Industry Insights, News & Stories from MKS
Stay up to date with insights, updates, and real-world expertise from MKS Pipe & Valve. From industry trends to practical guidance on industrial pipe, valves, fittings, and system applications, our blog is built to help contractors and facilities stay informed and keep projects moving.
State of the Industry: What We're Seeing in PVF Right Now
Jun 8, 2026 | Industry News
Hyper-scale projects are tying up capacity, inventory is tight, and lead times can change overnight. MKS CEO Steven Adams breaks down what we are seeing in PVF right now in our first Commodity Report...
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How to Select the Right Industrial Valve: Ball, Gate, Globe, Butterfly & Check Valves Explained
Jun 6, 2026 | Products
Picking the wrong valve costs you in leaks, downtime, and rework. Here is how the main valve types differ and how to choose with confidence...
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How Steam Traps Work and Why a Failed Trap Quietly Drains Your Budget
Jun 5, 2026 | Training
A steam trap is a small device with a big job, and when one fails it rarely makes a sound. The cost shows up on your energy bill or in damaged equipment...
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Pipe Fittings Explained: Threaded, Socket Weld, Butt Weld & Flanged Connections
Jun 4, 2026 | Products
Threaded, socket weld, butt weld, or flanged. The connection method you pick shapes labor, pressure rating, and how easily you can service the line later...
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Steam Trap Audits: How to Find Failed Traps Before They Cost You
Jun 3, 2026 | Training
Steam traps fail quietly, and in an unmanaged system the failures stack up year after year. A trap audit is how you find them before they drain your budget...
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How to Choose the Right Gasket Material for Industrial Sealing
Jun 2, 2026 | Products
A gasket is a small part with an outsized job. Pick the wrong material and the joint leaks, so here is how to match gasket to service the first time...
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Pipe Schedules Demystified: What Schedule 40, 80 & Wall Thickness Mean
May 30, 2026 | Products
Schedule 40 versus Schedule 80 is really a question about wall thickness, pressure, and corrosion allowance. Here is how to read the numbers and choose correctly...
read more… Condensate Return Systems: Why Recovering Condensate Saves Energy & Equipment
May 29, 2026 | Training
Every pound of condensate you send down the drain is hot, treated water you already paid for. Recover it and the savings add up fast ...
read more… Flange Basics: ANSI Classes, Face Types & How to Spec the Right Flange
May 28, 2026 | Products
Class, type, and face all have to match on both halves of a flanged joint. Here is how to read ANSI flange classes and spec the right flange for the job...
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Carbon Steel vs. Stainless Steel Pipe: A Guide for Industrial Systems
May 26, 2026 | Products
Carbon steel pipe is the cost-effective workhorse for most general-purpose industrial systems where corrosion is not a daily concern. Stainless steel pipe is the right call when the system handles corrosive media, sanitary process flow, high-purity steam, or food-grade applications...
read more… Safety Relief Valves: How They Work, Testing Requirements & Compliance
May 25, 2026 | Training
A safety relief valve sits quiet for years, then has one job that has to work the first time. Here is how to make sure it does ...
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Understanding Valve Actuation: Manual, Electric & Pneumatic Options
May 23, 2026 | Products
Manual, electric, or pneumatic, the right actuator comes down to torque, speed, fail position, and environment. Here is how to choose and what accessories matter...
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Preventing Frozen and Burst Pipes in Midwest Industrial Facilities
May 21, 2026 | Industry News
The ice itself rarely splits the pipe. It is the trapped pressure downstream that does the damage, and that changes how you protect a facility ...
read more… Carbon Steel Pipe Grades: A53 vs A106 and When Each Belongs
May 20, 2026 | Products
ASTM A53 and ASTM A106 both show up on carbon steel pipe, but treating them as the same material is a mistake that catches people off guard...
read more… Water Hammer: What Causes It and How to Protect Your Piping System
May 18, 2026 | Industry News
Water hammer is a pressure surge that can burst pipe and crack fittings. Here is what causes it and how to design it out on both water and steam systems...
read more… Repair or Replace? A Decision Guide for Aging Industrial Valves
May 14, 2026 | Industry News
A failing valve does not always mean a new valve. Here is how to read the signs and decide between repair and replacement on aging industrial valves...
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Sourcing PVF in Kansas City & Omaha: How Two-Location Inventory Speeds Your Project
May 11, 2026 | Industry News
Waiting on PVF parts costs more than the parts. Here is how two stocked facilities in Kansas City and Omaha keep crews working and projects on schedule...
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MKS Pipe & Valve: A Trusted Industrial Supplier Built on Experience and Service
Apr 7, 2026 | About
For more than 75 years, MKS Pipe & Valve has kept Midwest contractors and facilities running with the right industrial pipe, valves, and fittings. Here is what three quarters of a century of experience actually buys you when a job is on the line.
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Mastering Steam & Condensate Basics
Mar 22, 2026 | Training
Understanding the fundamentals of steam systems is critical for maintaining efficiency and safety in any industrial facility. Our latest Steam Lab session covered the essentials...
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Why Order Accuracy is the Hidden Cost Saver
Feb 15, 2026 | Industry News
When parts are wrong or late, the real cost is not the replacement, it is the downtime. We dig into how a 99.99 percent accuracy rate directly protects your bottom line...
read more… Custom Solutions from the MKS Machine Shop
Jan 30, 2026 | Products
Can't find the exact part you need? Sometimes the best solution is a custom one. Explore how our in-house machine shop handles valve actuation and pipe fabrication...
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You won't find a team that works harder to take care of customers than the people who power MKS. Call us, shop online, or stop in for the right pipe, valves, or fittings.
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