Press Releases

Thomas Industrial Network Enables Industrial Companies to Print Catalogs On Demand with Navigator Platform

NEW YORK, NY – January 25, 2011 - Industrial companes often struggle to keep the product and pricing information in their printed catalogs current, without incurring large printing costs each time they make updates. Many have the added challenge of updating this information twice—first in their online catalogs, and then in their printed versions.

In response, Thomas Industrial Network has enhanced its Navigator Platform technology to allow companies to edit and update their online and offline product data simultaneously, through a single source. As a result, they can dynamically publish up-to-date print catalogs on demand, with the same rich product detail, images, descriptions and specifications that their online catalogs contain.

The solution makes it easier for these businesses to serve markets that still prefer printed product information, from the maintenance professional who wants to quickly check the price of a new part, to prospects picking up trade literature at a conference. It also eliminates the frustrations of:

• Maintaining product data in two formats—one for online use and a second for print.
• Having print catalogs become obsolete before they’re fully used.

"Having all our data in one place allows us to identify and print just what our customers are interested in, as opposed to putting 20 different catalogs in front of them. There will always be people who want printed information. They might be design engineers or MRO professionals, and it’s our job to serve them,” said Steve Katz, President, Emerson Bearing.

"The ability to print paper catalogs on demand is an additional feature of our Navigator Platform technology that enables our clients to be more efficient and speed up their sales process,” said Eileen Markowitz, President, Thomas Industrial Network. “In today’s market it’s all about delivering prospective buyers the detailed product information and specs that they need – in whatever format they choose, print or online."

ThomasNet’s Navigator Platform improves the content and navigation of industrial companies’ websites, enabling prospects to search for and select the products that meet their precise requirements. The platform includes online catalogs, downloadable CAD drawings, Interactive Exploded View Diagrams, e-commerce capabilities, and more.

Companies that would like additional information should call 866-585-1191.

About Thomas Industrial Network

An industry innovator, Thomas Industrial Network delivers Internet marketing solutions that help industrial buyers and suppliers achieve their business goals, by uniquely integrating detailed content, information and leading edge web technology.

The company’s flagship offerings are ThomasNet.com®, where approximately one million buyers and sellers connect online each month, and Web Solutions™, which help industrial companies leverage Internet technology(ies) to improve the performance of their websites and achieve their business goals. At the core of each Web Solution is the Navigator Platform, Thomas Industrial Network’s proprietary technology designed to provide industrial buyers with all the tools and functionality they need to make intelligent buying decisions online.