Timken offer syndication solution
Company syndicate thousands of 3D CAD models and 2D product drawings for online customers
THE Timken Company has announced a system that allows the company’s authorized distributors to seamlessly link their websites to 3D CAD models and 2D drawings of thousands of Timken products, offering customers access to technical information from Timken and its distributors more easily and efficiently.
Timken worked closely with the Thomas Enterprise Solutions Group in the development of the system and piloted it with BDI, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Using technology developed by Thomas Enterprise Solutions, Timken provided direct access to their engineering drawings for BDI’s online customers in the required format, allowing customers visiting BDI’s e-commerce site to research and select products, compare prices and complete purchases.
‘For BDI, this new process is a home run,’ said Bill Shepard, vice-president for the Midwest region and marketing at BDI. ‘Previously, we collected data from print catalogs and Excel spreadsheets. Whenever Timken sent us an updated product file, it required a manual review – the whole process often took months to re-synch the data. This new Timken solution provides quick, seamless updates, making us more responsive to our customers.’
‘Timken engineers worked closely with Thomas’ Enterprise Solutions team to centralize information about our products, including detailed technical specifications, and to build a library of 3D CAD models and 2D drawings,’ said Christopher Henson, director of US industrial sales for Timken.
These images can be downloaded quickly in multiple formats by current and potential Timken customers and participating distributors. The system allows engineers to download CAD models to insert into their own designs to ensure an exact fit and make purchasing decisions with more confidence.
‘Thomas’ new syndication services make it possible for manufacturers like Timken to normalize their data and make it readily available to any of their distribution channels in the required format,’ said Michael Sprague, director of Thomas’ Enterprise Solutions Group.
