The New International Valves and Taps Alliance

The US, European and Japanese associations of valves and faucets manufacturers announce an unprecedented global strategic alliance

10th, December 2025 — Today marks the launch of the International Valves and Taps Alliance, a new global partnership bringing together for the first time the leading valve and tap manufacturers' associations from the United States, Europe and Japan. The announcement, released simultaneously and in a coordinated manner in all countries involved, is aimed at the entire production chain in the valve sector (industrial and civil), sanitary fittings, actuators, and fittings, marking the official launch of an international collaboration between manufacturers.

The process that led to the creation of the alliance began on 23 October in Milan, during the AVR2025 Assembly, when the participating associations drafted the founding document, that enters into force today.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed, arising from a shared awareness of the necessity to articulate the common priorities of the global valve and tap industry with a unified voice. The document represents a significant step towards fostering stronger and more structured collaboration between the leading international organisations in the sector.

The goal is to build a stable and transparent framework for comparison, to ensure a unified and consistent voice on the sector's common priorities, capable of leveraging international experience and offering shared tools to address the main technological, regulatory, and environmental challenges common to all companies operating in any country in the world.

The following organizations have joined the Alliance so far: AVR - Italian Association of Valves and Fittings Manufacturers, BVAA (United Kingdom), CIPHE (United Kingdom), EVOLIS (France), FLUIDEX (Spain), IAMPO (USA), JVMA (Japan), POMSAD (Turkey), SPAP (Poland), URS (Switzerland), VDMA (Germany), and VMA (USA). This broad and diverse group represents the most advanced components of the manufacturing sector, including sanitary fittings, valves for the building applications, industrial valves, fittings and actuators. The Alliance is explicitly aimed at the manufacturing sector and professional installers, building on existing dialogue and giving it a structured international framework.

The Alliance's work agenda for 2026 includes a comprehensive programme of joint initiatives, starting with the coordination of key issues such as sustainability, the energy transition and plant safety. Other priorities include establishing shared regulatory positions on strategic and cross-cutting issues across the entire supply chain, sharing studies and technical data, enhancing manufacturing quality, and fostering dialogue with international organizations engaged in standardization processes.

The Alliance also intends to provide coordinated support for advocacy and representation activities with governments and regulatory bodies. The shared commitment also includes conveying clear, consistent and convergent messages to public decision-makers that express a broad and solid international consensus.

"This alliance represents a significant step toward stronger, more informed global collaboration," said AVR President Sandro Bonomi. “Our industry is undergoing rapid change, which requires a shared vision and the ability to engage in dialogue between international stakeholders. By working together, we can strengthen our competitiveness, promote European quality, and foster balanced growth across the entire supply chain. We are convinced that this is only the beginning of a journey that will generate concrete benefits for all supply chain stakeholders."

The creation of the International Valve and Taps Alliance is an important sign for a sector that has long invested in innovation, sustainability, protection of public health and safety, environmental protection, and technical expertise. The alliance also aims to serve as a stable reference platform for associations, companies, and public authorities, facilitating ongoing international dialogue.

Today's announcement marks the beginning of a structured and ongoing process, not the end. With the official launch of the alliance comes a new phase of international collaboration focused on sharing and growth. This phase enhances the role of international standards as an essential lever for competitiveness. This perspective offers confidence and sets the conditions for developing long-term projects that sustain the quality and competitiveness of the entire supply chain.

AVR is the ANIMA Confindustria industrial association that represents Italian companies in the valves and taps sector. In 2024, the sector generated €9.55 billion in turnover, over 60% of which came from exports (data from the ANIMA Research Department).

ANIMA Confindustria is the industrial trade association within Confindustria that represents companies in the mechanical engineering and related sectors. This sector employs 221,700 people and has a turnover of €56 billion. In 2024, it had an export/turnover ratio of 60% (source: ANIMA Research Department). ANIMA represents the following macro-sectors: construction
and infrastructure, handling and logistics, food production, energy production, industrial production, and safety and the environment.