The 3D part catalog technology from PARTsolutions is a standalone 3D catalog development environment that produces CAD-Native product data.
Founded in 1983, Pacific Bearing Company (PBC) has evolved from “the little red bearing” company into PBC Linear, a full solution provider of high-performance linear motion products while still maintaining full family ownership and a large manufacturing facility in the USA.
When the company realized that 3D part catalog technology could help the company streamline the design process for its customers, it turned to PARTcatalog from PARTsolutions to web enable its vast product line of bearings, slides, actuators, CAM rollers and guides. As a result, PBC Linear has increased qualified sales leads by 700 percent.
Challenge: Lead the Way in Innovation and Design
As experts in linear motion, PBC Linear is world renowned for its wide breadth of products, solutions and services to ensure customers receive the best solution to their applications. Whether the application calls for reliable out-of-the-catalog components, sophisticated mechanical sub-assemblies, or full custom solutions, PBC Linear is dedicated to aligning customers with the product that best fits them.
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But PBC Linear is also dedicated to giving its customers the optimal experience, and realized that 3D part catalog technology could help the company streamline the design process for its customers by enabling online product search, configuration and ecommerce. With the goal to “lead the way in innovation and design” the company set out to find a technology partner that could help them enhance the customer experience, increase sales and expand awareness.
Solution: PBC Linear Puts CAD at the Center of Customer Design Process
PBC Linear evaluated four other companies, but ultimately selected PARTsolutions for four key reasons:
Native CAD files: Since the owners of PBC are both engineers, they recognized the value of this feature and the frustrations that come with file conversion.
International Support: PARTsolutions is an international company. PBC’s plans involve heavy growth through export so having international support is crucial.
Reference List: PARTsolutions has an excellent reference list and has done great work with many large companies.
Cost: PARTsolutions provided the best “bang for the buck.”
As the only solution to feature a standalone 3D catalog development environment that produces CAD-Native product data, PARTcatalog allows products to be configured and delivered in over 85 CAD and graphic formats and versions.
PBC Linear went on to invest further in 3D part catalog technology by embedding the PARTsolutions 3D Part Catalog solution directly into its web product pages as a 3D embedded sales configurator. In doing so, the company has reduced engineering support costs while streamlining the design process for its industrial market customers by eliminating the need to move between websites and utilize printed catalog tables to arrange the exact part that a customer wants to build-up and purchase.
Results: Growth on Every Front
PBC Linear’s online catalog has grown to feature two million orderable PBC Linear products for 212 independently configurable products. The number of registered users of its 3D-enabled online catalog has reached 17,500, which marks an increase of 130 percent over its previous technology provider. Today all two million products are accessible in more than 85 native and neutral CAD and graphics formats, representing more than 170 million different digital representations of PBC Linear products.
What’s more, PBC Linear has increased qualified sales leads by 700 percent--even amidst a global recession--with the PARTsolutions 3D catalog technology.
Brand exposure and availability has been another significant benefit. In addition to the PBC Linear website, PARTsolutions provides PBC Linear products digitally in various online market places, including the Autodesk Manufacturing Supplier Content Center, Machine Design Magazine CAD Library and ConnectPress CAD Communities and others to increase awareness and sales of their products.