Flowstar
Flowstar is a UK-based B2B distributor and the self-described largest UK stockist of safety, relief, and reducing valves, serving industrial and commercial buyers from its Hull warehouse via an online trade portal and inside sales. It also offers in-house valve overhaul, recertification, and calibration services alongside its own-brand and multi-supplier product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersSutton On Hull, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Flowstar does
Flowstar (legal entity: Flowstar (UK) Limited, Company No. 01384915) is a privately held, Hull-based specialist distributor and stockist of industrial valves operating from a purpose-built warehouse on Wiltshire Road in East Yorkshire. The company self-positions as the UK's largest stockist of safety, relief and reducing valves. Its catalog spans safety valves, pressure relief valves, pressure reducing valves, sustaining valves, pilot operated safety valves, API safety relief valves, refrigeration valves, marine valves, nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) valves, hygienic fittings and gaskets, laboratory taps, and storage tank valves (F100/F200/F300/F400 series). Adjacent product lines include rupture discs and rupture disc holders (covering NanoScored, Sanitary, Forward Acting, Reverse Acting, Ultra Low Pressure, Double Way, and Graphite variants) and turbine flow meters with frequency-to-current signal conversion accessories.
Revenue is generated through two streams: (i) one-time product sales of distributed and own-brand Flowstar valves, rupture discs, instrumentation, and accessories, and (ii) professional services including safety relief valve overhaul and repair, recertification and recalibration, pressure gauge recalibration, NABIC pressure test certification, and letters of conformity. The go-to-market is B2B trade-only, executed via a GOb2b-powered e-commerce storefront at flowstarvalveshop.com where registered trade customers access personalized pricing, real-time stock visibility, invoices, statements, and certification documents, supplemented by telephone sales, email/fax order capture, and counter collection at Hull. Trade customers can apply for credit accounts (typically 30 days after month end, underwritten via Experian), and pay-as-you-go cleared-funds accounts support order immediacy for non-credit buyers.
The underlying technology is conventional industrial distribution: a B2B ecommerce site integrated with inventory management, same-day despatch operations (order by 5pm Mon-Thu, 4.30pm Fri) via FedEx (with DHL as alternative) for parcel, pallet, sameday, and international delivery, plus an in-house workshop staffed by manufacturer-trained technicians delivering OEM-quality valve servicing with full photographic traceability. The company holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and supports sector-specific accreditations including ASME Section VIII Division 1 (UD stamp), PED CE, ATEX EX II 2 GD, 3-A Sanitary Standards, FDA, USP Class VI, and Eu 10/2011 compliance on relevant product lines. Operating geographies are primarily UK with international shipping made available, and no parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, or acquisitions are disclosed.
Flowstar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flowstar
- Legal name
- Flowstar (UK) Limited
- Website
- https://flowstarvalveshop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Flowstar is a UK-based B2B distributor and the self-described largest UK stockist of safety, relief, and reducing valves, serving industrial and commercial buyers from its Hull warehouse via an online trade portal and inside sales. It also offers in-house valve overhaul, recertification, and calibration services alongside its own-brand and multi-supplier product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flowstar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Valve Distribution
- NAICS
- Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers) (IMAHAGAK)
Keywords
Where Flowstar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sutton On Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Flowstar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Industrial Valve Product Sales: Flowstar generates revenue primarily through the resale of industrial valve products including safety valves, relief valves, reducing valves, rupture discs, storage tank valves, turbine flow meters, marine valves, and related products. Sales are made to trade customers via an e-commerce platform, telephone, fax, and email. The company offers credit accounts (30-day payment terms) and cleared funds payment options.
- Valve Test, Overhaul & Repair Services: Professional service for test, overhaul and repair of safety relief valves, including recertification and recalibration. Services include pre-test, dis-assembly, inspection, cleaning, seat skim, disc & seat lapping, re-certification, and seal & tag. Also includes pressure gauge recertification and pressure test certificates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Trade Account (Credit) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Cleared Funds Account |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Valve Repair Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Flowstar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flowstar is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor (stockist) of industrial valves, principally safety, pressure relief, pressure reducing, and sustaining valves, plus specialized valves for marine, refrigeration, laboratory, hygienic, and storage tank applications. The company also distributes complementary instrumentation such as turbine flow meters and rupture discs. Beyond product distribution, Flowstar operates in-house service capabilities for safety relief valve testing, overhaul, repair, recertification, pressure gauge recalibration, and certification documentation, performed by manufacturer-trained staff with full photographic traceability.
Product overview
Flowstar is a UK-based specialist distributor and stockist of industrial valves and related equipment, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on safety, relief, and pressure reducing valves. The core product lines include Safety Valves, Pressure Relief Valves, Pressure Reducing Valves, Sustaining Valves, and Pilot Operated Safety Valves, complemented by specialized valves for marine, refrigeration, laboratory, and hygienic applications. The company also stocks complementary instrumentation products including Turbine Flow Meters with associated sensors and frequency-to-current converters, as well as rupture disc/bursting disc safety devices with comprehensive holders and accessories. Storage tank valves (F100, F200, F300, F400 series) address tank overpressure and vacuum protection needs. Beyond product distribution, Flowstar provides value-added services including Safety Relief Valve Recertification and Overhaul/Repair services, Pressure Gauge Recalibration, and various certification services (NABIC, Pressure Test, Letter of Conformity). The company positions itself as the UK's largest stockist of safety, relief and reducing valves, operating from a purpose-built warehouse with same-day despatch capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Safety Valves Safety valves designed to protect industrial systems from overpressure conditions by automatically releasing pressure when preset limits are exceeded.
- Pressure Relief Valves Pressure relief valves that automatically relieve excess pressure in systems to prevent damage or catastrophic failure.
- Pressure Reducing Valves Valves that reduce incoming pressure to a desired downstream pressure level for system protection and operational control.
- Sustaining Valves Valves designed to maintain system pressure at predetermined levels during operation.
- API Safety Relief Valves Safety relief valves designed and certified to API (American Petroleum Institute) standards for oil, gas, and petrochemical applications.
- Pilot Operated Safety Valves Safety valves that use a pilot system to control the main valve opening, providing precise
Quantifiable outcome
- Same day despatch for orders placed by 5pm (Mon-Thu) and 4.30pm (Fri)
Companies that use Flowstar
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Flowstar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Flowstar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Altecnic CalefficoreFlowstar stocks and distributes Altecnic Caleffi branded valve products as part of its extensive product range. Altecnic Caleffi is a manufacturer of heating and water system components.
- BesacoreFlowstar stocks and distributes Besa branded valve products. Besa is a valve manufacturer.
- RWC (Reliance Water Controls)coreFlowstar stocks and distributes RWC (Reliance Water Controls) branded valve products, featured as a top-selling product line on the website.
- FedExminorFedEx is the primary parcel delivery partner used by Flowstar for shipping orders to customers. Tracking numbers are provided on dispatch day with tracking link, service information, and label address confirmation.
- ExperianminorFlowstar uses Experian credit reference agency to determine credit suitability for UK trade account applicants as part of the account opening process.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Flowstar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Flowserve Corporation: Global manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals, and automation for industrial flow control. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying valves to oil & gas, chemical, and power markets that Flowstar services, but as a manufacturer rather than distributor.
- Crane Co. Global diversified industrial manufacturer producing engineered valves, fittings, and fluid handling products across multiple process industries. Overlaps with Flowstar's safety/relief valve portfolio but as a large manufacturer with own-brand global distribution.
- KITZ Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of industrial valves (ball, gate, globe, check) for chemical, oil & gas, and HVAC applications. Comparable in product category overlap (industrial valves) with broader geographic and brand reach than Flowstar.
- IMI plc (IMI Critical Engineering): UK-listed global engineering group specialising in flow control and actuation across power, petrochemical, and HVAC. Comparable in the safety/relief/process valve space but at substantially larger scale and with proprietary technology positions.
- Spirax Sarco Engineering plc: UK-listed specialist in steam, thermal energy, and industrial flow control. Comparable in safety valve and condensate handling product lines for industrial steam systems that intersect Flowstar's sustaining and pressure reducing valve portfolio.
- Watts Water Technologies: Global manufacturer of water safety and plumbing products including pressure reducing valves and backflow preventers. Directly comparable in pressure reducing valve categories that Flowstar stocks as a distribution partner.
Direct peers
- Reliance Valves (RWC): UK valve manufacturer featured as a top-selling product line on Flowstar's website. Closely comparable in target customer (UK trade) and product portfolio (pressure reducing, safety, and relief valves) and explicitly referenced as a Flowstar distribution partner.
- Brammer Buck & Hickman (Rubix): UK industrial MRO distributor (now Rubix) supplying bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and industrial components. Direct peer in industrial B2B distribution model targeting UK trade customers, overlapping with flow control and MRO demand pools.
- ERIKS UK: UK industrial parts and services distributor (sealing, fluid power, flow technology). Direct peer in UK industrial distribution with overlapping valve, sealing, and fluid power categories and similar trade-customer customer base.
- Valves Online (The Valve Shop): UK online-focused valve distributor targeting trade customers. Direct peer operating a similar e-commerce led valve distribution model in the UK, competing for the same industrial trade account buyers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Flowstar social profiles
Digital presenceFlowstar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Flowstar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flowstar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Flowstar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flowstar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flowstar
What does Flowstar do?
Flowstar is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor (stockist) of industrial valves, principally safety, pressure relief, pressure reducing, and sustaining valves, plus specialized valves for marine, refrigeration, laboratory, hygienic, and storage tank applications. The company also distributes complementary instrumentation such as turbine flow meters and rupture discs. Beyond product distribution, Flowstar operates in-house service capabilities for safety relief valve testing, overhaul, repair, recertification, pressure gauge recalibration, and certification documentation, performed by manufacturer-trained staff with full photographic traceability.
Is Flowstar a public or private company?
Flowstar is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Flowstar founded?
Flowstar was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Flowstar based?
Flowstar is headquartered in Sutton On Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Flowstar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industrial Valve Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are valve Test, Overhaul & Repair Services.
Who are Flowstar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Flowserve Corporation, Crane Co., KITZ Corporation, IMI plc (IMI Critical Engineering), Spirax Sarco Engineering plc and Watts Water Technologies. Direct peers are Reliance Valves (RWC), Brammer Buck & Hickman (Rubix), ERIKS UK and Valves Online (The Valve Shop).
Does Flowstar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flowstar.
What industry is Flowstar in?
Flowstar's product category is Industrial Valve Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAC, Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves), with a secondary code of IMAHAGAK, Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers). Its NAICS code is 332912 and its SIC code is 3533.