Harnessing 3D tech to the Max

“We aim to make this service easily accessible for customers.”

Koichi Ono, President, Maxpull Machinery & Engineering Co., Ltd.

The Japanese manufacturer Maxpull has made it easier than ever for customers to get the full lowdown on its world-class industrial winches.

Visitors to the company’s website can now peruse 3D, interactive CAD representations of its winches, with both exterior and interior views of products. Created using Fujitsu’s iCAD platform, the cutting-edge feature also allows graphics to be downloaded on files compatible with a range of design software.

“This epoch-making system enables you to easily and intuitively view and operate 3D data on a smartphone, tablet or PC,” says Maxpull’s president, Koichi Ono. “Our sales staff can easily explain the winch’s internal structure without bringing the actual machine to the customer and disassembling it on the spot.”

Accessing the new tool requires no prior registration, Mr. Ono adds: “We felt that for true user-friendliness, we needed to cut out the time spent logging in or signing up before obtaining product data.”

Among Maxpull’s wide variety of winches, a stand-out item is the updated BMW Single-Phase 100V. Boasting enhanced compactness, it can be installed in narrow spaces; in addition, the winch now has a longer continuous operating time. “Since its launch last year, sales have been steadily increasing,” Mr. Ono reveals.

Such expertly-crafted products have made Maxpull a domestic leader – and the company has a growing global reach, too, aided by its presence on the French online B2B marketplace Virtual Expo and its participation in international trade fairs in several countries. Furthermore, it is preparing to hold its own exhibition, in an online-offline format.

“With the pandemic, the culture has changed from offline to online,” Mr. Ono says. “However, if the information you need requires all five senses, an online exhibition isn’t ideal. What’s more, on-the-spot negotiations can be slower. That’s why we’re planning a hybrid exhibition in which we select and invite visitors interested in an online event to attend in person as our main target.”