1. A leader in the industry that provides a quality product
2. Great customer service that is easy to access
3. Service plans covering what they sell

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gather information about pneumatic equipment for your business

First you must know what products are available and how those products will help your business operate better. Find a range of suppliers who supply your type of pneumatic equipment and check the possibilities.

I recommend: GlobalSpec and ThomasNet are two great online engineering search catalogs that give you an over all feel of product availability and variety of suppliers. GlobalSpec has the benefit of narrowing your search by specifications such as pressure and power source, while ThomasNet allows you to narrow your choices to companies that serve your area.

Decide what pneumatic machine tools you need now

You will most likely want to develop a collection of pneumatic tools over time. Invest in only those tools that suit your most urgent needs first; that way, you are not wasting capital on tools that won't get used.

I recommend: SMC Corporation of America has an online tool builder called E-Tech which allows you to develop pneumatic tools that meet your business' specific needs, and with almost nine thousand customizable products into over half a million configurations, you are sure to find the right one. Bimba Manufacturing Company has been in the pneumatic business since 1957 and has a full line of tools to suit your needs in an easy to download catalog.

Select pneumatic equipment suppliers based on their level of service

You know as a business owner, you can have all the right equipment, the best product or service, but if you don't have a great sales and service staff, your customers won't be back. It's difficult to determine the level of service of equipment distributors, but there are some signs. If the company services what they sell, gives you easy access to customer support and guarantees the products they sell, then you've got a great supplier.

I recommend: Allis Tool & Machine Corp. and Yates Industries are both large scale industrial pneumatic equipment providers that are in the business of putting the customer first. Yates has 24 hour emergency service and Allis provides a wide range of services to many different industries.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It always helps to get a picture. Ask your potential pneumatic equipment suppliers for references that are willing to share the benefits of the products in their industry.