Manual needle valves and automated needle valves
Needle valves can be made of a variety of materials to meet the needs of the application. A common material used in water or plumbing applications is copper. However, plastic, aluminum, brass and stainless steel are also common materials that are used in the construction of needle valves.
When considering the uses of needle valves, the manual operation is most commonly thought of. Manual operation is when the handwheel is turned to adjust the rate of flow. Needle valves can also be made without a handwheel and be designed to connect to a system that will adjust the valve based on a programmed schedule. The automation of the needle valve provides even greater flow control.