Diaphragm Valves

Saunders - The Science Inside

Industrial Diaphragm Valves

Saunders — the inventor of the original diaphragm valve in 1928. Millions in service worldwide across chemical, mining, water treatment, fertilizer, marine, and industrial applications.

Engineered for corrosive and abrasive applications with 100% leaktight closure. Available in weir type (A Type), straight-through (KB Type), and high flow (K Type) designs.

Size Range	1/4" to 14" (DN8 to DN350)
Body Materials	Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Cast Steel, Bronze Gunmetal, SS 316
Body Linings	Natural Rubber, Butyl, Hard Rubber (HRL), Neoprene, PTFE, PFA, ETFE, PP, Glass
Diaphragms	Rubber (NBR, EPDM, FKM), PTFE/Rubber composite
Temp Range	-40°F to 347°F (-40°C to 175°C)
Pressure Rating	Up to 240 psi (16 bar) depending on size
Operation	Manual (Rising/Non-rising), Pneumatic (EC, SSC, ECX, ES)
Brand	Saunders (Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions)

Valve Types

Saunders Diaphragm Valve Range

Complete range of industrial diaphragm valves for corrosive, abrasive, aseptic, and industrial applications

A Type (Weir Type)

The Original Diaphragm Valve

Most widely used weir-type design with pocketless flow path. Available in screwed, flanged, and weld-end connections.

DN8-DN350 PTFE/PFA Lined Chemicals

KB Type (Straight-Through)

Full Bore Design

Straight-through body with full bore opening for maximum flow. Ideal for viscous fluids and abrasive slurries.

DN15-DN350 Low Pressure Drop Mining

K Type (High Flow)

Maximum Flow Capacity

Optimized for high flow applications with minimal turbulence and pressure drop.

DN40-DN350 Highest Cv Water Treatment

WFB Type (Marine/Fire)

Fire Fighting Applications

Specialized valves for marine and firefighting applications with enhanced reliability.

DN40-DN65 Fire-Resistant Marine Approved

Key Features

Why Choose Saunders Diaphragm Valves?

🔒

100% Leaktight Closure

Positive shut-off even with entrained particulates. All working parts isolated from line media.

🏭

Corrosion & Abrasion Resistant

Wide range of body linings and diaphragm materials for harsh chemical and abrasive environments.

⚙️

Low Maintenance

Three-part design allows maintenance without removing valve from line. Long diaphragm life.

🌊

Smooth Flow Path

Pocketless design prevents buildup. Linear operation avoids pressure surges.

✅

Fully Traceable

Batch-traceable diaphragms with molded identification numbers. FDA, USP Class VI conformity.

📐

Flexible Installation

Install in any position. Can be set for self-draining applications.

Applications

Typical Applications

⚗️

Corrosive

Chlor-alkali, acids, alkalis, organics, toxic fluids, pulp & paper

🏔️

Abrasive

Fertilizer, titanium dioxide, mining, coal slurry, FGD, cement, sugar

🏭

Industrial

Marine, paints, fire fighting, oil production, automobile, effluent, gases

💊

Aseptic

Pharma, biotech, WFI, cosmetics, clean water, CIP, food & beverage

Materials

Body Linings & Diaphragm Materials

Body Lining Options

Material	Applications
PTFE / PFA	Concentrated mineral acids at high temp, aromatic/aliphatic/chlorinated solvents
ETFE (Tefzel™)	Strong acids, salts at higher temperatures, solvents at medium temp
Polypropylene (PP)	Mineral acids, water, salts in water, effluent treatment chemicals
Glass	Multi-process chemical plants on acids and solvents
Hard Rubber (HRL)	Salts in water, dilute mineral acids, chlorine water, potable water, plating solutions
Soft Butyl (IIR)	Corrosive and abrasive slurries, mineral acids, acidic slurries
Neoprene (CR)	Animal, vegetable, fatty oils and greases; abrasive slurries wide pH range
Natural Rubber (AA)	High abrasion resistance - powders, abrasive slurries, clays, coal dust, gypsum

Diaphragm Materials

Type	Grade	Service
NBR	C, CV	Lubricating oil, cutting oils, paraffin, aviation kerosene
CR (Neoprene)	HT	Abrasive slurries containing hydrocarbons
NR (Natural)	Q, AA	Salts in water, dilute acids and alkalis, abrasives
FKM (Viton)	226	Concentrated acids, aromatic solvents, chlorine, ozone
CSM (Hypalon)	237, 286	Strong acids, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine gas, fire mains
IIR (Butyl)	300	Salts, acids, alkalis, drinking water (FDA, USP, WRAS approved)
EPM	425	Salts, acids, alkalis, ozone, intermittent steam (FDA, USP, WRAS)
PTFE/Rubber	P1-P7	2-piece: Strong acids, solvents, chlorine, bromine at high temp

Note: All diaphragms are fully traceable with batch identification. Certificates available for FDA, USP Class VI, and EN 10204 3.1b compliance.

Pneumatic Actuation Options

Saunders offers a complete range of compact pneumatic actuators for remote operation and process automation

EC / SSC Actuators

Compact Design (1/4" to 2")

EC: PES (Polyethersulphone) housing
SSC: 316 Stainless Steel investment cast
Operating modes: Double acting, spring close, spring open
Temperature: -10°C to +100°C ambient
Autoclave max: 150°C

ECX Actuators

Extended Range (2-1/2" to 6")

Coated silicon aluminum housing
Compact envelope size
Extensive spring pack flexibility
Available: Spring close, spring open, double acting
Optional: Switches, positioners, limit stops, visual indicators

ES Modular Actuators

High Performance (1/2" to 10")

Lightweight cast aluminum body
Interchangeable bonnets for flexibility
Low tension nested spring design (SC models)
Pre-drilled bracket mounting holes
Optional handwheel (SC and SO models)
Polyester powder paint finish

Control Accessories

Automation & Monitoring

Solenoid valves (banjo-mounted)
Limit switchboxes (mechanical/proximity)
Positioners (pneumatic/electro-pneumatic/digital)
Air filter regulators
Manual override options
ATEX / Hazardous area certifications available

⚡ Control Applications

Saunders diaphragm valves offer excellent control capabilities with 35:1 rangeability (ratio of maximum to minimum controllable flow). Linear inherent characteristics up to 60% travel. Positive shut-off eliminates need for separate block valves. Pressure recovery factor of 0.7 for optimal throttling performance.

Quality Assurance & Certifications

🏆 ISO 9001:2000 Certified

Quality management system registered. Optimized R&D and manufacturing processes maintain product quality and service excellence.

✅ Regulatory Compliance

FDA compliance (21 CFR 177.1550, 177.2600), USP Class V & VI, WRAS approved. EN 10204 3.1b material certification available.

🔬 Full Traceability

Batch-traceable diaphragms with unique molded identification numbers. Access to complete physical data for validation support.

🚢 Marine & Safety Approvals

Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA, UK Marine Safety Agency, DNV. WFB valves tested to BS 5041 Part 1 for fire resistance.

🔧 The Science Inside™

Saunders develops and manufactures its own polymer compounds with over 75 years of polymer technology expertise. This proprietary "Science Inside™" sets Saunders apart in delivering superior valve performance and reliability.

Saunders Aseptic

Aseptic (Pharma) Diaphragm Valves

Aseptic diaphragm valves for pharmaceutical, biotech and food applications. Forged SS 316L bodies, FDA-conforming diaphragms, ASME BPE compliant. The choice of the Life Science industry.

Size	8 mm to 200 mm
Body	SS 316L / Forged SS 316L / Bio-Block
Diaphragm	Rubber / PTFE / 3 Layer Steam Grade
Surface Finish	Electropolished, Ra measured
Standards	FDA, USP Class VI, ASME BPE, ISO 9001
Operation	Manual Handwheel / Pneumatic Actuators
Brand	Saunders