Case Study - Custom Web Development for a Leading Heavy Machining & Fabrication Facility

Project Overview: Transforming a Digital Presence

Rider Tool & Manufacturing Co. was looking for a website redesign because their current site had outdated content, was hard to navigate, and didn't effectively communicate the company's main messaging and values. To equip them with a modern website that matched the criteria they needed, our team developed a customized solution using TypeScript and Tailwind CSS within a Next.js framework. This redevelopment aimed to establish a fresh digital brand identity for Rider Tool, showcasing the comprehensive range of work their facility produces and the industries they serve.

The Challenge: Overhauling an Outdated Website

Rider Tool approached us with the task of overhauling their website, which was not effectively conveying the correct information, brand identity, or visuals. Clients who visited the site often ended up confused about the services and capabilities Rider Tool offered. Long-time clients often pointed out mistakes in the content, so the CEO decided it was time to update the website. As a result, Rider Tool wanted the new website to highlight their experience, the scale of their operations, and to provide an accurate description of the services they offer.

Our Solution: Crafting a Modern Web Experience from Scratch

To fully grasp Rider Tool's objectives and accurately portray their vision online, our team visited their facility for an in-depth tour and discussion about their specific needs. By exploring the plant in person, we gained a clear understanding of their exact goals for the new website. Armed with this information, we set out to develop a completely new website from scratch to provide the business with a digital presence that met all their criteria.

Step 1: Establishing the Website's Branding

It was essential that the branding and visual identity of the site reflected the professionalism, reliability, and over 55 years of experience that Rider Tool has cultivated. When our team visited their facility, they showed us a flyer they had designed years earlier that they really liked. They wanted the new website's color palette to have a similar look to it.

Taking inspiration from this flyer, we built a color palette that matched the company's branding and applied it throughout the site. For typography, we chose Space Grotesk as the primary typeface. Its bold, straight lines create a contemporary feel, perfectly complementing the website's UI/UX design.

Step 2: Designing a UI that Reflects Rider Tool’s Brand

When crafting the UI, our goal was to make it reflect Rider Tool's high attention to detail and reliability. The design utilizes geometric shapes and a structured layout to echo the mechanical aspects of their work. The elements of the design include straight lines that perfectly align with the layout of components, screw icons overlaid on images, and many more small but impactful features we added. When all put together, it embodies the type of company Rider Tool is and effectively represents their brand.

Step 3: Building a Custom Website with Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS

When we first started the project, Rider Tool wanted us to just update their previous WordPress website and fix the content. Although this may have helped a bit, it was so outdated that it would have taken us more time to fix the old one than to build a brand new custom one ourselves. We showed them some cool features and ideas we had for the new site, and they were onboard with our strategy.

As a result, we moved forward with building the new Rider Tool website from scratch using TypeScript and Tailwind CSS within a Next.js framework. This is our standard web development combination and ensures a seamless, high-performance web experience. Thanks to these modern web frameworks, the website is fully responsive and very intuitive. Pages are rendered almost instantly, providing a very fluid experience for users.

Additionally, we designed the layout to simplify navigation, ensuring users could find information quickly and easily. By incorporating interactive elements, such as dropdown menus and hover effects, we made exploring Rider Tool's new website both intuitive and engaging.

Integrating Our In-House CMS

To enhance the site's functionality, we incorporated our in-house content management system, which we call HyperSpeed CMS. It provides a set of simple tools that make it easy for both our team and Rider Tool's team to manage their website content. This system simplifies content updates, form management, and the creation of new landing pages, among other capabilities. Overall, it equips Rider Tool with a powerful and easy-to-use platform, helping them maintain their new digital presence.

Personalizing the Messaging Across the Website

The main goal of the new site was to effectively communicate the type of services offered, the various industries served, and the company's extensive experience. Since Rider Tool manufactures up to 100-ton pieces of equipment for businesses in the mining, oil & gas, steel, and cement industries, it was important that the website effectively showcased the scale of their work.

After collaborating with their team and gathering all the necessary details, we were able to write site-wide copy that was not only informative but also conveyed the specific messaging Rider Tool aimed to present to its clients. The combination of this tailored content, images, and site structure helps clients better understand the company and effectively highlights their capabilities.

Highlighting Rider Tool’s Clientele

As one of the leading heavy machining and fabrication facilities in their industry, Rider Tool has worked with many well-known clients. This includes companies such as the City of Toronto, LCBO, General Motors, Farnell-Thompson, and Metso Minerals, among others. To highlight this, we prominently featured this prestigious client list on the homepage of the website, thereby establishing Rider Tool's credibility as a leader in this space.

The Results: A Custom Website Suited for an Industry Leader

This project was a lot of fun for us. Having our team tour Rider Tool's manufacturing facility allowed us to dive headfirst into the business and identify the specific objectives the new site was meant to achieve.

As a result, the website we developed effectively showcases their services and the industries they serve. By incorporating personalized UI/UX elements and informative content throughout the site, we ensured that Rider Tool's new digital presence accurately reflects who they truly are.