Site simplifies sourcing for Kiwi engineers

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 20, 2008

Newly launched website provides a free, online "request for quote" service to anyone wishing to get competitive pricing on engineering industry products.

A new New Zealand website aims to make thumbing through the yellow pages and calling suppliers for quotes on engineering products a thing of the past.

The newly launched website provides a free, online "request for quote" service to anyone wishing to get competitive pricing on engineering industry products ranging from sheet metal and zinc plating to ball bearings.

Director and founder Cory Leatherland says the site grew from his own experience within the industry, working as Design Manager for Lakeland Steel.

"As manufacturers of sawmilling equipment, we are suppliers to the industry but we also buy from the industry and it was obvious to me that there had to be a more streamlined way to get quotes back - in a timely and accurate manner", says Leatherland.

Leatherland says he believes the service will make a real difference to the maintenance budgets of large corporates, project managers and construction companies as well as local and regional councils, who need to achieve the most competitive pricing for plant maintenance and engineering projects.

The site has been designed so that buyers can put in the details of what they require, select the type of companies they wish to receive the RFQ and what area of the country they wish to receive the product or service from, then Quote Engine does the work of sending the request out to all the registered suppliers that fit the bill.

The site is currently being promoted to engineering supply companies around New Zealand so it can be populated with a range of products and services.

Currently suppliers can sign up for a six months free trial to test drive the service for themselves.

According to supplier Allan Fullerton of Power Hydraulics, Quote Engine is an idea whose time has come.

"It was long overdue for a service like Quote Engine to be developed in the engineering industry".

"We think this will make life much easier for our customers, and streamline the whole process of providing quotes", Allan said.

Quote Engine is exhibiting at EMEX in Auckland in May, where the new service will be officially launched to the public who may wish to buy through the site.

Signing up as a buyer on Quote Engine is free of charge and automatic for suppliers also, given that many suppliers also buy products within the same industry.

The launch of the site to date has been mainly through telemarketing and Leatherland says the response from engineering businesses has been very positive.

"Everyone has seen the benefits of joining the site and we anticipate a significant number of suppliers up on the site by the time we get to EMEX in May", he says.

Anyone wishing to register as a supplier or buyer simply needs to visit the site and complete the online form.

There is no charge for the six month listing and after that companies will have the option to sign up for the full 12 month listing at either NZ $250 plus GST or $350 plus GST, depending on the type of listing they choose.