A ball valve controls liquids and gases in pipelines with a quarter turn – fully open or tightly closed. FERGO supplies ball valves in stainless steel, brass, steel and ductile iron (GGG40) with DIN and ANSI connections. You can operate them by hand lever or automate them with a pneumatic or electric actuator.
1,180 ball valves · 9 subcategories · 6 body materials · DN8–DN250 · PN10–PN100 and ANSI Class 150 · standard models delivered across the EU in 2–7 working days
A ball valve controls liquids and gases in pipelines with a quarter turn – fully open or tightly closed. FERGO supplies ball valves in stainless steel, brass, steel and ductile iron (GGG40) with DIN and ANSI connections. You can operate them by hand lever or automate them with a pneumatic or electric actuator.
1,180 ball valves · 9 subcategories · 6 body materials · DN8–DN250 · PN10–PN100 and ANSI Class 150 · standard models delivered across the EU in 2–7 working days
Ball valve range in stock – 1,180 variants with fast EU delivery
A ball valve is the first choice when you need to shut off a pipeline quickly and reliably. FERGO is your supplier of industrial ball valves, from small threaded valves in DN8 to flanged valves in DN250. Standard models ship from stock. As a result, delivery across the EU usually takes 2–7 working days.
FERGO also supplies actuated valves as complete units. You therefore source the valve, actuator and accessories from one supplier and save coordination effort.
Controlling liquids and gases with a ball valve
Inside the valve sits a ball with a bore. When the bore lines up with the pipe, the medium flows almost unhindered. A 90° turn then rotates the ball and seals the passage tightly. That is why this design suits on/off duty so well. However, it is less suitable for fine flow control, because the seats wear faster in intermediate positions. For this task, we recommend our globe valves.
The table below shows which version suits your medium:
| Medium | Recommended version | Matching category |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water and natural gas | DVGW Drinking Water or WRAS · DVGW Gas to DIN EN 13774 | DVGW ball valves |
| Compressed air, cooling and process water | Brass or stainless steel with female thread | Threaded ball valves |
| Hot water and steam | Stainless steel or steel, seat material to suit the temperature | Flanged, weld-end |
| Acids, alkalis and solvents | Stainless steel 1.4404, duplex 1.4470 or PFA lining | Special materials, PFA-lined |
| Viscous or solidifying media | Version with heating jacket | "Heating jacket" filter in the configurator |
| Low temperatures | Body in ASTM A350 LF2 | "Body" filter in the configurator |
Before you order, check chemical compatibility with our resistance tool.
Choosing a ball valve by design and connection
The right design depends on the pipeline, nominal size and mode of operation. The table lists all nine subcategories with typical series:
| Version | Typical use | Series (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Threaded ball valve (female thread) | Water, compressed air and heating in small sizes | KH104 (brass), KH109 and KH113 (stainless steel) |
| Flanged ball valve | Process and distribution lines up to DN250 | KH155, KH156 (compact), KH120, KH121 |
| Weld-end ball valve | Permanently sealed lines in plant engineering | KH154 (three-piece, stainless steel) |
| 3-way ball valve | Diverting, distributing and mixing | KL103, KL113, KL112 and KT112 |
| Pneumatic ball valve | Automated plants with fast switching cycles | Single- or double-acting |
| Electric ball valve | Remote operation without compressed air | 24 V, 230 V or 240 V |
| DVGW ball valve (water and gas) | Drinking water and gas lines | KH123W, KH124W, KH121, KH122G, KH124G |
| Special materials | Aggressive chemicals and chloride-bearing media | Duplex 1.4470, ceramic balls |
| PFA-lined ball valve | Highly corrosive media | Flowserve Atomac AKH2, AKH2.2, AKH3 |
FERGO: the right ball valve for every pipeline
Three components determine how reliably a ball valve works: the body, the ball with its seats and the actuation.
The body
The body material sets the limits for medium, pressure and temperature. Brass, for example, suits water, compressed air and heating systems. Stainless steel such as 1.4408, 1.4401 or 1.4404 resists many chemicals. For chlorides and high pressures, duplex 1.4470 is the better choice. Steel and ductile iron (GGG40), on the other hand, cover large sizes economically. For low temperatures, ASTM A350 LF2 completes the range.
Ball and seats
Depending on the application, the ball consists of stainless steel (1.4408, 1.4404, 1.4401 or 1.4301), duplex, brass or ceramic. For aggressive media, FERGO also stocks PFA-lined valves from Flowserve Atomac. The seats mostly consist of PTFE, partly glass-fibre reinforced. This material resists chemicals very well and has low friction. As a result, the operating torque stays low.
Bore, port and connection
With a full bore, the opening in the ball matches the pipe cross-section. Pressure loss therefore stays minimal, and the line is easier to clean. A reduced bore, in contrast, saves weight and cost. On a 3-way valve, the bore defines the function: the L-bore diverts, while the T-bore distributes or mixes. Connections and face-to-face lengths follow common DIN, EN and ANSI standards such as EN 558-1:
| Feature | Options at FERGO |
|---|---|
| Nominal size | DN8 to DN250 (¼" to 10") |
| Flange | PN10, PN16, PN25, PN40, PN63, PN100 and ANSI Class 150 |
| Thread | Female thread to ISO 228-1 or ISO 7-1, NPT to ANSI, male/female thread |
| Weld end | For example series KH154 |
| Face-to-face length | EN 558-1 series 1 (F1), 14 (F4), 15 (F5) and 27 · ANSI B16.10 and B16.10 Short |
| Design | 2-way, 3-way and compact |
Manual, pneumatic or electric
A hand lever is the simplest solution for valves you rarely operate. For large sizes, however, a gearbox makes operation easier. If your plant needs automatic control, choose a pneumatic actuator or the J4C electric actuator. The comparison helps you decide:
| Criterion | Pneumatic | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Compressed air | Electricity (24 V, 230 V or 240 V) |
| Switching time | Very short | Longer, depending on actuator size |
| Fail-safe position | Single-acting with spring return, e.g. spring-closing (NC) | Optional fail-safe module (BSR) |
| Control | Via NAMUR solenoid valve | Directly via the control voltage |
| Feedback and positioning | Limit switch box, inductive sensor, positioner | Version with positioner |
| Typical use | Process plants with a compressed-air network | Sites without compressed air, building services |
If the valve sits in an insulated line, a stem extension creates the necessary clearance to the actuator. Matching flange gaskets also complete the installation.
FERGO: multiple certifications and approvals
Certified valves simplify planning, acceptance and operation. Our range includes valves with the following approvals:
- DVGW Gas to DIN EN 13774 – details from the DVGW (in German)
- DVGW Drinking Water for potable water supply – details from the DVGW (in German)
- WRAS – the UK approval for drinking water fittings, see WRAS Approvals
- TA Luft for low-emission stem seals – background from the German Environment Agency
- Fire Safe – the valve limits leakage even in a fire
- SIL 3 for safety instrumented functions
- AD 2000 Code A4 for valve bodies on pressure equipment
You can find all documents under Certificates. If you need a design outside the standard range, FERGO develops a custom solution.
Ball valve, butterfly valve or globe valve?
Not every task calls for a ball valve. The comparison shows when another valve fits better:
| Criterion | Ball valve | Butterfly valve | Globe valve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movement | 90° rotation | 90° rotation | Linear stroke |
| Main task | Shut-off (on/off) | Shut-off, simple throttling | Shut-off and control |
| Pressure loss (open) | Very low with full bore | Low, the disc stays in the flow | Higher due to flow diversion |
| Strength | Tight shut-off, fast switching | Short face-to-face, economical in large sizes | Fine flow control |
For large sizes in tight spaces, a butterfly valve is often more economical. With solids in the medium, we recommend knife gate valves instead. For highly aggressive media, PFA-lined plug valves are another option. In addition, an upstream strainer protects the seats, while a check valve prevents backflow.
Not sure which valve you need? Then our team will gladly advise you via the contact form. You can also read more technical articles on the FERGO blog. Technical data for all series is also available on fergo.eu.
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