DFT
DFT® Inc is a privately held U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1943, specializing in non-slam axial-flow check valves and severe-service control valves. It serves 14+ industrial verticals including power generation, petroleum, chemical processing, and food/pharma through direct sales and a global distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1943
- HeadquartersNewport Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DFT does
DFT® Inc is a privately held U.S. industrial valve manufacturer founded in 1943 and headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania (with a secondary Newport Beach office address listed). The company specializes exclusively in non-slam, axial-flow check valves and severe-service control valves, holding 23+ product models across threaded, wafer, flanged, sanitary, vacuum breaker, severe service, and special-purpose configurations spanning line sizes from ¼" to 42" and ASME pressure classes from 125 to 2500. Its core technology is a spring-assisted, center-guided disc architecture that prevents water hammer by closing before flow reversal, with proprietary design elements including optimized body-to-inlet diameter ratios, soft-seat O-rings for bubble-tight shutoff, and a venturi-cage single-orifice spherical ball design for its control valve line. Materials range from cast iron to nickel-aluminum bronze, with severe-service variants featuring Stellite bushings, Xylan-coated discs, and Colmonoy-coated stems.
DFT serves 14+ industrial verticals including power generation, chemical processing, petroleum production & refining, mining, municipal water treatment, food/beverage/pharmaceutical (with 3-A sanitary certification), gas transmission, and semiconductor, with documented applications spanning boiler feed, compressor discharge, cryogenics, digesters, pump discharge, and steam lines. The business model is B2B specification-driven enterprise sales: products are quote-priced (no public pricing), sold through a combination of direct field sales with territory-based coverage and a global authorized distributor network with a dedicated partner portal. DFT holds AS9100D-ISO 9001:2015, API 6D Monogram, CE marking, 3-A Sanitary Standards, and ANAB accreditation, enabling access to aerospace, petroleum pipeline, European, and hygienic processing markets. The company generates revenue through one-time product sales plus aftermarket parts (170+ repair kit options), with a digital self-service catalog, CAD library, and HubSpot-integrated RFQ system supporting the modern buyer journey.
DFT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DFT
- Legal name
- DFT® Inc
- Website
- https://dft-valves.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1943
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DFT® Inc is a privately held U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1943, specializing in non-slam axial-flow check valves and severe-service control valves. It serves 14+ industrial verticals including power generation, petroleum, chemical processing, and food/pharma through direct sales and a global distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DFT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Flow Control Valves
- NAICS
- Metal Valve Manufacturing (33291), Industrial Valve Manufacturing (332911), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Valves & Cartridge Valves (Directional, Pressure, Flow Control) (IMAHAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seals, Valves & Auxiliary Components (for Pumps/Compressors) (IMAHANAH), Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where DFT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DFT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Industrial Valve Sales: DFT generates revenue through the sale of check valves and control valves to industrial customers across multiple sectors including power generation, chemical processing, oil and gas, mining, municipal water, and food/pharmaceutical industries. Products are sold through direct sales and distributor networks with quote-based pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Industrial valve products - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
DFT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DFT manufactures non-slam, axial-flow spring-assisted check valves and severe service control valves for industrial fluid handling applications. The check valve lineup spans threaded in-line, wafer, flanged, sanitary, vacuum breaker, and severe service configurations in carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, and nickel-aluminum bronze. Control valves feature a proprietary venturi-cage design with quick-change trim for liquids, gases, steam, mixed-phase and dirty fluids across multiple pressure classes and end connections.
Product overview
DFT® Inc is a world-class manufacturer of check valves and control valves, established in 1943. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of non-slam, axial-flow check valves designed primarily to prevent or eliminate water hammer problems. Their check valve lineup includes multiple series: threaded in-line valves (BSS/Basic-Check, SCV, SCV-R), wafer-style valves (ALC, WLC, WLC SS, WLC BF, WLC Cast Iron, FBC, TLW), flanged silent check valves (GLC, GLC SS, GLC Cast Iron, GLC NAB, Excalibur, Excalibur SS, Excalibur NAB), specialty valves (PDC for reciprocating compressors, BSSV vacuum breakers, DSV sanitary valves), and flanged valves (DLC). Their control valve offerings consist of the HI-100 Severe Service Control Valve and Ultra-Trol Flanged Abrasive Service Control Valve, both featuring a unique venturi-cage design with single orifice technology. The company also provides repair kits for all valve series. DFT serves diverse industries including power generation, chemical processing, petroleum production, mining, municipal water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and more.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BSS (Basic-Check) Threaded In-Line Check Valve Versatile all-purpose, non-slam, spring-assisted threaded in-line check valve for liquids, steam, and gases. Available in line sizes 1/4" through 2-1/2" with CWP ratings of 450-6000 psig.
- BSSV Vacuum Breaker Check Valve Vacuum breaker valve providing protection against collapse of pressure vessels, tanks, and rolls during transient pressure drops. Line sizes 1"-4", CWP 450-6000 psig.
- SCV Threaded In-Line Check Valve Threaded in-line check valve with non-slam, spring-assisted design for water hammer protection. Line sizes 1/2" to 3", CWP 750 and 3600 psi. ASTM A351 CF8M stainless steel body.
- SCV-R In-Line Restrictor Check Valve Self-contained in-line restrictor check valve for higher cracking pressure applications. Non-slam spring-assisted design, CWP 750 psi, line sizes 1/2" to 2".
- FBC Insert Wafer Check Valve Non-slam, spring-assisted insert wafer check valve for water hammer and reverse flow prevention. Compact and lightweight, installs between two flanges. Six sizes 1" to 4", ASME Class 150 and 300.
- DLC Flanged Check Valve Corrosion-resistant flanged check valve for liquids, gases, or steam with non-slam spring-assisted design and tight shutoff. Line sizes 1/2"-3", ASME Class 150 and 300. Electron-beam welded center body joint.
- DSV Sanitary Check Valve Spring-assisted non-slam sanitary check valve for flow reversal prevention meeting 3-A cleanliness codes. 316L stainless steel body, 32 Ra internal finish, quick release clamp. Eight sizes 1/2" to 4".
- ALC Wafer Check Valve Non-slam, spring-assisted, center-guided wafer check valve preventing water hammer and reverse flow. Line sizes 2"-24", ASME Class 150 and 300 raised face.
- GLC Silent Check Valve
Quantifiable outcome
- Non-slam operation prevents water hammer and associated pipe/component damage
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DFT
Customer profileSegments12 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
DFT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
DFT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Thomas Marketing ServicesminorWebsite development and digital marketing services partner. Thomas Marketing Services built the DFT corporate website.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DFT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crane Co. Diversified industrial manufacturer with a substantial Flow Solutions segment that produces check valves, process valves, and related flow-control products. Directly comparable to DFT in the check-valve category, though Crane operates at vastly greater scale and serves a broader portfolio of end markets.
- Flowserve Corporation: Global leader in pumps, valves, seals, and flow-control automation serving oil & gas, power, chemical, and water markets. Overlaps with DFT in industrial check and control valves for severe-service applications, though Flowserve offers a much broader portfolio including pumps and actuation.
- Emerson Electric (Fisher / Keystone): Through its Fisher and Keystone brands, Emerson supplies process control valves and severe-service check valves to refining, chemical, and power customers. Overlaps directly with DFT in non-slam and severe-service valve categories but at materially greater scale and with integrated automation offerings.
Direct peers
- Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing Corp. US-based manufacturer specializing in check valves, air valves, and silent check valves for water/wastewater and industrial markets. Highly comparable to DFT's product positioning in non-slam and silent check valves, with similar size and a competing focus on municipal and industrial verticals.
- Flomatic Valves: US-based manufacturer specializing in check valves and automatic control valves for water/wastewater, irrigation, and industrial markets. Closely comparable to DFT in non-slam check valve design and similarly sized, with overlapping municipal and industrial customer segments.
- Mueller Steam Specialty: Long-established US manufacturer of check valves and strainers serving power, refining, chemical, and marine markets. Directly comparable to DFT in non-slam check valves and severe-service applications, with a similarly focused industrial product line.
- Velan Inc. Specialty manufacturer of industrial valves including severe-service check valves for power, oil & gas, and cryogenic applications. Direct competitor to DFT in the axial-flow silent check valve niche with overlapping certifications (API, ASME) and a comparable severe-service product line.
- ARI Valve Corporation: Manufacturer of industrial check valves, control valves, and severe-service flow-control products for power, oil & gas, and chemical processing. Overlaps with DFT in check and control valves for severe service with a comparable target customer base.
- Henry Pratt Company: US manufacturer of valves and hydrants for water/wastewater and industrial applications, including check valves. Comparable to DFT's municipal water and industrial valve portfolio, though Pratt's specialty is large-diameter water infrastructure.
Regional players
- Kirloskar Brothers Limited: India-based manufacturer of pumps, valves, and related flow-control equipment serving power, water, and industrial markets across Asia and the Middle East. Comparable to DFT in industrial valves but primarily a regional competitor outside North America.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DFT social profiles
Digital presenceDFT compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
DFT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DFT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DFT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DFT 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 DFT
What does DFT do?
DFT manufactures non-slam, axial-flow spring-assisted check valves and severe service control valves for industrial fluid handling applications. The check valve lineup spans threaded in-line, wafer, flanged, sanitary, vacuum breaker, and severe service configurations in carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, and nickel-aluminum bronze. Control valves feature a proprietary venturi-cage design with quick-change trim for liquids, gases, steam, mixed-phase and dirty fluids across multiple pressure classes and end connections.
Is DFT a public or private company?
DFT is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DFT founded?
DFT was founded in 1943. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DFT based?
DFT is headquartered in Newport Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does DFT make money?
One revenue line is on record: industrial Valve Sales.
Who are DFT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crane Co., Flowserve Corporation and Emerson Electric (Fisher / Keystone). Direct peers are Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing Corp., Flomatic Valves, Mueller Steam Specialty, Velan Inc., ARI Valve Corporation and Henry Pratt Company. Kirloskar Brothers Limited is listed as a regional player.
Does DFT have an API?
No public API is recorded for DFT.
What industry is DFT in?
DFT's product category is Industrial Flow Control Valves. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAE, Valves & Cartridge Valves (Directional, Pressure, Flow Control), with a secondary code of IMAHANAH, Seals, Valves & Auxiliary Components (for Pumps/Compressors). Its NAICS code is 33291 and its SIC code is 3533.