MCE is a trusted valve and instrumentation supplier for Navy, OEM, and shipyard applications. Partnering with ASCO, a leading valve manufacturer, and a Navy engineering team, MCE helped redesign a critical component to improve systems reliability and crew comfort at sea.
What You’ll Learn
- How we solved corrosion and tampering in a critical Navy chilled water application
- Why vibration and shock compliance matters in real-world operations
- What it takes to build solutions that meet Navy approval for retrofit and new construction
- How we support procurement, integration, and ongoing maintenance with stocked parts and documentation
Who This Helps
> Naval Procurement Officers and DLA Buyers
You need trusted vendors with inventory, traceability, and experience navigating spec compliance> Shipyard Engineers and Project Managers
Our valve assemblies slot cleanly into your project timelines with test results and certifications in hand> OEM System Designers and Skid Builders
We provide reliable components for your builds and help make commissioning go smoother> Facilities and Maintenance Officers on Naval Vessels
Your crews reduce the risk of component failure and eliminate unauthorized adjustments> Defense Contractors and Government System Integrators
We help your solutions pass Navy QA and stay on budget> Specifiers and Consulting Engineers
You’ll find certified, tested components that meet bid requirements and perform in the field
When chilled water systems fail at sea, crews feel it. Ship systems feel it too. On Navy vessels, corrosion sometimes wears down solenoid valves faster than the maintenance cycle allows. In some cases, sailors adjust valve settings in their personal quarters to stay cool. But those changes can throw the entire system off, creating imbalances that waste energy. MCE teamed with ASCO and Navy engineers to fix both issues with a certified retrofit that holds up under real shipboard conditions.
That collaboration began with a clear problem the Navy couldn’t ignore.
The Challenge: Failing Chilled Water Control Valves at Sea
On combatant ships, chilled water systems are both a comfort feature and essential for environmental stability and crew safety. If these systems go down, the effects ripple throughout the vessel. Overheating in mission-critical areas and discomfort in crew spaces are just two of the side effects.
But the Navy was seeing failures. Salt-heavy marine air corroded valves before their service life was up. When a valve failed, the system loop lost balance and temperature control. Tampering added another problem. Some sailors adjusted the valves manually to favor certain areas. That created load issues and undermined energy efficiency.
The Collaboration: MCE, ASCO, and Navy Engineering Teams
Solving this took more than swapping parts. It required direct collaboration between MCE, ASCO engineering, and the Navy’s technical teams.
MCE’s Role
MCE raised the issue. We identified recurring valve failures, paying close attention to the challenges maintenance teams faced on board. We brought those observations to ASCO, keeping the Navy informed at every stage. ASCO was the perfect partner. The company is a leading manufacturer of fluid automation solutions, best known for its solenoid valves and other flow control products.
Both companies understood how valves behave in real-world shipboard environments. Our firsthand knowledge ensured that the redesign addressed the real root causes that led to these failures.
ASCO’s Contribution
ASCO brought the development horsepower to the table. Their engineers took what we learned and designed a new solenoid valve with corrosion resistance, MIL-SPEC compliance, and a new tamper-resistant configuration. Their team moved fast and built something that could meet the Navy’s approval process from the ground up.
The Navy’s Involvement
It wasn’t a black box handoff. The Navy offered field-level feedback and tested early versions of the design. After confirming its reliability under real operating conditions, they approved it for retrofit. They also validated it for use in upcoming ship builds.
The Solution: A Redesigned, Certified Solenoid Valve
Together, we delivered a field-ready component that finally solves the chilled water problem.
Key Features
The new valve includes corrosion-resistant construction that holds up in marine air. It has a tamper-resistant configuration that prevents unauthorized manual adjustment. It also passed rigorous testing for shock and vibration performance to meet combatant ship requirements.
Implementation
This retrofit solution isn’t a prototype or theoretical fix. It’s already in the field, installed on Navy vessels through approved retrofit programs. MCE keeps inventory stocked and ready so shipyards and maintenance teams can get what they need without delays.
The Results: At Sea Performance
The Navy saw real results. Failures in chilled water loops dropped. So did energy waste. The tamper-resistant design kept the system balanced without locking out maintenance staff. Crews stayed comfortable, and systems stayed online.
The success of this retrofit opened the door for broader collaboration. MCE is now helping support other mission-critical systems on Navy vessels, from fuel control to desalination.
Strategic Value: Beyond the Retrofit
This kind of outcome doesn’t happen by accident. Solving problems like this requires close engineering partnerships and real-world feedback. It also calls for a willingness to rethink old systems when legacy designs no longer hold up.
We’re continuing to expand these certified solutions into new shipboard applications. Whether you're specifying valves for a new combatant or maintaining legacy systems at sea, we’re here to help you make the right choices that keep your crews and systems supported every step of the way.
What This Project Shows
In hindsight, this project confirmed what our team sees often: fast-moving failures need fast, effective solutions. There’s no time to wait for perfect conditions at sea. However, when the right technical partners work together, lasting fixes are possible.
This project showed how fast, focused collaboration can turn urgent problems into solutions that last:
- Legacy system issues get solved when technical teams work together
- Stocked and certified components support both readiness and repair
- Marine environments demand durable hardware that holds up under pressure
- You don’t have to settle for short-lived hardware in tough work environments
Talk to MCE about your shipboard valve challenges. From corrosion to shock compliance or misuse in the field, we’ll help you solve the issue so your crew can stay focused on the mission.