On June 16, Sidel inaugurated its new Beijing Technical Training Center, a 900 sqm facilitylocated within the Sidel Beijing Plant. Positioned as the Asia Center of Excellence, thetraining facility offers both classroom and hands-on training services harnessing state-of-theart interactive technologies and high-tech equipment.
Asia is the epicenter of growth for the beverage industry. In the last few years, beveragemanufacturers have been ramping up their production capacity to meet increasing demands andshifting consumer needs. The rapid growth rate often means that beverage manufacturers have tofast-track training programs to enhance the expertise of their service engineers and operators so asto reduce machine downtime, minimize maintenance costs and improve product quality.
An unparalleled learning experience
The new facility is fully equipped to provide a unique learning experience. It includes blow molding machines, a laboratory with simulation benches for the configuration of standard and aseptic fillers and a Combi automation desk to reproduce machine synchronization requirements. The new Beijing Technical Training Center also features virtual reality equipment for enhanced interaction.
“The opening of the Sidel Beijing Technical Center demonstrates our commitment to meet our customers’ needs wherever they are. The new Beijing facility combines real-time simulation and ample hands-on opportunities, with the use of 3D, to offer our customers a unique training experience,” said Mr. Michel Picandet, Executive Vice President of Sidel Life Cycle Management.
The Beijing Technical Training Center is the first of its kind in Sidel, where a wide range of training courses are offered for both blowers and fillers, for applications such as sensitive products, water and carbonated soft drinks.
Over 200 sqm of the facility is dedicated to the training of blowing equipment. A fully equipped laboratory with different kinds of filling valves, manifolds, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Syncro-Combi simulation, instruments and actuators of aseptic fillers, blower components, etc. Three classrooms with capability to offer theoretical learning, including a virtual reality room that allows trainees to interact with projected models.
“At Sidel, learning is a cultural force. For more than 40 years, Sidel’s training centers around the world have been offering tailor-made training programs focused on the transfer of knowledge in a highly interactive environment,” added Mr. Peter Logan, Executive Vice President of Market Operations.
A wide agenda all year round
In 2011, more than 150 training programs are already scheduled, which will provide training to an estimated 1200 trainees. Training can also be provided on site at the client’s production facility or in one of Sidel’s worldwide training centers.
The Beijing Technical Training Center is Sidel’s seventh. The other centers are located in Octeville (France), Parma (Italy), Guadalajara (Mexico), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Atlanta (USA) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
According to Luigi Armani, Central Training and Technical Competence Development Director, “the new Sidel Technical Training Center in Beijing will allow Sidel to enlarge its training portfolio offer being closer to the training needs of both our Customers and internal technicians in Asia. The Center is a new worldwide best in class center of competence on complete Sidel products”.
* Center of Excellence in Asia, Comprehensive training offering, Virtual reality room for enhanced training experience
