Control Design Releases Landmark Study on Machine Builder Automation Buying Habits

In its March 2006 issue, award-winning Control Design magazine has published the results of its recently conducted study that reveals the automation specifying preferences of more than 500 of its industrial machine builder readers.

The study indicates that 80% of the respondents spend from 6 to 20 hours per month doing product research, and 40% of the respondents named the Internet as their primary research method for automation and controls for their industrial machines.

In addition, the study reveals that while the respondents would prefer to speak directly with manufacturers' technical staff, only 12% rate it as a primary method because of the difficulty they encounter trying to contact these experts.

Almost 37% say the research is for active, ongoing projects for next-generation machine automation. About 22% are grazing for alternative suppliers of the automation products currently used, and the rest are doing research for automation ideas being considered for action or brainstorming for the future.

The study also includes the respondents ratings of the value of research methods ranging from trade show visits to supplier web sites to trade magazines.

"We had lots of anecdotal evidence about what has changed for these automation professionals, but we realized it was time to get a more comprehensive sense of how they’re specifying machine automation these days," says Control design's editor in chief, Joe Feeley. "The answers will help us better understand how to present certain content, it will allow readers get a sense of how their shopping habits compare with their peers, and it might give a supplier or two a better understanding of what our readers expect from them today."

The entire study can be viewed at http://www.controldesign.com

In June 205, Control Design was named one of the 10 Best U.S. trade publications in its circulation class by the American Society of Business Publication Editors, in its Magazine of the Year competition.