Safoco

What Safoco does

Safoco Inc. is a privately held Texas-incorporated manufacturer, founded in 1993 and headquartered at 9901 Regal Row in Houston, that designs and produces hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, API 6A gate valves, fracturing relief valves (FRV), and complete emergency shutdown (ESD) systems for oil and gas upstream operators. Core technology centers on diaphragm and hydraulic piston actuators with proprietary high-strength compression springs, API 6A-spec expanding split gate and slab gate valves, the FRV — which is described as the only relief valve proven to reseal after sand slurry relief events, with full bore pressure relief and valve reclose in under five seconds — and the SAMI (Safety Automated Monitoring Instrument) monitoring system supporting satellite, cellular, or radio connectivity for remote ESD triggering. The portfolio is protected by 12+ US patents granted between 2006 and 2016 and is delivered as both individual components and integrated, SCADA-ready, self-contained safety packages (Anchor EH hydraulic and Anchor EP pneumatic).

The company monetizes through direct, quote-based enterprise sales of hardware and packaged safety systems to a single customer vertical — upstream oil and gas operators — with no public pricing and no third-party distribution channel. Go-to-market relies on a website-driven quote request workflow and technical product specifications rather than broad digital marketing, consistent with a small, specialist sales force. Operations sit within a wholly owned Safoco Controls division (established 2009) that focuses on automated and remotely controlled surface safety valves, and the company has demonstrated at least one international offshore deployment via a North Sea rig. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no external institutional investors identified, and no public financial reporting; Safoco appears to be founder/management-owned and operates as a niche industrial equipment supplier with a 30+ year track record.

Name

Safoco

Legal name

SAFOCO INC.

Website

https://safoco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Safoco is a Houston-based, privately held manufacturer founded in 1993 that designs hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, API 6A gate valves, fracturing relief valves, and emergency shutdown systems for oil and gas upstream operators. It sells custom-configured, SCADA-ready safety packages via direct enterprise sales, supported by 12+ US patents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oilfield Safety Equipment

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Industrial Valve Manufacturing (332911), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Safety & Relief Systems (Flare Systems, PRVs, Explosion Protection) (IMAHAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Proportional & Servo Hydraulics (Electrohydraulic Valves, Servo Systems) (IMAHAGAF)

Keywords

• Oilfield safety valves
• Hydraulic actuators
• Pneumatic actuators
• Emergency shutdown systems
• Fracturing relief valves

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Safety Equipment Sales: Safoco generates revenue through the sale of specialized hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, gate valves, emergency shutdown systems, and fracturing relief valves to oil and gas operators. Products are sold as complete packaged systems and individual components with accessories.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Safoco manufactures and sells hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, gate valves, emergency shutdown systems, and fracturing relief valves for oil and gas wellhead applications. The company's product portfolio includes diaphragm actuators (A-Model, E-Model), hydraulic piston actuators (H-Model), API 6A gate valves, and the patented Fracturing Relief Valve (FRV). Through its Safoco Controls division, the company also delivers the SAMI safety monitoring instrument and complete Anchor EH/EP emergency shutdown system packages.

Product overview

Safoco is a manufacturer of industrial actuators and valves for the oil and gas industry, founded in 1993. The company offers a portfolio of diaphragm actuators (A-Model, E-Model), hydraulic piston actuators (H-Model), and the Diaphragm Actuated Gate Valve (DAGV). The valve lineup includes API 6A Gate Valves (3,000-5,000 PSI) and API 6A Slab Gate Valves (10,000-15,000 PSI). Safoco's specialty products include the Fracturing Relief Valve (FRV) - a relief valve proven to reseal after sand slurry events - and the Anchor Emergency Shutdown System available in hydraulic (EH) and pneumatic (EP) configurations. Through its Safoco Controls division (established 2009), the company offers the SAMI (Safety Automated Monitoring Instrument) system for remote ESD monitoring. Products are complemented by various actuator accessories including overrides, limit switches, and sensors. The company emphasizes safety, reliability, compact design, fast response time, and easy maintenance across its product range.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safoco Controls: Safety control systems and automated monitoring instruments (SAMI) for oil and gas wellheads, including fully automated and remotely controlled SSVs communicating via satellite, cellular, or radio connectivity.
• Anchor
• FRV

Products and services

• A-Model Diaphragm Actuator Diaphragm actuator designed for surface safety valve applications, featuring a rugged design that eliminates galling, misalignment, and distortion during operation. Used by oil and gas operators for SSV actuation.
• E-Model Diaphragm Actuator Diaphragm actuator combining simplicity with ease of maintenance for surface safety valve applications, supplied normally in fail-closed configuration with pneumatic pressure supply driving the reverse ported gate.
• H-Model Hydraulic Piston Actuator Hydraulic piston actuator combining simplicity with ease of maintenance, featuring wear bearings to eliminate close tolerance problems and the industry's strongest compression spring for reliable gate valve closure in oilfield SSV applications.
• DAGV (Diaphragm Actuated Gate Valve) Diaphragm actuated gate valve suitable for multiple industry applications, available with reverse gate (normally closed) or direct gate (normally open) configurations with maximum rated working pressure of 3,000 PSI.
• FRV (Fracturing Relief Valve) The only relief valve on the market proven to reseal after a sand slurry relief event, providing full bore pressure relief and complete valve reclose in less than 5 seconds. Utilizes a gate valve controlled by a fail-open hydraulic actuator with two pressure transducers with 0.25% accuracy and digital pressure settings up to 20K PSI non-mechanical.
• Frac Relief Valve System Complete fracturing relief valve system for fluid systems at 100 BPM and 12,000 PSI, featuring relief valve orifice sized according to API 520 with digital pressure settings up to 20K PSI.
• API 6A Gate Valve API 6A-specification gate valve designed for working pressures 3,000 through 5,000 PSI with manually operated expanding split gate design, non-rising stems, and positive mechanical gate seat seal on both upstream and downstream sides with tungsten carbide hard-faced gates and seats.
• API 6A Slab Gate Valve Forged slab gate valve available in 10,000 and 15,000 PSI configurations with forged steel valve bodies and bonnets, featuring bi-directional sealing direct acting slab gate design with metal-to-metal seat-to-gate sealing surfaces.
• Anchor EH (Hydraulic Emergency Shutdown) Complete emergency shutdown system package featuring a gate valve with matched hydraulic actuator, integrated small volume hydraulic power unit, and dedicated controller. SCADA-ready, self-contained solution with optional telemetry package for remote monitoring and control.
• Anchor EP (Pneumatic Emergency Shutdown) Emergency shutdown system with industry-proven gate valve, pneumatic actuator, integrated pneumatic power unit and dedicated controller. SCADA-ready, self-contained solution with optional telemetry package for remote monitoring and control.
• Actuator Accessories Standalone accessory offerings including Clear Stem Protector, Manual Override, Hydraulic Override, Fusible Lock-Open Cap, Electrical Limit Switch, Continuous Position Indicator, Proximity Sensors, Proximity Switch, Pneumatic Switches, and Magnetic Read Switch for use with Safoco actuator products.
• SAMI (Safety Automated Monitoring Instrument) Safety automated monitoring instrument developed by Safoco Controls for remotely triggering Emergency Shutdown systems at wellheads. Available as fully automated and remotely controlled units communicating via satellite, cellular, or radio connectivity, designed to complement surface safety valves.

Quantifiable outcome

• FRV provides complete valve reclose in less than 5 seconds after a relief event
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Cameron (Schlumberger): Cameron, now part of SLB, is one of the largest manufacturers of wellhead equipment, surface safety valves, and pressure-control systems for oil and gas. It overlaps directly with Safoco's SSV, ESD, and gate valve portfolio but at much greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
• TechnipFMC: TechnipFMC supplies integrated wellhead systems, valves, and pressure-control equipment to upstream oil and gas operators. Its surface and subsea wellhead products compete with Safoco's actuator and ESD offerings at the enterprise level.
• National Oilwell Varco (NOV): NOV is a leading manufacturer of wellhead and pressure-control equipment, including gate valves and frac-related fluid handling systems used in hydraulic fracturing. Its wellhead technologies and pressure pumping offerings overlap with Safoco's actuator and FRV products.
• Flowserve: Flowserve is a major manufacturer of industrial valves, pumps, and seals used in oil and gas, power, and chemical processing. Its industrial and oilfield valve portfolio competes directly with Safoco's API 6A gate and slab gate valves.
• ITT Inc. ITT's Industrial Process segment produces engineered valves, pumps, and fluid management systems for oil and gas and process industries. Its oilfield valve business competes with Safoco's actuator-driven valve systems on wellhead and upstream applications.
• Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth is a global supplier of hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, valves, and motion control systems for industrial and mobile equipment. Its fluid power portfolio is a broader-scale analog to Safoco's hydraulic and pneumatic actuator technology for oil and gas.

Direct peers

• Velan Inc. Velan is a focused manufacturer of industrial steel valves — including gate, globe, check, and severe-service valves — for oil and gas, power, and chemical markets. Its high-pressure gate valve line directly parallels Safoco's API 6A gate and slab gate valve products.
• Forum Energy Technologies: FET manufactures wellhead equipment, valves, and pressure-control products for upstream oil and gas, including products used in hydraulic fracturing. Its wellhead and pressure pumping lines overlap with Safoco's FRV and ESD system offerings.
• CIRCOR International: CIRCOR manufactures flow control products including severe-service valves, fittings, and instrumentation for oil and gas. Its engineered valves for upstream and midstream applications overlap with Safoco's actuator and gate valve portfolio.
• Moog Inc. Moog designs high-performance hydraulic and electromechanical actuators, motion control systems, and components for industrial and aerospace markets. Its industrial actuator business is a close technological analog to Safoco's hydraulic piston and diaphragm actuators used in wellhead applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safoco-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Safoco