GEM™ Steam Traps

Permanently eliminate mechanical steam trap failure and reduce boiler fuel costs & CO2 emissions.

  • ISO
  • 10 Year Performance Guarantee (1)
  • ECOVADIS
  • SBTI (1)-1

A Permanent Solution to Steam Trap Failures and Energy Losses

Replacing mechanical steam traps with GEM technology is consistently one of the most straightforward and impactful projects available to support your energy efficiency and decarbonisation objectives.

  • Reduce boiler fuel use by 5-15%
  • No moving parts to fail or wear
  • 10 year performance guarantee
GEM Opal Trap with logo
Steam leak

The Challenge of Mechanical Steam Traps

Large manufacturing sites routinely operate hundreds or thousands of mechanical steam traps, with industry data consistently showing annual failure rates of approximately 10%. Failures are unpredictable and can occur open or closed, leading to live steam losses, waterlogging, poor heat transfer, and process instability.

Maintaining performance requires a rigorous programme of continuous surveying, monitoring, and replacement. In practice, this level of intervention is rarely sustained, resulting in ongoing energy losses, rising maintenance costs, and reduced system reliability, conditions that have long been accepted as an unavoidable feature of steam systems.

The Solution: GEM Trap's Full Venturi Technology

The GEM Steam Trap is a full venturi steam trap that removes the mechanical failure inherent in conventional designs. With no moving parts, GEM Traps do not wear, stick, or fail open, enabling stable, long-term performance across real-world industrial operating conditions.

By eliminating live steam loss and performance deterioration, full site conversions typically deliver payback in under two years while providing sustained reductions in fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and maintenance burden from day one.

GEM Opal steam trap flow path
Benefits

Why Global Industry Leaders Choose GEM

Quality, experience, global presence, and service. Thermal Energy International has multisite, international project capabilities. Retrofitting with GEM Traps is straightforward and impactful, delivering carbon reduction targets.

HOW IT WORKS

Full Venturi Steam Trap Technology

GEM Steam Traps operate using a multistage venturi throat that continuously discharges condensate as it is formed. Unlike mechanical traps, GEM Traps do not rely on an open/close cycle. Condensate flows continuously through the configured venturi throat, maintaining a protective condensate seal that prevents live steam loss while avoiding condensate backup.

Key Technical Features

The design of the GEM Trap eliminates the primary causes of failure in mechanical steam traps while delivering inherently higher energy efficiency and long-term reliability.

Superior Design

No failures - no moving parts to wear, stick, or fail.

Continuous Discharge

No Cycling - no live steam is lost in operation and process control improves.

Full Venturi Throat

Stable operation across variable loads - multistage venturi throat comfortably accommodates industrial process running loads.

Single Piece Body

No inserts - full traceability back to the sizing calculations, process information and installed location.

Patented Filtration System

All smaller, low duty orifice traps are protected by a patented 3 stage filtration process.

CASE STUDIES

Measured Performance Across Global Steam Systems 

These case studies show how converting to GEM Steam Traps delivers meaningful financial and operational impact. Customers have reduced steam energy use by 10 to 20%, achieved payback typically within two years, improved condensate return and strengthened process stability, while lowering maintenance demand and carbon emissions.

Our case studies are drawn from a range of facilities and documented project outcomes illustrating that replacing mechanical steam traps with GEM technology delivers quantifiable performance in live industrial environments. 

Explore the GEM™ Trap Range

The GEM™ range includes different body styles, connection types and filtration arrangements to suit varying pressures, condensate duties, installation constraints and process requirements.

Diamond transparent

Diamond

Built around flanged process applications, including high pressure duties, with standard or custom face to face lengths to suit the installation.

Emerald

Emerald

The universal Quick Fit Adaptor provides quick installation and easy inline access to the strainer basket and orifice chamber for line drainage and low condensate duties.

Flanged Opal

Flanged Opal

For flanged line drainage, trace heating and low condensate duty applications, with a reinforced mesh strainer basket providing additional protection against debris.

Onyx

Onyx

Suited to low to medium load process applications, line drainage and trace heating, with mechanical trap face to face dimensions and full inline access for maintenance.

Opal

Opal

Combines compact installation with inline maintainability for process drainage, line drainage and trace heating applications.

Quartz

Quartz

A simple threaded option for high volume generic trapping, low condensate duties and line drainage, with an integral thimble filter to protect the orifice from debris.

Ruby

Ruby

For high pressure process duties up to 100 barg, installed between two flanges with the flexibility to accommodate different face to face lengths using a spool piece.

Sapphire

Sapphire

A threaded option for process applications and line drainage, with spherical seat unions and an accessible reinforced mesh strainer basket for straightforward inline maintenance.

Topaz

Topaz

Purpose built for hygienic and clean steam service, with a crevice free 316L stainless steel body and FDA guideline compliant construction.

Sustainability that pays for itself.

Speak to our team

If you are looking to improve steam system efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and strengthen long term reliability, our team can assess how GEM™ steam traps can deliver sustained energy savings and enhanced operational performance across your site.

Get in touch