What is WbM?

Who Builds Machinery - abbreviated WbM - is the leading German business search engine for products in machine building and engineering industry. You find machinery, equipment, components, systems, software, services, helping both buyers and producers or suppliers to establish high-quality business contacts. For more detailed information click on Who builds Machinery.

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Why is our company registered at WbM without us having done anything?

In order to guarantee that professionel users e. g. from purchasing or research and development departments obtain the most valuable results, we are constantly investigating new producers and suppliers. Your company appeared interesting - that is why we included it.

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Why is the company information given in such different detail?

Apart from the three packages offered by WbM (Business Basis, Business Plus, and Business Pro), which are all different as regards services offered and prices, there is also the possibility of registering at WbM with a free-of-charge standard entry offering only a few key data. The level of detail of the information given is therefore dependent on the package chosen by the supplier.

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How can I register my company at WbM and what will that cost?

Most business operations of WbM are effected in German-speaking countries. Please understand that for this reasin the registration form is only available in German language. The cost of your entry depends on the detail of information given on your company. The standard entry offering only a few key data is free of charge. For more details see List your company

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What kind of products and services are listed at WbM?

At WbM you will find products and services from the machine building and engineering industry in Germany: machinery, equipment, components, systems, software, service.

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What happens when typing errors are made?

Owing to our intelligent search assistance you will be shown a hit list even if the spelling of your search term was not correct. If you do not obtain any hits, just contact us. We will be pleased to help you.

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Where does the search engine look for appropriate companies? How does it work?

Our search engine only looks for manufacturers, service providers, retailers, and wholesalers who are registered with WbM after having been subjected to a quality control. As soon as you enter a term, our intelligent search system rapidly matches it against the names of existing headings as well as against the keywords linked to the heading in question. That way every search results in a hit list showing relevant entries only.

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What can I do if I do not get any hits?

In case you do not get any hits, please proceed as follows:

• First please check the spelling of your search term.
• Try to continue your search by using another keyword.
• Enter your search term in the plural.
• Please check whether you are perhaps searching for a product/service in the wrong menu, e.g. "Company name" instead of "Product/service" or vice versa.

If you still do not get any hits, please contact us. We will be pleased to help you.

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Should I enter my search term in the singular or in the plural?

Plural search words generally are the better choice. If the list generated does not contain anything appropriate, please enter your search term in the singular and repeat the search.

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Is it better to enter general search terms like "pumps" or more specialized terms like "vacuum pumps"?

If you already know which product or service you are looking for, you should directly start your search with a specific term like "vacuum pumps". If you just intend to obtain an overview over the different kinds of cardboard offered, you are well-advised to choose a more generic term. Just as a recommendation: you get more hits by using a wildcard. Just place an asterisk (without leaving a blank) to the right, to the left or even in the middle of your search term. In the case of "*pumps", for example, you will be shown a hit list displaying entries from "air lift pumps" via "hydraulic pumps" to "vacuum pumps".

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When should I choose to search for products/services and when should I search for company names?

You know the name of a company and want to quickly get more information - for example the phone number of a person to contact? In this case, you should directly search for the company name. In case you do not know which company is offering the product/service you are looking for you should search via products/services.

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I am looking for a company, but do not know its exact name. What can I do?

Enter the product - or the service - offered by the company in question. In a further step, you can narrow down the number of hits shown on the list of companies, for example by entering the location of the head office of the company you are looking for.

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What are the search operators and how do I use them?

The search operators AND, OR and NOT make it possible to search with several terms at a time. However, you have to enter each of these operators by hand.
If you enter several terms at once (separated from each other by a blank), you are using the feature "with all of the words" (AND-operator). If you want to make use of the OR-operator, choose the feature "with any of the words". By entering a minus sign, you mark those terms which you do not want to be listed (search feature "without the words").

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My hit list contains too many results? What can I do?

You can enhance the result of your search by using the "Advanced search". That way, you can exclude terms and thus reduce the size of your hit list.

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Can I enter several search terms at a time?

Yes, you can! If you enter several terms at a time (separated from each other by a blank), you will obtain hits containing all the words you have listed. We recommend, however, not to enter too many terms at a time.

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What is the purpose of the features "with all of the words", "with any of the words", and "without the words" of the "Advanced search"?

By using the "Advanced search", you can refine your search for a product, service or company. If you want, you can combine all of these three search features. This is, however, not obligatory.

Let's suppose, you are looking for turbines for electric generators other than gas turbines.

Search "with all of the words": Enter the word "turbines" in the upper search field. Your hit list will display only headings containing this word or synonymous terms (AND-operator).

Search "with any of the words": Extend "turbines" by adding the keywords "electric generators". In this case, all headings, containing the word "turbines", combined with one or both of the other search terms, are displayed (OR-operator).

Search "without the words": Enter one or several terms you want to exclude from your search. In the case of our above example, enter "gas" (NOT-operator) into this search field.

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Do I have to fill in all three fields for using the "Advanced search"?

For making an "Advanced search", you have to enter a term into the first search field. If you want to search for this term in combination with one or more terms, you should make use of the second search field.
In case you want to exclude one term or another, you should enter these into the third search field. You are, however, not obliged to fill in all three fields.

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Can I make use of the search features "with all of the words", "with any of the words" and "without the words" without making use of the "Advanced search"?

Yes, you can! If you enter all terms in a row (separated from each other by a blank), you are doing a search "with all" the words listed. By adding a minus sign, you mark terms which should not be listed (search feature "without the words"). To search for "any" of a certain number of terms, just link the terms by adding OR.

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How is it possible that I can enter a term and obtain a hit list which is of help to me, although the search term itself is not included in the list?

As soon as you enter a search term, our system matches it against the names of the existing headings as well as the keywords linked to these. Each heading is linked with up to 25 keywords which are either synonyms, abbreviations or related terms. That is why you are shown a hit list although your search term itself is not displayed in this list.
For example: When you enter the term "lorries", you are shown all headings containing the term "trucks".

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What is the purpose of the filters shown on the company list? Do I have to use them all?

A filter helps you to make your search more targeted. By using a filter you can e.g. determine that only manufacturers located in a particular town are displayed on the company list. You can use the filters offered either separately or altogether.

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I am only looking for companies located in a particular town. How can I limit my search?

There are two possibilities to limit your search to a particular town or region, i.e. via the name of the town or via the postcode. In either case you can abbreviate the name of the town or the postcode by using a wildcard (*). For example: Ham* or 205*.

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How can I see whether a company is a service provider, a manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer?

On the left side of the contact details of the suppliers, the company list shows you whether a company is a service provider, manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer.

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What is the meaning of the numbers behind the company types shown on the company list?

These numbers show you how many service providers, manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers are listed under the heading concerned. Moreover, you find information on how many of them are certified and how many offer you quick access to information. As far as the last point is concerned, this is shown by the link: "Information on product/service". Please note: The overall number of suppliers on the company list is generally lower than the sum of the numbers shown in the brackets as many companies are both manufacturer and retailer.

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Apart from the product/service I want to find, I am also looking for a competent person to contact. Where can I find this person?

All company information names a competent person for establishing the first contact. For some companies you will also find the names of other persons to contact, for example from the management or the sales department.

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I am looking for the contact details of the management of a company. Will I find these at WbM?

Yes, some companies have listed the contact details of its management. In all the other cases you are given the name of a person for establishing the first contact. In many cases this person is also part of the management.

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I want to see the whole range of products and services offered by a particular company. Is that possible?

On the lower part of the page with company information you can see under which headings the company has listed products and services with WbM. By clicking on the link to the website of this company you might perhaps find more information on the range of products/services offered.

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Do you generally name a person for establishing the first contact for all companies?

Yes, we name a person for establishing the first contact for all the companies listed. Many companies also name persons competent for special products and services as well as a member of the management.

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