A Cwmbran-based, US–owned valve manufacturer has handed a cheque for $21,000 to St David’s Hospice Care.

Crane Co, which owns Cwmbran’s Saunders Valve Company, donated the equivalent of £17,300 to the charity from its Crane Fund for Widows and Children.

The donation will be used to continue to provide the many services that St David’s provides ‘free of charge’ to people facing the most difficult time of their lives together with sponsoring a room in the 15-bed in-patient facility currently being built in Malpas.

Emma Saysell, chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “Supporters usually give us money in the form of pounds sterling but we’re equally delighted to receive donations in dollars or any currency for that matter, as it all goes to helping us to continue to provide our support throughout our community, free to those in need.

“We really can’t thank Crane enough for this latest marvellous support and for other donations in previous years which run to many thousands of US dollars for St David’s Hospice Care and St Anne’s Hospice.”

Andrew Powell, vice president and general manager of Saunders, said The Crane Fund for Widows and Children makes contributions to charitable organisations which provide direct assistance to the communities where Crane Co operates.

Mr Powell said: “The Crane Fund is an opportunity to help support local charities in the area in which our associates both work and live. We know that there are a number of employees and their families that have received assistance from both St Anne’s and St David’s Hospice Care over the years so we decided to try and support the charity in a much more formal way.

Since 2007 the Crane Fund has donated some $60,000 (£45,000) to St Anne’s Hospice and more recently $31,000 to St David’s Hospice Care.

The Cwmbran-based business employs 180 people where they manufacture the full range of Saunders diaphragm valves that are sold into a wide range of industries.

P K Saunders invented the original diaphragm valve in 1928 and founded Saunders Valve Co five years later. The company was acquired by Crane Co in 2001 after formerly being part of Alfa Laval.

Crane Co is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products with a substantial presence in a number of focused niche markets.