Hydraulic Institute Marks One-Year Anniversary of Web Site Launch: Supplier Finder and Free Downloads the Most Popular Features of Site

"When the site was officially launched during the second quarter of 2000, we had the equivalent of 250 pages of information available to visitors. Today, that's been expanded to nearly 1,000 pages, with traffic averaging over 2,500 visitors a week," said Robert Asdal, executive director of the Institute. "Clearly, the site is providing a service and creating a sense of community and connectivity that's been missing within the pump industry. We are adding more information all the time, such as the free Executive Summary of our recently published LCC Guide."

Favorite Among Visitors

One of the most popular features of the site continues to be the HI Supplier Finder, a resource that helps identify pump and supplier manufacturers by product, market served, state, and even trade name. According to Asdal, the HI web site has the only trade name search engine for the pump industry.

"The Supplier Finder helps any pump user with an installed piece of equipment, particularly older pumps, to find the company that currently owns that trade name. In many cases, the user is able to link directly with the corporate web site. This is particularly important considering the consolidation of the pump industry," he noted.

Latest Additions and Free Downloads

The latest additions to the web site include an Energy Section, supporting HI's Allied Partner Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and a section devoted to the newly released Pump Life Cycle Costs: A Guide to LCC for Pumps and Pumping Systems.

In these sections, visitors can download for free a new 18-page Executive Summary of the LCC Guide (downloadable as a PDF document) as well as a complete 30-page Master Index to the 2000 Edition HI pump standards. Free software programs for the PSAT (Pumping System Assessment Tool), the Motor Master+ Training Program, and other DOE resources, are also available.

In addition, visitors have access to an abundance of information on pumps, again available at no charge. This includes listings of the various types of pumps manufactured worldwide, along with their definitions and cross-sectional diagrams, valuable software and conversion tables.

Technical Information and News

Users can find the industry's most comprehensive line of products at the E-Store location. Products such as the 2000 Edition of Pump Industry Standards and LCC Guide are among the various standards, books, software and educational materials available for purchase.

For the latest industry news, users visit the HI "News" Section, which posts recent press releases, presentations delivered at HI-sponsored events and programs, issues of the Pump Forum newsletter, as well as a progress summary on Institute activities.

The site also highlights the HI organization, including listings of committees, policies, and organizational charts. "Frequently Asked Questions" and comments are posted on the WebBoard, with a search engine site and guest book section rounding-out the selections. On a monthly basis, a free set of 2000 Standards worth $700 is awarded to a lucky guest book registrant. Past winners are posted on the site.

About Hydraulic Institute

The 84-year old Hydraulic Institute, the largest association of pump producers in North America, serves member companies and pump users by providing product standards and forums for the exchange of industry information. For more information on the Pump Handbook and other products available through the Hydraulic Institute on-line E-Store, visit the HI web site at www.pumps.org or call (973) 267-7772 in the U.S. or (888) 786-7744 toll-free. Requests may also be faxed to (973) 267-9055 or mailed to Hydraulic Institute, 9 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054-3802.