FAQs of Tri Clamp Manifold

1. What is the accuracy advantage of the Tri Clamp manifold?

Precision index industry top, and 100% full inspection guarantee:

• Size precision: pipe diameter tolerance ±0.05mm (same line ±0.1mm), branch angle error ≤0.5° (same line ≤1°), flange sealing surface flatness ≤0.02mm (Same trade ≤0.05mm), Flow channel diameter tolerance ±0.1mm (peer ±0.2mm)
• Testing equipment: Each processing equipment is supported by a Hexagon coordinate measuring instrument (Accuracy ±0.001mm). 100% of finished products pass a “size full inspection + sealing test + flow resistance test.”
• Actual effect: When matched with Plumberstar sanitary valves, the connection gap is ≤0.03mm, the seal leakage rate is ≤1×10 Pa·m³/s, and the flow resistance coefficient is 15% lower than that of the same industry, ensuring stable medium flow (fluctuation ≤2%), especially suitable for high-precision fluid control systems.

2. What is the Tri Clamp manifold manufacturing process?

The ex-factory pass rate is ≥99.9%.
Details are as follows:
Raw material procurement: We exclusively use 304/316L coils from Taiyuan Iron and Steel and Baosteel (tolerance: ±0.01mm), as well as imported Hastelloy blanks (German VDM brand).
Raw material inspection: Use a spectrometer to test chemical components (testing time ≤30 seconds per piece). Use ultrasonic flaw detection (detection depth ≤20mm, defect detection rate 100%).
CNC machining: Use CNC lathes to process the tube body (speed 8000/rpm). Use machining centers to mill flanges (positioning accuracy ±0.005mm).
Salt spray test: Use neutral salt spray test chambers.
Full-size inspection: Use coordinate measuring machines to test key dimensions.
Appearance inspection: Use endoscopes to check the inner surface (no scratches, no impurities).
Finished product packaging: Package by standard classification. Each package comes with a quality traceability card (including batch number, raw material furnace number, and test data).

3. Can customized structures be provided for the tri-clamp manifold?

• Standard Structures:

T-manifold (2 in 1 out / 1 in 2 out), Y-manifold (split angle 45°, flow resistance 30% lower than T-type), Multi-way manifold (3–10 channels, branch spacing ≥50mm), Shunt manifold (main pipe to multi-branch, shunt uniformity ±3%), Confluence manifold (multi-branch to main pipe, no turbulence during confluence)

• Custom Structures support full-dimensional customization:

Unequal diameter branches (e.g., main pipe DN50 → mixed branches DN25/DN32)
Inclined branches (30°/60°/120° and other arbitrary angles)
Integrated functional interfaces (G1/2 pressure gauge interface, DN15 sampling port, DN20 drain port)
Special flow channel designs (low flow resistance, anti-vortex)

4. How is the salt spray test and corrosion rate data of the tri-clamp manifold?

Test conditions: 5% NaCl solution, 35℃ temperature, 95% humidity, continuous spray; standard GB/T 10125; Corrosion data: 304 stainless steel (1000 hours, corrosion rate 0.008mm /year); 316L stainless steel (1500 hours, corrosion rate 0.004mm /year); 316L nickel plating (2000 hours, corrosion rate 0.002mm /year); Hastelloy C276 (5000 hours, no visible corrosion); test report: SGS issues formal report with photos of corrosion morphology and weight change data, which can be used directly for customer quality check record.

5. What are the tri-clamp manifold advantages in terms of sanitary grade?

Sanitary grade advantages quantified up to standard, fully in line with GMP (2010 version) requirements:

• Internal surface treatment: adopt “mechanical polishing + electrolytic polishing” dual process, roughness Ra≤0.4μm (conventional model), Ra≤0.2μm (high precision model), Ra≤0.1μm (electronic grade model), no scratches (depth ≤0.02mm), depression (Area ≤0.1mm²) and other defects;
• Structure design: flow channel fillet transition (R≥ 3mm), no right-angle dead angle, weld adopts internal welding + polishing treatment (Weld clearance ≤0.2mm), avoid medium residue;
• Material compliance: 100% of parts in contact with medium pass FDA 21 CFR Part 177 certification, heavy metal migration (Pb≤0.01mg/kg, Cd≤0.005mg/kg, As≤0.003mg/kg) far below the national standard limit;
• detection guarantee: each batch of sampling for microbial detection (total colony count ≤10CFU/g), particle count detection (≥50μm particles ≤3/m²), can provide a complete GMP compliance report, and is the pharmaceutical and food industry’s preferred brand.

6. What is the difference between brass and stainless steel Tri Clamp manifolds?

Brass and stainless steel tri-clamp manifolds differ in corrosion resistance, temperature tolerance, cost, and applications.
Stainless steel—especially 304/316L—has better sanitary performance. It’s ideal for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Brass is extremely durable and resistant to high pressure. It works well with other brass fittings. People often prefer it for heating and plumbing systems because of its sturdiness. But brass can have dezincification issues. For large systems, brass also incurs higher costs.

7. What materials are available for the tri-clamp manifold?

①304 stainless steel: Chemical composition Cr18%-20%, Ni8% -12%, C≤0.08%, Tensile strength 515-689MPa, Yield strength ≥205MPa, Adapt to temperature-20℃~120℃, Medium for water, juice, normal temperature chemicals scene, cost-effective, accounting for 60% of total sales
②316L stainless steel: Ultra Low Carbon(C≤0.03%), Mo2% -3%, tensile strength 485-655MPa, yield strength ≥170MPa, chloride ion resistance ≤2000ppm, suitable for pharmaceutical, seawater desalination, weak corrosion chemical scene, accounting for 35% of total sales.

8. What is the pressure test standard for the Tri Clamp manifold?

The pressure testing of the Plumberstar Tri Clamp manifold follows strict international standards and internal factory controls. All tests are conducted in a clear and repeatable manner to ensure safety and reliability for global markets.

Test medium:
Clean tap water is used.
All air inside the pipeline is fully discharged before testing to avoid false readings.

Test equipment:
An automatic hydraulic test machine is used, with an accuracy of ±0.001 MPa.
Pressure sensors and data recorders capture the full pressure curve in real time.

Test method:
Every finished product is tested. There is no sampling inspection.
Each unit generates its own pressure test report, which includes the batch number, test time, and pressure curve.
This data is fully traceable.

Handling of nonconforming products:
Any product that shows leakage or deformation during testing is scrapped immediately.
Repair is not allowed.
Scrap items are destroyed through a centralized process and fully documented.

9. Do you maintain QC documentation for traceability for manifolds?

1. Core Identity Documents for Valves and Heating Manifolds
Product identification labels: Every valve and heating manifold gets a unique, traceable code. It can be a serial number, batch number, or traceability code. We keep records of how these codes are created and used. All codes are tied to our full traceability document system.
Production and order tracking recordsOur production records spell out clear details for each order. They include the target market, shipment info, and all related customer data.
Raw material and component traceability reports. We hold traceability test records for all key materials and parts. This covers brass bars, stainless steel, seals, fittings, and other critical components.
2. Inspection and Testing Traceability Documents
Factory inspection reportsOur inspection reports follow the valve testing standards of your target market. For example, EN standards for the EU or API standards for the USA. They cover all core performance checks: sealing, pressure resistance, and flow capacity.
Type test reports. We do type tests for two cases. One is for valve models exported for the first time. The other is after any structural or design changes. All reports meet the standards of the destination country.
Destructive test reports (when required). We run destructive tests if customers ask for it or local rules demand it. The reports clearly list the applicable standards, test methods, parameters, and final results.
3. Export Compliance and Regulatory Traceability Documents
Customs clearance documents, Commercial Invoice (CI), Packing List (PL), and Bill of Lading (BL) clearly show the quantity of valves and heating manifolds per order. They also note the batch matching info.
Certificate of Origin (CO): It’s used to get tariff preferences in some countries. It also acts as proof of origin when customers need it.
Mandatory certifications: We have all the necessary ones. This includes but isn’t limited to CE marking for the EU, CSA certification for Canada, cUPC certification for the USA, and WaterMark certification for Australia.
Material compliance reports. Some customers need extra test reports. Things like REACH and RoHS. These reports confirm our valve and manifold materials don’t contain restricted hazardous substances.
4. Distribution and After-Sales Traceability Documents
Logistics and transportation records. We document transportation routes and handling records. If needed, we also track temperature and humidity during transit. This helps find and fix any issues that happen during shipping.
Customer receipt and acceptance recordsCustomers sign off to confirm product receipt. They check and confirm the identifier codes, quantities, and product condition. These records are formal proof of delivery.
After-sales service and recall records. If problems pop up after export, we document everything. This includes all maintenance work, recalled batches, corrective actions, and final resolution results.

10. How do you verify thread accuracy on each manifold?

To ensure the accuracy of threads for valves and heating manifolds (hydraulic separators/divers), we have 3 core aspects: design standards, production and machining, and inspection and verification. The thread requirements for these two products share certain similarities.

Clarify the Standards for Thread Specifications​

For export to Europe, ISO metric threads (M series) or BSPT are typically used. Unified Thread Standards (NPT, UNEF, UN/UNC/UNF) are more commonly used. Valves and heating manifolds, with thread standards suitable for selected applications, such as NPT and G (ISO 228/Standard Pipe).

Threads for valves must comply with EN 10226 (specifications for pipe threads and fittings). Threads for heating manifolds, used in HVAC systems, are specified in standards such as EN 331 in Europe and ASME in the USA.

Common Thread Inspection Tools​

Thread plug and ring gauges: These are fundamental inspection tools. The “Go” gauge should pass through the thread smoothly, while the “No-Go” gauge should not, allowing for quick verification of basic thread accuracy in terms of pitch diameter, pitch, and thread form. This is a rapid inspection method for mass production.

Thread gauges (plug/ring gauges): Used to check the dimensional accuracy of threads.

Thread Inspection for Valves​

As valve threads are used for pipe connections, it’s better to thread a water pipe directly and turn it on /off for one more test after leakage approval.

Heating manifolds have multiple threaded ports, so the positional accuracy of each thread must be inspected to ensure the relative positions of all loop threads meet design requirements and avoid misalignment during pipe connection.

The first piece should undergo a full inspection to confirm machining accuracy during mass production.

Sampling inspections should be conducted according to AQL during the mass production process.