The Valve Manufacturing Association (VMA)’s next Valves, Actuators & Controls 101 course will take place on April 2–3 at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, MO. In response to the growing popularity of the course since its launch in 2009, VMA expanded the program from one-and-a-half to two full days.

Originally created specifically for newcomers to the industry, the event has become popular among a much larger group. The seminar brings together employees and supervisors of the plants that use valves, actuators and controls with distributors and sales reps who want to understand better the products they sell. Personnel from valve manufacturing companies would be in the classroom with the staff that specify and purchase valves and related equipment. They learn together with engineers in the early phase of their careers, as well as advanced-level mechanical engineering students.

The Valves, Actuators & Controls 101 course consists of lessons that guide attendees through the world of valves and the systems they help control, starting with simplest types of valves and moving into the more complicated automated products, including actuators and controls. Those who complete the course receive a certificate from the Valve Manufacturers Association indicating they have earned 12 hours of continuing education.