Foster City, CA and Chicago October 2, 2001 BigMachines Inc., a provider of e-business tools for Engineered Systems software, today announced the availability of BigMachines for Plastics Processing Equipment, an industry-specific framework for tailoring the BigMachines software suite for the plastics processing equipment industry. This 100 percent Java-based application streamlines sales processes, including selection, configuration and collaboration among such multiple buying and selling parties as suppliers, application engineers, sales representatives and direct customers.
In addition, BigMachines today announced it has provided its technology platform to Omnexus, an online marketplace for the plastics industry, to enable the launch of the industry's first online site that allows customers to compare information and request quotations on plastics processing equipment from multiple manufacturers in a neutral environment. By combining its efforts with BigMachines, Omnexus dramatically improves the process of buying and selling of plastics processing equipment.
The Industry's Dilemma
The plastics processing equipment industry is a well-established, highly competitive market in which manufacturers must differentiate themselves through sales and service. Costly, inefficient sales processes leave buyers facing long response and cycle times and poor transaction quality. While suppliers have made significant advances in manufacturing efficiencies and competitive sourcing, the manual, costly sales processes used widely in the industry have remained mostly unchanged.
BigMachines for Plastics Processing Equipment enables manufacturers, channel partners and customers with guided equipment and parts selection, configuration, quotation and ordering in a collaborative, Web-based environment. Implementation teams can set up and administer BigMachines for Plastics Equipment through an intuitive browser interface without programming. By leveraging BigMachines' plastics industry expertise, next-generation technology and end-to-end functionality, buyers and sellers using BigMachines for Plastics Processing Equipment can streamline buying and selling processes to maximize the return on their technology investment.
BigMachines for Plastics Processing Equipment software is designed for equipment used in the entire range of processes, from raw materials processing to machinery such as injection molding, thermoforming, extrusion and auxiliary equipment such as robotics, hoppers and cooling units. The framework supports frequent, iterative exchange of information as well as customer-specific pricing practices, enabling buyers and sellers to better manage request for quote (RFQ), quotation, pricing and other sales and procurement processes.
Industrial manufacturers and distributors require specialized software to realize the benefits of e-business, said Godard Abel, CEO of BigMachines. We've applied our decades of industry expertise to develop BigMachines for Plastics Processing Equipment.
