Thomas Industrial Network today announced a new partnership with DK-Lok to help the company improve customer service, accelerate sales, and work more effectively with distributors.

DK-Lok is a global manufacturer of fittings and valves for highly specialized applications, from nuclear power generation to offshore drilling. The company’s engineering customers need detailed data on these products to ensure they will meet their exacting standards. Thomas’ team of industrial content experts worked with DK-Lok to centralize these technical specifications, and build a library of 2D/3D CAD models and drawings, as well. The complete set of data on all 6,000 products, along with CAD drawings, is available in a new catalog from Thomas at http://www.dklokusa.com/index.php.

The catalog makes it easier for engineers to narrow down their product selections at their point of need, 24/7. Prospective buyers can even configure a 3D CAD model online, download it, and insert it into their designs to ensure an “airtight” fit.

“Thomas has made DK-Lok’s sales process much more efficient, while enabling us to be more responsive to our prospects and customers. Our new ability to provide CAD models is especially exciting. Engineers no longer have to wait hours for us to develop customized drawings. Whether they’re nearby or half a world away, we can provide the information they need instantaneously,” said Robert Short, IT Administrator, DK-Lok.

Using Thomas’ Navigator Platform as the central source for its data, DK Lok is also able to syndicate all its detailed product information and CAD models to its channel partners. As a next step, DK-Lok plans to make this content available to its 26 distributors through Thomas’ Product Data Syndication service.

Thomas is able to format the product information to meet each distributor’s individual requirements, and load it into their internal systems, where it can be shared through their websites and across their organizations.

“DK-Lok understands that for manufacturers, the more detailed the product content they share, the likelier they are to increase sales,” said Peter Mooney, Product Director, Enterprise Solutions, Thomas Industrial Network. “Today, that content not only includes technical specifications; for product manufacturers, it frequently includes CAD models and drawings. Our research shows that engineers who download a drawing and spec it into their designs will almost always place an order.”

About Thomas Industrial Network

Thomas is an information and technology company. For over a century we’ve led the way in connecting manufacturing and industrial buyers and sellers.

Buyers worldwide, including engineers, purchasing agents, facilities managers and more, rely on ThomasNet.com for product sourcing and supplier discovery. This free online platform combines semantic product search technology with information rich company profiles enabling educated supplier selection. ThomasNet News is a family of online publications and electronic newsletters delivering the latest news and trends affecting manufacturing and industry. ThomasNet News’ goal is to give manufacturers the market intelligence they need to run their businesses effectively, and includes the flagship Industry Market Trends (IMT) along with several market-specific journals, including Machining Journal.

For suppliers (manufacturers, distributors and service providers) we provide strategic website development, tools and technology to help them better manage and share product and service data internally and externally.

Thomas' suite of Enterprise Solutions enables companies to effectively manage digital product data for syndication across a variety of enterprise-wide systems and sales channels to meet their strategic business needs. The Navigator Platform, our proprietary technology, is the central place through which we help our clients manage their information. The Platform enables CAD publishing, online catalogs, and syndication of detailed product data to channel partners. We offer Custom SPEC for the unique needs of custom manufacturers. Through our Digital Media Group we help companies build brand awareness and generate leads with our social media, email marketing and SEO programs.

About DK-Lok

DK-Lok manufactures fittings and valves for specialized industrial applications, including analytical and process instrumentation, power generation, petrochemical processing, shipbuilding, and semiconductor manufacturing. The company’s fittings and valves are manufactured to stringent industry standards. With the use of only the highest grade raw material and 1/1000" tolerance control on each and every part, DK-Lok assures a leak-tight seal. For more information, see www.dklokusa.com.