| The distinguishing characteristic of an industrial | | | | - Plant & Facility Equipment: Electric Heaters, |
| directory is that it lists products, services and suppliers | | | | Nameplates, Noise Control,... |
| needed by industries, rather than by final consumers. | | | | - Plastics & Rubber: Injection Molded Plastics, Extruded |
| These would be mainly such intermediate products as | | | | Plastics, Molded Rubber Goods,... |
| automation equipment, CNC machining, transformers, | | | | - Process Equipment: Heat Exchangers, Pressure |
| advertising novelties, engineering services, leak | | | | Vessels, Mixers,... |
| detectors and a large variety of others. These | | | | - Pumps, Valves & Accessories: Ball Valves, Plastic |
| intermediate products are used in making consumer | | | | Tubing, Pumps,... |
| products, or major projects such as space and ocean | | | | - Other: Signs, Point Of Purchase Displays, Banners,... |
| going ships, public utilities, defense requirements and so | | | | (Source: Thomas Register) |
| on. | | | | Other industrial directories might adopt a different |
| While a few consumer products or dual use products | | | | scheme of categorization. With the huge range of |
| might be listed, the emphasis in the industrial directories | | | | products and services, different ways of arranging |
| is on industrial products and services needed by other | | | | them might meet the preference of different users |
| industries. | | | | using them with different orientations. |
| The range of such products and services is huge and | | | | Global and Regional Directories |
| varied, and good industrial directories tend to be | | | | Global industrial directories list industrial products and |
| substantial repositories. | | | | suppliers from all over the world. Considering that |
| Sample Categories in an Industrial Directory | | | | countries have different resources and cost structures, |
| The list below, taken from a reputed industrial directory, | | | | such a register could help industries find the best |
| illustrates the wide range of industrial products and | | | | products suited to their requirements, and also the best |
| industrial services. | | | | bargains. For example, some countries might be rich in |
| - Adhesives & Sealants: Adhesives, Pressure Sensitive | | | | certain minerals and metals, and these might give them |
| Tapes, Adhesive Dispensing Equipment,... | | | | an advantage to produce certain kinds of industrial |
| - Automation & Electronics: Automation Equipment, | | | | supplies. Other countries might have low labor costs |
| Printed Circuit Boards, Clean rooms,... | | | | enabling them to make the same products made by |
| - Chemicals: Desiccants, Corrosion Resistant Coatings, | | | | developed countries at lower costs. |
| Teflon Coatings,... | | | | Regional industrial directories seek to promote local |
| - Custom Manufacturing & Fabricating: Metal | | | | industries by listing only the suppliers located in |
| Fabrication, CNC Machining, Metal Stampings,... | | | | particular regions. The major objectives in these cases |
| - Electrical and Power Generation: Transformers, | | | | is industrial promotion rather than helping buyers find |
| Batteries, Magnets,... | | | | the best bargains. |
| - Services: Advertising Novelties, Machinery Rebuilders, | | | | Conclusion |
| Pump Repair Services,... | | | | An industrial directory focuses on products and |
| - Engineering & Consulting: Engineering Services, | | | | services needed by industries. The range of such |
| Prototypes, Exporters, Importers,... | | | | industrial products is huge and varied. We looked at a |
| - Hardware: Fasteners, Gaskets, Bolts,... | | | | sample of industrial products and services in this article. |
| - Instruments & Controls: Laboratory Equipment & | | | | Industrial products are typically intermediate products |
| Supplies, Flow Meters, Sensors,... | | | | that help produce consumer products or products such |
| - Machinery, Tools & Supplies: Special & Custom | | | | as space ships, ocean-going ships, and such |
| Machinery, Bearings, Gears,... | | | | non-consumer final products. |
| - Materials Handling: Material Handling Equipment, | | | | There are some reputed industrial directories that list |
| Labels, Plastic Bags,... | | | | industrial products, services and suppliers from all over |
| - Metals & Metal Products: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, | | | | the world, and other directories that focus on industries |
| Wire Forms,... | | | | in a particular region. |