Internet Update: "DotComs"

Electronic Components Site Expanded

A company specializing in interconnect hardware and components has expanded its Web site to allow users to check distributor inventory and locate specs by catalog number on-line. By visiting the Standard Products page at http://www.keyelco.com, users can source Keystone Electronics products by entering a catalog number on-screen, clicking the Check Stock box, and scrolling down a list of more than 20 authorized global distributors.

Other features on the site include the Check Inventory box that allows users to find part specifications and drawings. Orders can be placed on-line by clicking the banner at the top of the page. Also posted on the Web site is Keystone Electronics' 104-page catalog, in PDF format, that lists the company's complete line of products that includes brackets, battery holders, IEEE sockets and plugs, and PCB terminals. A cross-referenced table of contents helps locate items of interest more quickly.

On-Line Supply Chain Collaboration Solution Announced

A Web-based application enables companies to conduct business on-line without the financial and organizational burdens associated with traditional supply chain management solutions. The application service provider (ASP)–based supply chain solution, located at http://www.castalink.com, provides a link to businesses, customers, and suppliers in one extended enterprise.

As a hosted application delivered over the Internet, the ASP is quick to implement, easy to use, and requires no additional hardware, software, or technical expertise. Castalink's product suite, eCASTM, enhances supply chain demand management, increases product visibility, and extends communication among users.—Katherine Sweeny

Angioplasty Balloon Samples Available On-Line

Ultrahigh-strength, thin-walled balloons used for PTCA, PTA, stent delivery, and other dilation procedures can be viewed on the Internet. The selection of 2–25-mm-diam samples in as many as a dozen different configurations can be ordered from Advanced Polymers Inc. (Salem, NH) at http://www.advpoly.com. Shapes include standard configurations, conical, offset, tapered, stepped, and square. Samples are available for immediate delivery by return mail and custom orders are processed in as quickly as three to four weeks.

The company features balloons with 5–50-µm wall thicknesses and 15–400-psi typical burst pressures. All sizes, shapes, and specifications are visually presented for selection on the Web site. Ultrathin PET heat-shrink tubing, custom catheter assemblies, and custom extruded tubing are also available.