Subplates and Housings: The Professional Building Blocks of Modular Hydraulics

Why Use Subplates and Valve Housings?

The key to modern hydraulic systems is compactness, reliability, and ease of maintenance. While older systems used a dense network of pipes and hoses to connect hydraulic valves, this method was complex, space-consuming, and contained numerous potential leak points. The "Subplates and Housings" category offers the fundamental components for professional hydraulic construction: the valve housings, subplates, series blocks (manifolds), and sandwich plates that allow for the building of a clean, organized, and leak-free control block. At Hidraulika Store, you will find the right solution for installing both CETOP (standard) valves and screw-in (cartridge) valves.

CETOP (NG) Systems: Standardized and Interchangeable Solutions

The most common industrial control method is the use of standardized CETOP (also known as NG, for NennGröße or Nominal Size) valves. These valves (e.g., directional valves) have a uniform mounting pattern, which ensures interchangeability between manufacturers and modular expandability.

• Subplates (NG06, NG10, NG16, NG25): Used for mounting a single CETOP valve. The hydraulic pipes connect to the ports on the bottom or side of the subplate, while the valve is mounted on top.

• Series Blocks (Manifold Bars): Allow for the orderly, side-by-side mounting of multiple (e.g., 2, 3, 4, or even 8) CETOP valves. Their huge advantage is that they have a common pressure (P) and tank (T) gallery, drastically reducing the amount of piping and fittings required. Our selection includes stackable (fűzhető) and models with relief valves (határolós).

• Sandwich Plates: These elements can be "sandwiched" between the subplate and the directional valve. They allow you to easily add extra functions to the circuit, such as throttling, pressure relief, or a double pilot-operated check valve.

• Blanking Plates and Adapter Plates: A blanking plate is used to cover an unused station in a series block, while an adapter plate provides a transition between two different sizes (e.g., NG06 to NG10).

Discover our industry-standard solutions and browse our sublplates and housings!

Cartridge Valve Housings: Compact and Custom Solutions

Another modern trend in hydraulics is the use of screw-in, or "cartridge," valves. These valves (e.g., poppet-type valves, pressure valves) are not mounted on a plate, but are screwed into a special, threaded cavity (SAE, M20, M22, etc.).

• Housing (Valve Housing): These blocks, typically made of aluminum or steel, provide these precision cavities and their corresponding connection ports.

• 2-way, 3-way Housings: The designation refers to how many hydraulic paths the valve intended for it manages. A 2-way housing, for example, is suitable for a simple shut-off or check valve, while a 3-way housing can accommodate a pressure-reducing valve.

• Manifold Blocks: These blocks don't necessarily hold a valve but are used for simple flow distribution (e.g., one inlet, four outlets).

The advantage of cartridge valves is their extreme compactness and very low leakage tendency (due to the poppet-style design). Our exceptionally popular product is the Valve Housing - SAE08 - 2-way - Steel - G3/8, which, thanks to its robust steel construction, can withstand high pressure and is an ideal base for a reliable hydraulic circuit.

Why Choose Subplates and Housings from Hidraulika Store?

We don't just sell parts; we help you build the system. The experts at Hidraulika Store know exactly the advantages of a CETOP series block and when it's better to build with custom cartridge valve housings. Our stock includes everything from NG06 to NG25, as well as the most common SAE cavity sizes. Our goal is to enable you to build a professional, clean, and reliable hydraulic control system. Discover our full range of services and products on the hidraulikastore.com homepage!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between NG06 and NG10? NG (NennGröße) indicates the nominal size of the valve, i.e., its flow capacity. NG06 (CETOP 3) is a smaller valve size, typically used for flows up to approx. 80 l/min. NG10 (CETOP 5) is the next size up, for flows up to approx. 160 l/min. As the size increases, so do the physical dimensions of the valve and the distance between its mounting bolts.

• Should I choose an aluminum or steel valve housing? Aluminum housings are lighter and less expensive, perfectly suitable for most industrial and mobile applications (typically up to 250-315 bar operating pressure). Steel housings have a significantly higher pressure tolerance (even over 400 bar) and are more resistant to mechanical damage.

• When should I use a series block instead of individual subplates? If you want to mount more than two CETOP valves next to each other, a series block is almost always the better solution. It provides a common pressure and tank gallery, which drastically simplifies piping, reduces the number of fittings, and minimizes potential leak points. It provides a much more compact and professional appearance.