Engineers are known for creating some of the most useful products in the word. In the last 100 years, we have seen incredible technological advancements due to the ingenuity of engineers. Each new project requires specific materials to create. In the past, engineers have had to use trial and error experiments to find the correct materials for their inventions. Before now, there has been no easy way to find the materials that engineers are always searching for.
How much longer did the invention of the airplane or television take due to materials issues? Is there a way to eliminate the need for testing many materials for inventions? Well, maybe there is.
Now, there is a free service that can help engineers find the right supplies for their projects without wasting time on testing different materials. Matmatch allows engineers to input the qualities they need from their materials, and then helps pair up engineers with those who provide the materials needed.
For Engineers
Launching September 20, 2017, Matmatch is a handy tool that can help save engineering companies money. Matmatch eliminates the need to waste money trying to make new products with materials that aren’t suitable for the task. With over 90,000 materials in the Matmatch database, engineers are better able to find and source quality materials including metals, polymers, and graphene. According to Matmatch CEO Melissa Albeck, the company is still planning on adding to their list of materials.
What makes Matmatch unique is the way the service sorts through your criteria to find the proper material. Users need only to input terms or phrases that describe the qualities their materials need. Matmatch then pulls up a list of materials that fit those criteria. Once you select a type of material, you will be brought to a page where you can learn more about the material. You can also view suppliers of said material. Instead of using Google, which is what the founders discovered 80% of engineers do to find the materials they need, Matmatch shows engineers trusted manufacturers to purchase materials from. Trusted buyers aren’t always obvious on Google.
Many engineers may enjoy the fact Matmatch doesn’t only do all the searching for you, but it also provides you with detailed information about each product material. If you forgot to put a specific piece of data in the search, you could still check to make sure the material you are considering meets that specification without redoing the search process. Not only that, but you can also see what other people are saying about these materials and what kinds of uses people are tagging these materials for.
A team of materials scientists also works to ensure that the data on the website is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable. This team is also available to assist users in their search for materials.
One of the biggest benefits to using Matmatch is that there is a projects section where you can see what other engineers are doing with the materials you are looking at for your project. This can help you better understand whether or not the material is the right one for you. After you purchase materials, you can also upload information about your project to share with others on the website to help them.
Matmatch is a great tool for those who are looking to create something new but don’t know where to begin. With quality materials from big names in the industry, including Plansee and ThyssenKrupp, engineers know that they are getting good materials for their newest projects.
Currently, Matmatch works with 30 different suppliers to source over 90,000 materials that the website has in its database. These 30 suppliers are located around the world in places like Canada, Russia, the U.S., China, and more. This already makes them the largest free material property database on the internet.
Even though anyone can access Matmatch, the website focuses on serving engineers working in the United States and Europe.
For Manufacturers
Manufacturers can benefit from Matmatch because the search tool will generate quality leads for their products. The search feature isn’t the only way engineers will see your materials. Matmatch also allows manufacturers to promote their products to engineers using the website.
Matmatch also gives manufacturers feedback from those who have purchased their products and left reviews. In addition to feedback, manufacturers receive market insights that show industry trends. Plus, with only 30 manufacturers on the website currently, manufacturers are likely to find a good supply of business for the items they specialize in. This is especially true if it is a new material for the website.
Only time will tell exactly how Matmatch will help engineers, but in only a few days, people are already talking about this free new service rocking the engineering industry. With a new resource aimed at becoming the go-to platform for sourcing project materials, engineers are sure to start taking notice.
Austin Nichols Technical Search is dedicated to helping both engineering firms and potential employees find one another in the Kansas City Metro Area and has been serving the area since 1988. If you are an engineer looking for a job or an HR representative from a firm seeking to hire someone in the engineering, manufacturing, or technical fields in Kansas City, contact Austin Nichols today at 816-471-5575.
