Seals harden and lose their flexibility. Stems can seize, and lubricants solidify. Freezing can cause microcracks in seats, breakage of plugs, or leaks in fittings.
Pneumatic actuators also suffer: internal condensation converts to ice, blocking mechanisms precisely when they are most needed.

Even on well-designed equipment, differential expansion between materials intensifies internal stresses.
The result: operations become more challenging, opening cycles lengthen, and the risk of shutdowns increases.

Designing to Withstand Quebec's Climate

Facing a Quebec winter requires a tailored technical approach.
First, the materials: 316 stainless steel or duplex metals maintain their strength and ductility at very low temperatures. Seals must be selected to remain pliable below -40 °C, such as cold-resistant EPDM or modified PTFE.

Process lines should incorporate purge points and drains to prevent condensates from freezing in dead sections.
Actuators often require insulated boxes, heated enclosures, or extended stems to ensure safe access and operation, even at -30 °C.

Finally, products must be validated and tested here, in the field. Nothing substitutes for real-world tests in factories, boiler rooms, or municipal networks in Quebec.

Quebec, a Full-Scale Laboratory

Few places in the world challenge industrial installations so dramatically.
The thermal cycles are intense, the amplitude is significant, and humidity is ubiquitous. Between a network restart at -25 °C and a spring thaw, mechanical stresses change everything.

It's in this environment that robust equipment is distinguished from ordinary products.
In water networks, food processing plants, energy facilities, or mining sites, reliability is not debatable: it's proven, winter after winter.

Local Expertise Makes the Difference

At VAMECA, we work in these conditions every day. We understand what a cold restart means, a blocked purge valve, or an actuator freezing in the field.
Our product selection, partners, and technical recommendations all share the same goal: ensuring service continuity, without leaks or shutdowns, regardless of external conditions.

Here, robustness is not a selling point.
It's a requirement. And this requirement guides every one of our technical recommendations.