SAMSON

History of SAMSON Company

Founded in April 1907 by Hermann Sandvoss, SAMSON AG began with a self-operated thermostat valve for grain silos. By 1916, it had relocated to Frankfurt am Main. Over the decades, SAMSON expanded into pneumatic control valves (1950s), digital control systems (1980s), and formed a joint venture with Krohne in 2019. Today, with over 4,600 employees worldwide across 50 subsidiaries and more than 200 agencies, SAMSON reported around €30.7 billion in revenue in 2024.

 

Products, Characteristics & Specifications

SAMSON specializes in comprehensive flow control solutions for fluids, ranging from digital control valves to automation systems and digital platforms.

1. Control Valves & Accessories

SAMSON’s modular control valves, including globe, angle, three-way, rotary, and cryogenic variants, cover all standard sizes and pressure classes. They offer exchangeable trims, bellows seals, insulating sections, and are compatible with both pneumatic and electric actuators. For example, the 3321 electric DIN-style globe valve operates with steam, gas, or liquids from –10 to 300 °C, covering DN15–DN100 and PN16–PN40, and may include flow dividers for noise reduction.

1.1) 3241 Globe Control Valve (Electric & Pneumatic)

SAMSON’s widely used Type 3241 globe valve is built for low-pressure and throttling applications, offering both electric and pneumatic variants under ANSI, DIN, and JIS standards. Models serve temperature ranges from –196 °C to +425⁰C (–320 °F to +797 °F) for cryogenic to steam services.

-It supports valve sizes from DN 15 up to 300 (½″–12″) and pressure ratings up to PN 40/ANSI 300.

-The valve body is available in cast iron, spheroidal graphite iron, cast or forged steel, stainless steel, and specialized alloys.

-Trim options include metal-seated or soft-seated plugs, noise-reducing flow dividers, anti-cavitation trims (AC‑1/AC‑2), perforated plugs, and pressure-balanced designs.

-Stem sealing options range from adjustable packing and bellows seals to insulating sections and heating jackets.

-Accessories include strainers (Type 2 N/NI), silencers, and welded ends.

 

1.2) Actuation

-Pneumatic actuators (Types 3271 or 3277) feature rolling diaphragms, internal springs, bench ranges from 120 to 2,800 cm², low friction, and optional handwheel override.

-Electric actuators (Types 3374 or 3274 electrohydraulic) offer 15 or 30 mm travel, optional fail-safe action, synchronous motors with planetary gears, and compatibility with SAM DIGITAL and integrated digital positioners or stepper motors.

 

1.3) Digital Readiness

Electric actuator models can be supplied SAM DIGITAL ready, equipped with digital positioners and integrated diagnostics accessible via TROVIS-VIEW software.

 

2. Rotary Valves (Ball, Butterfly):

SAMSON offers a range of rotary valves, including:

-Multi-turn and quarter-turn ball valves with fire-safe, metal-seated, and high-temperature designs.

-Butterfly valves, available in wafer or lug styles, with optional triple-offset trims for tight shutoff and low emissions.

-Valve bodies are made in cast/ductile iron, steel, or stainless steel, supporting DN sizes from 50 to 600 and suitable for ANSI Class 150–300 services.

Accessories include locking handles, gearboxes, and electric actuators with failsafe and smart feedback options.

 

3. Actuators & Smart Positioning

They provide pneumatic linear and rotary actuators (10 Nm to ≥5,000 Nm torque), electric actuators with or without fail-safe, and hydraulic variants. Electric actuators feature integrated controllers, remote protocols (HART, PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION Fieldbus), and explosion-proof certifications

In addition to Type 3271/3277 pneumatic and 3374 electric actuators, SAMSON provides:

-Hydraulic and electrohydraulic actuators for heavy-duty valve applications.

-A full complement of accessories: positioners, solenoid valves, limit switches, and manual overrides.

-Series 3730/31/3793 smart positioners support HART, PROFIBUS, Foundation Fieldbus, offering diagnostics like partial stroke testing, travel histograms, and SIL certifications.

 

3.1) Positioners & Signal Converters

Smart digital positioners (Series 3730/31/3793) feature HART, PROFIBUS, and Foundation Fieldbus options, full diagnostics, intrinsic safety (Ex‑ia/d/e), built-in displays, and remote configuration via TROVIS‑VIEW. Positioners support predictive maintenance through partial-stroke testing and continuous performance logging.

 

4. Sensors, Thermostats & Automation Systems

SAMSON offers sensors and thermostats for heating and district heating systems, as well as electric automation systems supporting remote control with alarm management and data logging. Remarkably, it still manufactures pneumatic automation systems, a rarity in today’s market.

SAMSON continues to advance in power-independent regulators for automatic control of pressure, temperature, and flow, perfect for industrial applications requiring tight self-regulation without external power.

They also produce thermostats and sensors for district heating systems, including thermostatic radiator valves with electric room thermostats and remote control capabilities.

 

5. Digital Solutions – SAM DIGITAL & SAM Valve Management

Their SAM Valve Management is a web-based platform that aggregates data from smart positioners, offering real-time diagnostics, including histograms, geolocation, and algorithm-driven predictive maintenance. It features ISO 27001- and GDPR-compliant security with two-factor authentication.

SAMSON’s SAM Valve Management platform integrates data from smart positioners into a secure web portal, enabling real-time valve health tracking, diagnostics, location mapping, and maintenance planning. It is fully compliant with ISO 27001 and GDPR, featuring two-factor authentication for access control

 

Pros & Cons of SAMSON products

Pros

Full-spectrum control valve portfolio with modular design.

Industry 4.0 innovation via smart diagnostics and remote control.

Global support network with local production and R&D.

Products certified for explosion safety and diagnostic precision.

 

Cons

Complexity in digital systems demands skilled setup and maintenance.

Premium valuations reflect advanced capabilities and quality.

Integration into existing control systems may require adaptation.

 

SAMSON’s Key Competitors

SAMSON competes with several flow-control and automation giants:

Emerson, Flowserve, ABB, Honeywell, and Siemens in valves and automation.

Niche competitors: Fisher, AUMA, Velan, Kitz, Metso (compete on valve types, specialties, and regional strength).

 

Conclusion

With a heritage spanning over a century, SAMSON AG has evolved into a leader in fluid process control. Its strengths lie in modular valve design, smart digital positioners, self-operated regulators, and web-based asset management. Although their advanced systems carry higher complexity and cost, the benefits—particularly around predictive maintenance and Industry 4.0 readiness—make them highly attractive for industries requiring high reliability and safety. Backed by a solid service network and global footprint, SAMSON remains at the forefront of precise, sustainable, and digital flow control.

 

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