Orion Valves has entered the Guinness World Record book for the largest wedge gate valve ever manufactured, marking a milestone in its 75th anniversary year. A Guinness World Record adjudicator officially certified the achievement during a presentation event, recognizing the Trieste-based company’s successful completion of a valve with a 114-inch classification.
The event, held at Innoway’s facilities in Trieste, welcomed over 600 guests, including Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional President Massimiliano Fedriga, Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza, representatives from project owners Saudi Aramco and Hyundai, and all Orion Valves employees.
The ceremony, with the valve prominently displayed center stage as a tangible symbol of technical engineering excellence and the region’s manufacturing capabilities, represented a moment of international recognition for both Orion Valves and the broader industrial supply chain. The project involved numerous key manufacturing companies in the region: SAIPH, an Orion-controlled subsidiary that served as the logistics hub and component coordination center; Acciaierie di Cividale, which performed the steel casting; Innoway, which hosted the final manufacturing phases; Petrolavori, which handled the painting; and Top Sistema, which will manage the valve’s packaging for transport.
The valve—classified as 114” – 150 Class Rating Cast Steel Wedge Gate Valve API 600—represents Orion Valves’ first Guinness World Record. Achieved in a particularly significant year, 2025 marks the company’s 75th anniversary and solidifies its position as a leading global energy sector operator.
Record-Breaking Dimensions
The valve reaches a height of 13,950 millimeters and weighs approximately 120 tons. It was developed for the Amiral Project, a world-class petrochemical complex currently under construction in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, through a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies. The valve will be installed in the flare header system—one of the critical components of petroleum production facilities designed to control and manage process gases.
Luca Farina, President of Orion Valves, commented on the achievement: “This is truly tremendous satisfaction. This valve represents the ingenuity and handiwork of hundreds of people—all our employees and collaborators at Orion Valves, along with our partners and suppliers. For our company, this recognition crowns 75 years of unwavering commitment, which in recent years has significantly expanded our role in the sector, and simultaneously inspires us to forge ahead with renewed momentum for the next 75 years, grounded in the quality of Italian manufacturing, and Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Made in Italy excellence, which is recognized worldwide.”
A Complex Engineering Project
Developing the valve required advanced design featuring finite element analysis (FEA) conducted through multiple iterations to verify the most critical load conditions and ensure fully certified pressure rating classification. The technical challenge lies in the valve’s inverted orientation during final installation—a factor requiring specific testing protocols and the development of specialized tools and adaptations, including a synchronized dual hydraulic key system for bolt tightening in an upside-down position. The valve was tested in an extraordinary test basin—4,760 mm long, 4,900 mm wide, and 5,000 mm deep—where it underwent functional verification in the same orientation it will operate in during service.
Regional Supply Chain Excellence
The project involved over twenty companies located in Friuli Venezia Giulia, as well as enterprises in Veneto and Croatia. During the manufacturing phase, the valve traveled hundreds of kilometers throughout the territory, passing through various processing and assembly centers. The collaboration with Gruppo Galperti proved instrumental, undertaking the production and machining of test flanges. Recognized among Saudi Aramco’s approved suppliers, the company maintained the quality standards required by international petroleum sector operators. This industrial ecosystem represents distinctive excellence in Friuli Venezia Giulia, where industrial tradition merges with technological innovation.
The valve will be shipped by sea in coming months according to timelines coordinated with Saudi Aramco, with installation at the Jubail site scheduled for 2026. A specialized vessel will transport the component through international ports, ensuring the protection and safety conditions necessary for equipment of this magnitude.
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