Hydraulic systems are a key building block of the machinery used in many industries, but many of the traditional components and designs come with limitations. At Domin, we have developed next-generation servo valves that deliver unparalleled performance to suit every industrial sector, without compromise to cost, efficiency, and reliability.
Traditionally, engineers have had to choose between two-stage valves, which offer high speed and precision but are notoriously inefficient, and proportional valves, which emphasise energy efficiency and durability but can be large and bulky. Recognising this challenge, Domin set out to develop a groundbreaking solution that delivers the highest levels of both efficiency and performance, without compromise. We leverage 3D printing and brushless motor technology to create compact, high-performance valves. Our innovative design enables high flow rates, ultra-fast response times, and precise, linear control.
This article will help you select the right valve from Domin’s growing lineup of high-performance valves, each designed for specific performance needs in different industrial applications.
Let’s examine how different industrial sectors can benefit from Domin’s cutting-edge valve technology.
What Sets Domin Valves Apart?
A question that we get asked quite often by our clients is whether our valves fall under the category of servo valves or proportional valves. Before we answer this, let’s first clarify what servo and proportional valves are, and what sets them apart.
Conventional servo valves can be defined as two-stage mechanical feedback valves that offer exceptional step response and high-frequency response in a lightweight and compact design. These are very common in laboratory applications such as simulation and testing. The term proportional valve, on the other hand, is typically applied to direct-drive valves with electrical feedback. These are not considered as high-performing as their servo counterparts in terms of dynamics, but they have very robust designs, high flow, and high reliability. These valves are typically used in industrial environments such as wood processing, metal processing, and plastic injection moulding, to name a few.
Domin Valves, however, are not considered to fit either the typical servo or the typical proportional valve category. They are unique. They combine the best features of both valve types without the compromises that typically come with them. This allows our valves to be used in a broader range of applications, including many of the typical application settings of both the servo and the proportional valve.
Domin Valves in Different Industries
Our lineup of valves offer unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications. They cover a range of hydraulic system needs, from our compact, lightweight S4 Pro to our powerful S12 Pro, designed for high-flow rate applications. The S12 Pro is best suited for industrial environments, especially hydraulic presses and the energy sector.
Let’s take a closer look at a few common industries and which of our valves usually are best suited to them.
Test and Simulation Industry
Accuracy is everything in the test and simulation industry. And servo valves are crucial components when it comes to achieving precise, fast, and responsive control of hydraulic systems in this sector. They enable accurate replication of real-world conditions in a controlled environment by regulating the pressure and flow rates of hydraulic fluid.
Test and simulation systems with Domin Valves implemented in them can achieve enhanced speed, more accurate force control, and better repeatability of the desired load cycle, leading to more reliable and consistent testing processes.
Some of the test equipment that can benefit from the use of Domin Valves include:
- Hydraulic Test Systems: Servo valves control fluid flow and pressure to simulate various conditions for testing equipment performance and durability.
- Motion Simulators: They control actuators that replicate movements, providing realistic testing conditions for vehicles, aircraft, and other machinery.
- Structural Testing: Servo valves help apply precise loads and displacements to structures or materials, aiding in the evaluation of strength and ductility under various conditions.
- Aerospace and Automotive Testing and Simulation: Servo valves are critical in aerospace and automotive testing, used in both full-system simulators—such as motion platforms for vehicles and flight control systems—and component-level tests like fatigue, vibration, or brake system evaluations.
The Domin S6 Pro is our most suitable valve for this industry. This valve is engineered to meet the rigorous demands of test and simulation environments. It offers high dynamic response, precision, and repeatability in challenging conditions by integrating the compact form factor and power density of direct drive technology with the reliability of high-quality proportional valves. Some key specifications are:
- Rated Flow: 10–63 l/min
- Hysteresis: <0.2% Leakage: <1.1 l/min Mass: 0.55 kg Frequency Response: >220 Hz
- Response Time at 100% Step Input: <3.5 ms
- Electronics: Onboard
- Size: NG06 (CETOP 03)
For more information on the S6 Pro valve, please download the datasheet here.
Another valve that does well in simulation environments is the S4 Pro Domin Valve, which offers characteristic Domin performance in our smallest form factor. Other areas where this valve is used include aerospace, automotive or motorsports, animatronics, robotics, and marine applications. The key specs for this valve are seen below:
- Rated Flow: 0.5-18 l/min
- Hysteresis: <1% Leakage: <0.45 l/min Mass: 0.29 kg Frequency Response: >200 Hz
- Response Time at 100% Step Input: <3 ms
- Electronics: Onboard
- Size: S01
Metal Processing Industry
Servo valves play a critical role in the metal processing industry. They provide precise and efficient control of hydraulic fluid flow and pressure, supporting a wide range of metal processing applications, including cutting, forming, extrusion, and rolling. The ability of these valves to regulate hydraulic systems with high accuracy makes them indispensable in modern manufacturing processes. Some key applications of servo valves in the metal processing industry are:
- Metal Forming: Servo valves regulate hydraulic actuators in forging, stamping, and pressing. They ensure accurate force and position control for precise components with tight tolerances.
- Rolling: They control roller pressure and position in hot and cold rolling, maintaining uniform thickness and high-quality metal sheets and strips.
- Extrusion: In metal extrusion, servo valves manage speed and pressure to ensure a consistent flow, improving the quality and uniformity of extruded profiles.
- Hydraulic Pressing: Servo valves enable precise force application in metal stamping, bending, and punching.
- Casting: They regulate mould-filling and solidification, minimising defects and improving casting quality.
- Cutting and Shearing: Servo valves control cutting force and speed. It allows for clean cuts with minimal deformation.
- Heat Treatment: They ensure uniform hydraulic control in quenching and tempering, which optimises metallurgical properties for improved part performance.
Domin Valves are an excellent choice for challenging applications in the metal processing industry. They deliver precision and accuracy, ensuring high-quality results with tight tolerances through superior control. By optimising hydraulic power usage, these valves boost energy efficiency, cutting down on energy costs and supporting sustainability efforts.
Their rugged design ensures reliability and consistent long-term performance in harsh conditions. What’s more, Domin Valves are customisable, which means that they can be tailored to specific industrial requirements.
The Domin S6 Pro is an excellent fit for the metal processing industry. Another strong choice for this industry is the S10 Pro, which can handle higher flow rates than the S6. Key performance specifications for the S10 Pro are as follows:
- Rated Flow: 50–250 l/min
- Hysteresis: <0.2% Leakage: <3 l/min Mass: 4 kg Frequency Response: >150 Hz
- Response Time at 100% Step Input: <7 ms
- Shock Resistance: 50 g
Another good option for the metal processing industry is Domin’s S12 Pro valve. It’s a high-performance hydraulic valve that offers the following:
- Rated Flow: Up to 250 l/min at 10 Bar
- Frequency Response: 100 Hz
- Response Time at 100% Step Input: <9 ms
Timber Industry
Servo valves are key components in the precision control of timber, or wood processing, industry machinery. They are used in the following applications within the timber industry:
- Optimisers: The valves regulate the positioning and movement of cutting tools, such as sawing and trimming systems, to maximise yield from raw timber.
- Band Saws: Servo valves control the feed rate and blade tension, ensuring accurate and consistent cuts.
- Veneer Lathes: They manage the rotation and cutting mechanisms to produce uniform and high-quality veneer sheets.
These applications require good precision and reliability, often in challenging environments filled with wood chips and sawdust. Domin Valves are specifically designed to thrive in these harsh conditions, delivering robust performance and minimising maintenance needs. This is why they are a reliable choice for the timber industry.
Domin Valves that are well-suited for the wood processing industry are:
- S6 Pro: Suitable for applications requiring rated flows between 18 and 60 litres per minute.
- S10 Pro: Designed for higher flow demands, 50 to 250 litres per minute.
Plastics Industry
In the plastics manufacturing industry, servo valves are indispensable for achieving precise control over hydraulic systems in a variety of applications. In injection moulding, they regulate injection speed and pressure, ensuring consistent mould filling and high-quality plastic parts. This precision enhances repeatability, reduces scrap rates, and improves overall product quality. For extrusion blow moulding, servo valves adjust the die gap to control the parison’s (the tube of molten plastic) wall thickness, helping to produce uniform, defect-free hollow plastic products with better control over dimensions and material distribution.
Domin Valves excel in these applications, offering high reliability, precision, and energy efficiency. The S6 Pro servo proportional valve is particularly well-suited for polymer manufacturing processes, featuring:
- Rated flows from 18 to 60 litres per minute, catering to diverse operational needs.
- A compact, lightweight design for easy integration into existing systems.
- High dynamic response and low hysteresis, ensuring accurate and repeatable control.
The S12 Pro is also an excellent fit for the plastics industry, with higher flow rate capabilities compared to the S6 Pro.
By making use of Domin Valves, plastics manufacturers can achieve:
- Increased Reliability: Robust construction minimises downtime and maintenance costs.
- Enhanced Precision: Advanced control algorithms ensure consistent product quality.
- Energy Savings: Efficient designs reduce energy consumption and lower CO₂ emissions, supporting sustainable operations.
Marine Environments
In the marine industry, servo valves are critical for controlling hydraulic systems that power essential operations, such as steering and positioning systems. Domin’s high-performance valves excel in demanding marine environments due to their corrosion resistance and offer precision, reliability, and durability.
Key applications of Domin’s valves in the marine industry include:
- Steering Systems: Servo valves control rudder movements, ensuring precise navigation and manoeuvrability for safe vessel operation.
- Winch and Crane Operations: They enable accurate lifting, lowering, and positioning in cargo handling and subsea tasks.
- Dynamic Positioning Systems: Servo valves maintain vessel stability and position, which are crucial for offshore drilling and sensitive operations.
- Subsea Equipment Control: They provide precise hydraulic control for ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and underwater equipment, ensuring accurate manoeuvrability.
Domin’s servo valves are built for harsh marine conditions. All of our valves typically offer:
- High Precision: Ensures accurate control for critical operations.
- Robust Design: Withstands saltwater, pressure, and contaminants.
- Energy Efficiency: Reduces operational costs and environmental impact.
Industry Leading for Every Application
At Domin, we pride ourselves on making the world’s best servo valves. Thanks to our unique design and approach to manufacturing, we can produce the most reliable and energy-efficient valves on the market while maintaining industry-leading performance characteristics. Our products are built to excel in even the most demanding applications, offering unmatched precision, durability, and responsiveness.
Our range of valves offer enough flexibility in key features like flow rate, pressure range, and response time, for you to find a Domin Valve for almost any application. Whether it’s industrial manufacturing, test and simulation, energy systems, or metal processing, Domin valves deliver the performance and reliability you need.
The examples mentioned here are just a few of the many common applications for our valves. Ultimately, the best valve for your specific needs will depend on contributing factors like flow requirements, footprint, and operating conditions. To help you make the right choice, we’ve created a helpful guide on how to build a Domin Valve.
Explore the full range of Domin Valves today and discover the perfect solution for your industry’s needs and most challenging applications.
