# Thomasnet Supplier Shortlist: Filters, Deduplication & CSV (`lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist`) Actor

Turn Thomasnet searches into deduplicated supplier shortlists. Filter state, company type and source-active certification claims; export suppliers and claims to CSV. Uses a separately billed source collector with an explicit spending cap.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/lifelong\_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist.md
- **Developed by:** [Mitchell Graham](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit) (community)
- **Categories:** Business, Lead generation, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 shortlisted suppliers

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Thomasnet Supplier Shortlist: Filters, Deduplication & CSV

Build a reviewable supplier shortlist from one to three Thomasnet searches. Deduplicate supplier IDs, filter by state, company type and source-reported certification, and export a separate certification-claims CSV.

### Ready-to-run examples

- [Export a Thomasnet supplier shortlist and certificate claims](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist/examples/thomasnet-supplier-review-csv)
- [Filter Thomasnet name matches to manufacturers](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist/examples/filter-thomasnet-manufacturers)

These examples create a task in your own account when you choose to try them. Review inputs and your spending limit before starting. Example companies and events are unaffiliated with this tool.

### Quick start

```json
{"queries":["Siemens"],"mode":"name","maxCandidates":5,"maxItems":5,"sourceChargeLimitUsd":0.15}
```

Open the dataset and `suppliers.csv`, `certifications.csv` and `SUMMARY` in Output. Start broad and inspect source values before applying restrictive qualification filters.

### Qualification workflow

Use `states` such as `["AZ"]`, exact `companyTypes` codes such as `["M"]`, and `requiredCertifications` text such as `["ISO 9001"]`. Every required certification must match a source title. By default, only claims explicitly marked active by the source qualify; unknown and inactive claims do not pass. This is **not independent certification verification**.

The total candidate ceiling is divided across queries. Duplicates merge by Thomasnet supplier ID, preserving matched search terms. `excludeSupplierIds` suppresses existing suppliers. Rejected candidates still count toward source collection costs. A successful zero-result shortlist can mean that no collected candidate met the filters.

### Outputs and provenance

Rows contain company, website, phone, location, reported size/revenue, company-type code, certification claims and match reasons. Missing fields stay empty. Profile links synthesized from source names/IDs are flagged `sourceUrlConstructed`; use the supplier ID to resolve an outdated link. SUMMARY records rejection counts and the upstream run.

### Pricing: two separate charges

Our launch service fee is **$1 per 1,000 delivered suppliers**, plus the displayed start fee and Apify platform usage.

Collection uses [Zen Studio's Thomasnet collector](https://apify.com/zen-studio/thomasnet-suppliers-scraper), **charged separately to your Apify account** at its current rates. Its fees are additional to ours, including candidates later rejected or merged. Check its Pricing tab. `sourceChargeLimitUsd` caps source event charges across searches; your parent-run charge limit does not cover the child run. Platform usage can be additional. A cap that is too low may stop collection.

This tool adds qualification, multi-query matching and review exports to that source. It does not promise exhaustive coverage, verified certifications, purchasing suitability or current contact accuracy. Source outages are reported as failures. Independent tool, unaffiliated with Thomasnet or listed suppliers.

### Tutorial: Build a purchasing shortlist with reviewable claims

1. Start with a five-candidate company-name query to inspect the schema.
2. Replace the name with a service query and switch `mode` to `all`.
3. Add state and certification filters after inspecting actual claims.
4. Review certification evidence before purchasing; source-active is not independently verified.

The script allows $0.15 in source event charges and $0.05 in parent event charges, separately. Platform usage may be additional. Source fees apply even if filtering leaves no suppliers.

#### Complete Node.js example

Requires Node.js 22 or newer and your own Apify account. Save the following as `suppliers-shortlist.mjs`. Set `APIFY_TOKEN` privately in your environment, then run `node suppliers-shortlist.mjs`. No npm packages are needed. Keep credentials out of source control and shared workflows. The script prints a run ID; if your local session stops, set `RESUME_RUN_ID` to that ID to retrieve the same run without starting another.

```javascript
import fs from 'node:fs/promises';

// Node.js 22+. Set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment; never paste it into a URL.
async function request(path, { method = 'GET', body, text = false } = {}) {
  if (!process.env.APIFY_TOKEN) throw new Error('Set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment');
  const response = await fetch(`https://api.apify.com/v2${path}`, {
    method, redirect: 'error', signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000),
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.APIFY_TOKEN}`, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: body === undefined ? undefined : JSON.stringify(body),
  });
  if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Apify returned HTTP ${response.status}`);
  if (text) return response.text();
  const data = await response.json();
  return data.data ?? data;
}

async function run(actorName, input, maxCharge, timeoutSecs = 120) {
  // To recover a stopped local script, set RESUME_RUN_ID instead of starting again.
  const resumed = process.env.RESUME_RUN_ID;
  if (resumed && !/^[a-zA-Z0-9]{10,30}$/.test(resumed)) throw new Error('Invalid RESUME_RUN_ID');
  const actor = await request(`/actors/lifelong_starfruit~${actorName}`);
  let current = resumed
    ? await request(`/actor-runs/${resumed}`)
    : await request(`/actors/${actor.id}/runs?timeout=${timeoutSecs}&memory=256&maxTotalChargeUsd=${maxCharge}`, { method: 'POST', body: input });
  if (current.actId !== actor.id) throw new Error('Run belongs to a different Actor');
  console.log(`Run ID: ${current.id}`);
  const deadline = Date.now() + (timeoutSecs + 60) * 1000;
  while (['READY', 'RUNNING', 'ABORTING', 'TIMING-OUT'].includes(current.status)) {
    if (Date.now() > deadline) throw new Error(`Still pending: ${current.id}. Inspect it in Console; resume instead of starting a duplicate.`);
    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 3000));
    current = await request(`/actor-runs/${current.id}`);
  }
  if (current.status !== 'SUCCEEDED') throw new Error(`Run ${current.id}: ${current.status}. Inspect SUMMARY in Console before retrying.`);
  const summary = await request(`/key-value-stores/${current.defaultKeyValueStoreId}/records/SUMMARY`);
  if (!summary.healthy || !summary.deliveredAll) throw new Error('Incomplete delivery; previous local state preserved');
  const rows = await request(`/datasets/${current.defaultDatasetId}/items?clean=true&limit=5000`);
  if (rows.length !== summary.written) throw new Error('Incomplete download; previous local state preserved');
  return { current, summary, rows };
}

const input = { queries: ['Siemens'], mode: 'name', maxCandidates: 5, maxItems: 5, sourceChargeLimitUsd: 0.15 };
const { current, rows, summary } = await run('thomasnet-supplier-shortlist', input, 0.05, 360);
for (const name of ['suppliers.csv', 'certifications.csv']) {
  const value = await request(`/key-value-stores/${current.defaultKeyValueStoreId}/records/${name}`, { text: true });
  await fs.writeFile(`${current.id}-${name}`, value);
}
await fs.writeFile(`suppliers-${current.id}.json`, JSON.stringify(rows, null, 2));
console.log(JSON.stringify({ delivered: rows.length, source: summary.source, rejected: summary.rejected }));

```

### Related tools

- [Greenhouse & Ashby Job Scraper + Change Tracking](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/pilot-employer-job-feed)
- [Eventbrite Scraper: Event URLs to JSON & ICS](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/pilot-event-calendar-feed)
- [Google Maps Leads: Territory Filter & Deduplication](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/pilot-maps-territory-leads)
- [Map Your Show Exhibitor Scraper: Company Matching & CSV](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/map-your-show-company-matching)
- [10times Events: Industry Discovery, Changes & ICS Calendar](https://apify.com/lifelong_starfruit/10times-event-calendar-sync)

# Actor input Schema

## `queries` (type: `array`):

1–3 queries. Candidate budget is divided between them, then deduplicated by Thomasnet ID.

## `mode` (type: `string`):

Search products/services or company names.

## `area` (type: `string`):

Default NA. Examples AZ, IL, MI; CN/CS for California, NT/GT for Texas. Use states for exact post-filtering.

## `states` (type: `array`):

Exact source address-state filters, such as AZ or ON. Rejected candidates still cost source charges.

## `companyTypes` (type: `array`):

Exact source codes, e.g. M for manufacturer. Unknown codes do not pass a filter.

## `requiredCertifications` (type: `array`):

Every supplied text must match a source title. Claims are not independently verified.

## `activeCertificationsOnly` (type: `boolean`):

When filtering certificates, require sourceActive=true; unknown or inactive claims do not pass.

## `excludeSupplierIds` (type: `array`):

Thomasnet IDs, optionally prefixed with thomasnet:.

## `maxCandidates` (type: `integer`):

Total ceiling across queries, before filtering.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum output rows after filtering.

## `sourceChargeLimitUsd` (type: `number`):

Required. The upstream Apify collector is charged separately to your account. Rejected and duplicate candidates incur source charges. $0.05–$10 total across this run, in addition to this Actor.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "queries": [
    "CNC machining"
  ],
  "mode": "all",
  "activeCertificationsOnly": true,
  "maxCandidates": 100,
  "maxItems": 100,
  "sourceChargeLimitUsd": 0.5
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Delivered records; check run status and coverage before treating these as complete.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Source coverage, written record count and completion status.

## `suppliersCsv` (type: `string`):

Spreadsheet-safe export available after complete delivery.

## `certificationsCsv` (type: `string`):

Spreadsheet-safe export available after complete delivery.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "queries": [
        "CNC machining"
    ],
    "sourceChargeLimitUsd": 0.5
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "queries": ["CNC machining"],
    "sourceChargeLimitUsd": 0.5,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "queries": [
    "CNC machining"
  ],
  "sourceChargeLimitUsd": 0.5
}' |
apify call lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,lifelong_starfruit/thomasnet-supplier-shortlist"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/0dDCXhzh6bLJrIExs/builds/Yf0jRH1e6m7OYgXc6/openapi.json