In July 2026, RAYS Flow Control officially received a Type Approval Certificate from the China Classification Society (CCS). This marks RAYS’ first CCS type approval, covering trunnion-mounted ball valves, floating ball valves, concentric butterfly valves, and eccentric butterfly valves.
Following the launch of the project, RAYS submitted its application to CCS and completed a series of assessment stages, including reviews of design drawings and design calculations, a factory audit, prototype manufacturing and improvement, and type testing. Among these stages, prototype improvement proved the most challenging. The team had to translate classification rules and review comments into specific product improvements while balancing manufacturability and testing requirements.
The approval demonstrates that RAYS has the capabilities and conditions required to manufacture the valve products listed on the certificate in accordance with the applicable requirements. It also strengthens the company’s marine valve portfolio and certification system, providing further support for its expansion into the marine market.
China’s shipbuilding and offshore engineering equipment industries are accelerating their transition toward higher-end, greener, and smarter development. In 2025, China accounted for 56.1% of global shipbuilding completions, 69.0% of new orders, and 66.8% of order backlogs. Meanwhile, the value added of the marine vessel industry and the offshore engineering equipment manufacturing industry grew by 25.1% and 10.2%, respectively.
Valves are critical components in shipboard piping systems, where they perform functions such as media conveyance, shutoff, isolation, and flow control. Their design, materials, and manufacturing quality directly affect the stable operation of the piping system. Classification society approval is therefore an important prerequisite for valve products entering the marine supply chain.
This CCS type approval covers four product categories: trunnion-mounted ball valves, floating ball valves, concentric butterfly valves, and eccentric butterfly valves.
Collectively, the approved range covers sizes from 2" to 32" and pressure ratings from Class 150 to Class 2500. With their different structures and specification ranges, the four product categories support a broad range of shutoff and isolation duties in shipboard piping systems—from small and medium sizes to large sizes, and from conventional to high-pressure applications.
This achievement was made possible by the expertise and close collaboration of the engineering, manufacturing, quality, and testing teams throughout every stage of the project. We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the design drawings, prototype improvements, test validation, and audit process.
The issuance of the certificate is not the finish line. It also introduces ongoing requirements for future manufacturing. RAYS will continue to manufacture in accordance with CCS approval requirements, integrate these requirements into day-to-day quality control, and support marine piping projects with stable and consistent manufacturing capabilities.
