At Sidel, the somewhat outdated concept of solely responding to equipment emergencies has given way to a proactive approach. The Group has adopted a Life Cycle Management approach that calls for close collaboration with manufacturers to maintain and improve equipment performance for its full lifecycle following installation.
A maintenance program involving advance planning and scheduling is a major component of this approach. Depending on the customer’s individual needs, Maintenance Services can be designed to help manufacturers eventually become self-reliant in planning and implementing their maintenance plans (Silver and Gold services). Alternatively, Sidel offers customers total maintenance support with an all-in-one solution (Platinum service). Some twenty companies have already begun using these services for machines or complete bottling lines.

Equipment availability
For a manufacturer, the greatest benefit of a scheduled maintenance program is increased operational availability of equipment. Being able to schedule how often and what type of maintenance is to be done helps manufacturers plan ahead. Work can be scheduled for the most appropriate times, thereby avoiding unscheduled machine downtime during heavy production periods. Equipment stoppage for an hour or a day at peak times represents a considerable loss in production. Planning ahead for maintenance also enables manufacturers to control and plan for costs in order to distribute them over several years, eliminating unexpected maintenance expenditures.

Skills transfer
Sidel relies on skills transfer to help customers become self-sufficient in handling their scheduled maintenance work. During service visits, Sidel technicians share their knowledge and expertise with the customer’s technicians who ultimately become more knowledgeable about machine operations and maintenance needs.
Two of the programs make skills transfer a focal point.
With the Silver service, customers can set up their own maintenance schedules while receiving expert consulting and organizational tools from Sidel. Sidel works on-site with the customer providing one to two diagnostic visits per year and one week of oversight to assist the customer with an annual equipment overhaul. The service also includes an on-site four-day training session and special access to Sidel’s technical library. The goal is to help the customer move quickly toward self-reliance.

With the Gold service, customers and Sidel work together on equipment maintenance. Machines are broken down into functional modules (machine sub-assemblies) and work is divided up according to module criticality and the customer’s internal expertise. Over time, customers themselves ultimately take charge of scheduled maintenance work.

Commitment to equipment’s mechanical performance
The Platinum service takes a different approach. Sidel handles all maintenance work and guarantees top-notch service quality through its OEM factory-trained technicians. It also guarantees that the machine or line will achieve its negotiated mechanical performance level. Because Sidel guarantees its equipment will continue to operate at peak efficiency, manufacturers are able to focus on their own customers.

Proximity adds powerful dimension
Sidel has teamed up with customers to develop these three services to provide solutions that are closely tied to customer needs and expectations. Sidel has used this same approach to develop other services. For over five years, Sidel has been strengthening its basic services (spare parts management, skills transfer through training), adding new services to its portfolio (remote services, upgrades, and secondhand equipment sales), introducing more powerful data management tools, and deploying its infrastructure to be closer to customers. The Group’s powerful global network includes 800 technicians, 34 service locations and three logistics centers enabling Sidel to maintain a base of technical expertise in proximity to customers to better diagnose and quickly resolve problems.

The Sidel Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment for packaging liquid foods. The Sidel Group has 5,000 employees worldwide and is a division of Tetra Laval.