Free catalogue of millions of 3D models includes more than 45,000 components available from RS and is designed for use in CAD programs to enable rapid design and prototyping by mechanical and electronics engineers

Oxford, UK, September 22, 2015 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, today announced that more than one million 3D models have now been downloaded via its extensive DesignSpark 3D model catalogue.

Developed in conjunction with TraceParts, the 3D models are freely available to all designers and can be used by electronics and mechanical engineers in their 3D modelling CAD programs, such as the free-to-download DesignSpark Mechanical software from RS, to speed design and enable rapid prototyping. The 3D model catalogue can significantly reduce design time for engineers as well as eliminating the inevitable risks related to the manual creation of 3D models.

Available to engineers since May 2010, the 3D model catalogue started in a small way with just a few thousand 3D models. Today the catalogue offers easy access to 100+ million 3D models, available via the TraceParts 3D library, including in excess of 45,000 3D models tagged with RS part numbers. The models are available in over 20 different CAD formats from more than 90 manufacturers. Access to all of the 3D models was integrated into version 2.0 of DesignSpark Mechanical, which was launched in December 2014, triggering a substantial acceleration in the number of 3D model downloads via DesignSpark.

“The millionth download is a major milestone for the RS 3D model programme, which has been achieved by working closely with world-leading 3D content company TraceParts, and with tremendous support from major global component suppliers such as Phoenix Contact, Schneider and Molex,”

said Glenn Jarrett, Global Head of Product Marketing at RS.

“Being the exclusive supplier of RS for 3D models is a great honour for TraceParts. For over 20 years, TraceParts has been providing best-in-class modelling, cloud-hosting and publishing services for CAD catalogues to hundreds of manufacturers and distributors, but RS is definitely one of the most marketing-mature and service-driven part vendors we have ever met. They have had a unique and pioneering approach from as early as 2010 when it came to seamlessly integrating TraceParts 3D viewing and multi-CAD download capabilities within their e-commerce product pages. We have learnt a lot from RS during these past five years and we are looking forward to helping them launch many more 3D-marketing services in the future,”

commented Gabriel Guigue, TraceParts Managing Director.

The 3D models are available for free download in the RS 3D catalogue, available via  DesignSpark and www.rs-online.com.

About RS Components

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping around 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronic components, electrical, automation and control, and test and measurement equipment, and engineering tools and consumables.

Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2015 had revenues of £1.27bn.

For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.

About TraceParts

TraceParts is a world-leading digital engineering 3D content company, offering progressive business solutions through powerful web based products and services. TraceParts brings targeted and cost-effective market penetration to parts vendors, in all sectors of industry.

The  TracePartsOnline.net CAD portal is freely available to millions of CAD users worldwide, with hundreds of supplier catalogs and 100 million CAD models and product datasheets suitable for the Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing and Maintenance processes. For more information about TraceParts, please visit  www.traceparts.com