JA Moody and Lexair Partner to Supply K-LOK Valves for U.S. Navy

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive butterfly valve api produces

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published Apr 25, 2023 4:37 PM by JA Moody

Two small businesses with decades of experience in the defense supply chain have teamed up to bring the U.S. Navy better service and quality for a familiar, proven product - the high-spec Keystone K-LOK butterfly valve, used for fuel, lube oil, AFFF and other fluid lines on every class of Navy ship.

When valve manufacturing conglomerate Emerson decided to leave the Navy marketplace, it ceased providing K-LOK valves. Longtime Navy distributor JA Moody stepped in to find a new solution and launched a partnership with another well-established small business, Lexair. With a formal procurement approval from NAVSEA now in hand, Lexair will be manufacturing these critical valves for the Navy and distributing them through JA Moody's established sales and service channels.

"By moving this product line to a small business that offers excellent customer service, product engineering, component machining and manufacturing in a modern state-of-the art facility, we can deliver better results to our end user Navy clients," says JA Moody President Lisa Smith. "Lexair has a lower overhead cost structure and the ability to actually manufacture in-house, which will result in better price and quality for the customer."

The Keystone K-LOK meets all Navy MIL-DTL-24624A standards, including demanding shock and vibration resistance requirements. It is available in 10 stock sizes from 2.5 inches to 14 inches. Wafer and lugged flange styles are both available. The ultra-durable valve body and disc are made of 316 stainless or NAB and Monel, with graphite packing and an RFTE seat. In addition, Fire-safe Stainless Steel Vent Valves (Figure 641/640), and Aluminum Vent Valves (Figure 640/660) built to BUSHIP drawings will be manufactured by Lexair for the Navy and available exclusively through JA Moody.

Lexair, based in Lexington, KY, is a third generation family owned small business and has been a Navy supplier since 1977. The company manufactures CO2 evacuation compressors and valves that are used on CO2 scrubbers for submarines, and it is the sole supplier for the US Navy for these components. In an era of supply chain challenges, Lexair offers the customer a major reliability advantage by manufacturing most of its own components in-house.

JA Moody brings its decades of distribution, stocking, packaging, assembling, and testing service for the US Navy and all its shipbuilders, operators, and contractors. It is a one-stop-shop for valve service for the surface and sub-sea warfare communities, from newbuild projects to in-service repairs to shipyard maintenance availabilities. Thanks to a large in-stock supply of the most common standard valve types, plus the on-site repair expertise of its Moody Marine Service division, its technicians can diagnose and resolve valve issues with a rapid turnaround.

With headquarters in Malvern, PA and additional service locations in Chesapeake, VA and Mayport, FL, JA Moody offers fast response to the biggest fleet concentration areas. This helps Navy customers prevent unwanted shipyard delays and get warships back in action on time. Even better, choosing JA Moody and Lexair allows the Navy to support small business and maintain the diversity and strength of the American defense industrial base.

"We will have these valves in stock for short lead time deliveries," says Smith. "Not only is the manufacturer going to be producing a high-quality product, but we are going to be keeping that product on our shelves to satisfy Navy demand."

This article is sponsored by JA Moody. Contact [email protected] for additional information or visit www.jamoody.com.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Published Jan 24, 2025 6:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

The competition to deliver the first ammonia-fueled engine continues to report progress with Swiss-based WinGD now reporting it expects to complete final validation in time for the first engine deliveries in June 2025. After achieving results with a single-cylinder in line with expectations, the company says in the coming months it expects to conduct multi-cylinder engine tests to validate the full-scale engine, turbocharger configuration, and control systems so that the engine can begin production. “The single-cylinder X DF A...

Published Jan 24, 2025 5:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

A historic World War II UK warship, HMS Wellington, has won a critical grant which will help to provide a reprieve from a very uncertain future. The last survivor of the “Battle of the Atlantic,” the grant will enable the Wellington Trust to proceed with implementing a revitalization project and a new business model as part of the efforts to save the vessel. The HMS Wellington, built in 1934 and docked on the Thames since 1948, was on the verge...

Published Jan 24, 2025 4:06 PM by The Maritime Executive

One of the sisterships to the containership Dali which destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge is reporting engine troubles in the Pacific. The vessel which is also managed by Synergy Marine and sailing under charter as the Maersk Saltoro is reported to have experienced an engine problem which is delaying the ship and risking a cargo of Chilean cherries bound for China. The details of the vessel’s current issues came to light because of concerns by the Chilean shippers....

Published Jan 24, 2025 2:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Coast Guard received a call for assistance Thursday night, January 23, after two fishing boats collided approximately 10 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island in Long Island Sound. Four people were rescued from one of the vessels after efforts to stop the ingress of water failed. “The quick thinking and preparedness of the crew, including donning survival suits and readying emergency equipment, played a crucial role in their safe rescue despite challenging conditions,” said Lt. Jonathan...