Technical translation
A furniture catalog in three languages: how a factory entered EU markets
Published: 17 July 2026 · Updated: 19 July 2026· Reviewed by: MovaPro team
Situation
A Ukrainian furniture factory signed up dealers in several EU countries. Its main sales tool is the catalog: dozens of pages of collections, photos, dimension tables, materials, SKUs. It needed English, German, and Polish versions — ready for a dealer to send straight to print.
Task
Produce three language versions that look one-to-one like the original: the same page grid, the same photos and graphics, correct tables — and terminology the furniture trade actually uses, not a literal translation.
How we worked
- A furniture-industry glossary. We extracted every material, mechanism, and fitting from the catalog. Each term was checked against industry dictionaries and European manufacturers’ catalogs, then approved with the client in all three languages.
- Team translation in Trados. Three translators shared one translation memory and glossary; an editor proofread all languages for consistency. Recurring collection descriptions were billed at a discount — catalogs repeat themselves a lot.
- Layout in InDesign. A DTP specialist set the translated text back into the master layout: German runs about a quarter longer than Ukrainian, so some captions and tables were re-set to keep the design intact. All graphics, photos, and the brand grid preserved one-to-one.
- Quality control. Xbench verified the numbers in dimension tables and the SKUs (the sorest spot of any catalog!); the editor checked the final PDFs page against page with the original.
Result
The factory delivered print-ready PDFs in three languages to its dealers. Seasonal catalogs now run on the same translation memory: only new collections are billed, and turnaround has halved compared with the first cycle.
Worth knowing
- A catalog is technical and marketing translation at once: tables and SKUs demand precision, collection copy demands living language.
- Plan the DTP from day one: translation without layout leaves you with raw text the day before printing.
- The cheapest catalog is the second one: translation memory makes every update faster and cheaper.
- A similar case from another industry: a home-appliance catalog in Ukrainian.
Tools used in this project
We work in the industry’s leading professional software — it guarantees consistent terminology, automated quality checks, and honest pricing: you don’t pay for repetitions.
Trados StudioThe industry-standard CAT tool: translation memory and glossaries keep terminology consistent — and repetitions are free.
ApSIC XbenchThe industry-leading QA tool: catches the small inconsistencies a human eye misses.
Adobe InDesignPrint-ready layout of translated catalogs, brochures, and manuals.
Professional linguists with 15–20+ years of experience — always on the latest industry-leading software.All our software →
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Frequently asked questions
Why can't a catalog just be "translated as text" without layout work?
A catalog sells with its look: the page grid, photo captions, size and SKU tables. If the translated text isn't placed back into the layout, the client ends up with a file no printer or dealer can use. That's why a DTP specialist finishes the job in InDesign.
How do you translate material and fittings terminology?
We build a glossary: wood species, fabrics, mechanisms, fittings. Every term is verified against industry dictionaries and European manufacturers' catalogs, then approved with the client — so each language uses the wording the trade actually uses.
Our catalog updates every season. Do we pay for everything again?
No. Translation memory keeps all previous versions: in a new catalog only new and changed fragments are billed; repetitions come discounted or free.
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