Heads up: Miauu released his Link Manager- max plugin for pain-free importing, combining by material and updating your skp models in 3ds Max (without need to re-apply materials and modifiers). This is HUGE. If you are an Archviz artist modeling in SU and rendering in Max- I highly recommend this rock solid script- please support author in this difficult times; the price is symbolic.
http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/miauus-manage-links