Volume III, Issue IV
Web Sites Abroad Any effective use of the Web to support technology-related research is most effective when utilizing multiple resources. The point—no one Web site or newsgroup or online asset will do it all.
Web Sites Abroad
Any effective use of the Web to support technology-related research is most effective when utilizing multiple resources. The point—no one Web site or newsgroup or online asset will do it all.
International manufacturing associations have Web sites that serve European and Asian markets, and they can contribute to your search for data on a specific machine or technology.
In no particular order:
Spanish Machine Tool Builders Association (www.afm.es/) -This site features an excellent listing of machine tool builders, an inquiry system to locate distributors, a thorough representation of the association's services to members, and a fabulous overview of a sometimes overlooked machine tool powerhouse.
CETRA (www.cetra.org.tw)—The China External Trade Development Council's site is absolutely loaded with information relevant to any and all that covet machinery or technologies originating from Taiwan.
UCIMU (www.ucimu.it)—The association of Italian manufacturers' site includes a database of members, relevant export/import information for the Italian machine tool market, and excellent sources of machine tool info.
KOMMA (www.komma.org)—Cyber-home to Korea's premier machine tool association, this site contains membership info, pertinent market statistics, news and more.
Swiss Machine Tool Society (www.smts.org)—Get acquainted with its member machine builders, and select equipment from their product lines.
Find more links to international metalworking resources at www.mmsonline.com/links.
Job Shop Site Of The Month
When you first visit the site of Middleville Tool & Die Company (www.mtd-inc.com), there just doesn't appear to be much there. Big graphic. Four links. Short on info and content is what strikes you. "All hat and no cattle," as they say in Texas. But when you enter the site, you find a depth of info that overcomes the home page faux pas. Of course, anyone who reads this column knows what I have to say about a winner's capabilities being portrayed effectively on its site; MTD's does this quite well. But you should look at its "Online Service" page, where existing customers can log in, access their up-to-date account data, check project progress reports, and even view updated pictures of their tooling jobs. There's more to MTD than meets the eye.
To have your site considered for Job Shop Site Of The Month, send your URL to otw@mmsonline.com.
