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