September 20, 2013 – System Plast published an "interactive" printed conveyor components catalog with an online mirror edition for researching/selecting components, loading a shopping cart, developing a bill of materials, accessing drawings/technical data, specifying popular or related components and finding distributors. A QR code on the front cover of the 400-page printed SmartGuide opens the mirror site where the printed version's icons, product images, logos and lists become links. Color-coded sections keyed to 12 product groups, with a list of bookmarks to those groups at the top of every page, allow fast navigation in print or online. Component-specific pages include links to related or alternative items.
Clicking on a product code allows download of CAD drawings or building a bill of material for RFQ. Introduced at Pack Expo 2013, the SmartGuide is compatible with PCs, tablets and smartphones. The SmartGuide has been developed and structured by engineers, for engineers, to follow the decision-making logic used in conveyor system design, according to Matt Stoneburner, Director of Marketing at Emerson Power Transmission Solutions. "We consolidated information from many sources and organized it to fit the decision tree used by engineers, then cataloged it in a way that functions well in both printed or interactive forms," he explained.
"It allows a user to go from general information, to specifics, to individual SKU pages, exactly how engineers would, complete with supporting technical information and calculation tools in one location." For fast navigation, an integrated search function on the site responds to part descriptions or page codes that are boldly listed on each page and used in prompts that suggest alternative or related products. An interactive table of contents is on the top of each page or in a pane that can be hidden. A list of 24 exclusive online support documents can be accessed from an "i" link in the upper right corner of nearly every product page of the catalog.
In addition to documents on design guidelines, material characteristics, chemical resistance and construction details, the info link gives access to System Plast's SPEC load and strength calculator and energy savings calculator. "A person can view the printed catalog side by side with the online version and see the same page, but with the point/click functionality in the online edition," Stoneburner added. "Pages can be shared and e-mailed as pdf files. The online edition also accesses products not shown in the printed edition, though icons in the printed catalog indicate the information's availability online."
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2012 were $24.4 billion.
About Emerson Industrial Automation
Emerson Industrial Automation, a business of Emerson, is a global technology provider that enables productivity, efficiency and quality gains for customers across a spectrum of industries. Our products include alternators, electric motors and drives, electrical distribution devices and mechanical power transmission, fluid automation and ultrasonic joining solutions. Emerson brands include Appleton, ASCO, Branson Ultrasonics, Browning, Control Techniques, Kop-Flex, Leroy-Somer, McGill, Morse, Numatics, O-Z/Gedney, Rollway, Sealmaster, SSB Wind Systems and System Plast.