WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- The next Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibits is March 6-7 at the Hilton NASA Clear Lake in Houston. At the heart of this event is the Valves & Actuators 101 course, which consists of lessons that guide attendees through the world of valves and the systems they help control, starting with the simplest types of valves and moving into the more complex automated products, including actuators and controls.

The course also features a "Valve Petting Zoo," a hands-on experience that enables participants to "touch and feel" many of the products discussed during the course. Attendees are led in small groups to tables where valves, actuators and controls are displayed, and industry experts are on hand to answer specific questions about the products and further explain how they work.

The Valve Manufacturers Association of America (www.VMA.org), Washington, DC, launched this entry-level education program in 2009 to help educate industry newcomers as more experienced personnel head for retirement.

The Valves & Actuators 101 course also has been well-received by those who need a refresher course or wish to expand their knowledge about the products used to control flow in industries such as oil & gas, refining/petrochemical, chemicals, power generation, water & wastewater, commercial HVAC and more.

The event also features a tabletop exhibition (March 6 only) that showcases a variety of offerings from valve, actuator and control manufacturers, suppliers to the industry, and valve repair and service firms.

Registration is $565 ($600 after Feb. 15) for the first person from a company and $530 ($565 after Feb. 15) for each subsequent registration. Breakfast, lunch, breaks and a reception, as well as a reference manual, are included.

Those completing the course receive a certificate from VMA, and earn 10 hours of continuing education. For more information: http://www.vma.org/?ValveBasics.

The next Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibits will take place in Denver, Oct. 10-11, 2012.

VMA is holding its annual Technical Seminar & Exhibits, March 8-9, immediately following the Basics event in Houston. Designed for more experienced personnel, the topic is "Prevailing Challenges and Solutions for the Oil & Gas/Petrochemical Industries." For more information: http://www.vma.org/?page=2012TechSeminar.

CONTACTS:

• Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibits: Judy Tibbs (jtibbs@vma.org), VMA Director of Education (540-785-8901 office; 571-274-0402 cell)
• Technical Seminar & Exhibits: Angela Hingston-Oliver (ahingstonoliver@vma.org), VMA Meetings Manager (202-331-8105 x312) 

This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging e-mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.XpressPress.com.

SOURCE Valve Manufacturers Association of America

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