Norton Co. recently announced that it is creating a business-to-business e-commerce website that will integrate the company’s industrial distribution community and service customers that choose to purchase MRO abrasives products through the Internet. The e-commerce center will be integrated into the existing www.nortonabrasives.com site.

The first-of-a-kind e-commerce business model enables customers to access a selection of MRO products and order directly from their computers. Orders are electronically processed, and products are shipped within 24 hours directly from a stocking Norton distributor, the company reports.

“We believe that utilizing and optimizing information technology will be critical to our distributor associates in serving industrial customers,” said Bob Gardiner, director of marketing and distribution. Norton will provide the “store front” on the Internet, with its distributors serving as the vital “back office” functions.