ROVEMA Life Cycle Services
Interview with Uwe Maier, director ROVEMA Life Cycle Services
Uwe Maier manages ROVEMA Life Cycle Services since June 1st, 2019. With more than 20 years experience in operative and strategic service, he and his team want to make ROVEMA clients more successful – through drastic reduction of rejects and the exhaustion of all technical possibilities – for attractive, POS effective packages that can be adapted to market changes on short notice.
Mr. Maier, how do you judge the current situation in the packaging machinery industry? What are the topics that interest our clients in your opinion?
The packaging machine market is very competitive, competitive machines are usually available from more than one supplier. The machine technology itself today is not necessarily a decisive factor – the machine’s availability is. In this area, I see clear advantages for ROVEMA.
What do you mean exactly?
ROVEMA has a functioning global network, which does not only assure machine sales, but also order of service and spare parts.
And this always works smoothly?
Smooth operation certainly is the target! All spare parts should be delivered quickly, in best quality and for market-oriented prices. The ideal reaction time often depends on experience and a certain knowledge of the machine. For example, with the right client information on his or her machine we can deliver the right wear part at the right time – not when the machine stopped.
The packaging machine market is very competitive, competitive machines are usually available from more than one supplier. The machine technology itself today is not necessarily a decisive factor – the machine’s availability is. In this area, I see clear advantages for ROVEMA.
What do you mean exactly?
ROVEMA has a functioning global network, which does not only assure machine sales, but also order of service and spare parts.
And this always works smoothly?
Smooth operation certainly is the target! All spare parts should be delivered quickly, in best quality and for market-oriented prices. The ideal reaction time often depends on experience and a certain knowledge of the machine. For example, with the right client information on his or her machine we can deliver the right wear part at the right time – not when the machine stopped.
“The machine technology itself today is not necessarily a decisive factor – the machine’s availability is.”
This goes in direction of predictive maintenance?
Definitely! Often we just don’t have the necessary information – this is often due to the client’s own data protection regulations – but basically it is exactly that: how does the ROVEMA product perform in practice? So a close and cooperative partnership with the client in terms of machine information is needed to synchronize maintenance intervals and spare part deliveries and to optimize machine downtimes.
What do you think about modern technical aids like data glasses? Is this of interest for you now?
Yes, of course, we look at such modern tools; everything that might speed up our reaction time is checked!
What exactly is your concept?
I am convinced of the One Stop-Shop, meaning I would keep up the concept of ROVEMA clients receiving all services from a single source: from training, to service and spare part deliveries.
The ROVEMA training offer has also been completely updated, is this based on the same concept?
Yes, the training offer now is a modular one and can provide both: customized and mixed training courses.In this area, we are also thinking about modern learning techniques, like e.g. e-learning. Only with the right set of services can we support our clients in a long-term, trustful and solution-oriented way.
What exactly does this mean for you personally? We are surely not the only company that seeks a long-term collaboration?
I assume so, but our target clearly is the long-term partnership, that allows our clients to work on the machines independently. For example, the operators on the client side should be trained to be capable of acting throughout the machine operation, wear and tear repairs up to unscheduled malfunctions. We certainly offer support, but it is clearly not our aim to make the client fully depend on us. Again, we would like to know as much as possible about our machine’s performance in practice. If we find out that certain parts wear out within a certain period, this would be the ideal moment for us to inform our clients and to take preventive action.
Definitely! Often we just don’t have the necessary information – this is often due to the client’s own data protection regulations – but basically it is exactly that: how does the ROVEMA product perform in practice? So a close and cooperative partnership with the client in terms of machine information is needed to synchronize maintenance intervals and spare part deliveries and to optimize machine downtimes.
What do you think about modern technical aids like data glasses? Is this of interest for you now?
Yes, of course, we look at such modern tools; everything that might speed up our reaction time is checked!
What exactly is your concept?
I am convinced of the One Stop-Shop, meaning I would keep up the concept of ROVEMA clients receiving all services from a single source: from training, to service and spare part deliveries.
The ROVEMA training offer has also been completely updated, is this based on the same concept?
Yes, the training offer now is a modular one and can provide both: customized and mixed training courses.In this area, we are also thinking about modern learning techniques, like e.g. e-learning. Only with the right set of services can we support our clients in a long-term, trustful and solution-oriented way.
What exactly does this mean for you personally? We are surely not the only company that seeks a long-term collaboration?
I assume so, but our target clearly is the long-term partnership, that allows our clients to work on the machines independently. For example, the operators on the client side should be trained to be capable of acting throughout the machine operation, wear and tear repairs up to unscheduled malfunctions. We certainly offer support, but it is clearly not our aim to make the client fully depend on us. Again, we would like to know as much as possible about our machine’s performance in practice. If we find out that certain parts wear out within a certain period, this would be the ideal moment for us to inform our clients and to take preventive action.
So focus is on consulting the client?
Yes, I would like to have a product that is easy to operate and that can be provided with updates and training from our side short term. The actual consulting is close to the market demands. Particularly the food sector, where many of our clients are active, is subject to changes. Often our clients need to react fast and with flexibility. This for me is a broad and exciting field.
Also for packaging trends?
Yes, currently we receive many requests from clients who think about producing with alternative packaging materials. Here we work very closely together: ROVEMA machine technology allows the processing of a broad range of packaging materials. The service department supports our clients with the adaptations necessary.
How laborious is such an adaptation?
That really depends. The amount of information we receive on the existing machine is crucial. Sometimes quick adjustments or a simple recipe are enough, sometimes entire conversions of product infeed or format support are necessary.
Yes, I would like to have a product that is easy to operate and that can be provided with updates and training from our side short term. The actual consulting is close to the market demands. Particularly the food sector, where many of our clients are active, is subject to changes. Often our clients need to react fast and with flexibility. This for me is a broad and exciting field.
Also for packaging trends?
Yes, currently we receive many requests from clients who think about producing with alternative packaging materials. Here we work very closely together: ROVEMA machine technology allows the processing of a broad range of packaging materials. The service department supports our clients with the adaptations necessary.
How laborious is such an adaptation?
That really depends. The amount of information we receive on the existing machine is crucial. Sometimes quick adjustments or a simple recipe are enough, sometimes entire conversions of product infeed or format support are necessary.
Does this mean the machine receives a second machine life?
Not necessarily. We do have the opportunity to completely overhaul machines within the ROVEMA 2nd Life Concept, mostly on-site in Fernwald. Before a complete overhaul is done, usually there are many updates, upgrades and conversions, which allow the machine’s adaptation to meet new demands on-site at the client.
What if an adaptation isn’t possible anymore? What happens to a ROVEMA machine that does not meet client requirements anymore?
We take our machines back and provide them with a 2nd life – guaranteed. If a machine isn’t suitable for a client, e.g. because of bigger output rates after production expansion, we often find a client needing the smaller output rate. Smaller companies, start-ups or companies overseas often are grateful recipients of used ROVEMA machines. If we really do not find a new purpose, our machines are nearly fully recyclable: stainless steel, steel and macrolon – those are often easy to recycle.
What wishes do you have for the future? What are you currently working on particularly ambitiously?
Of course, now I am active in many different areas. Particularly interesting for the future to me are the service contracts. Here I see clear potential for ROVEMA – with over 60 years of experience and more than 30.000 machines delivered; we can do more for our clients. With the right concept, we could longer guarantee the absolute quality of packaging and react faster to market demands.
Not necessarily. We do have the opportunity to completely overhaul machines within the ROVEMA 2nd Life Concept, mostly on-site in Fernwald. Before a complete overhaul is done, usually there are many updates, upgrades and conversions, which allow the machine’s adaptation to meet new demands on-site at the client.
What if an adaptation isn’t possible anymore? What happens to a ROVEMA machine that does not meet client requirements anymore?
We take our machines back and provide them with a 2nd life – guaranteed. If a machine isn’t suitable for a client, e.g. because of bigger output rates after production expansion, we often find a client needing the smaller output rate. Smaller companies, start-ups or companies overseas often are grateful recipients of used ROVEMA machines. If we really do not find a new purpose, our machines are nearly fully recyclable: stainless steel, steel and macrolon – those are often easy to recycle.
What wishes do you have for the future? What are you currently working on particularly ambitiously?
Of course, now I am active in many different areas. Particularly interesting for the future to me are the service contracts. Here I see clear potential for ROVEMA – with over 60 years of experience and more than 30.000 machines delivered; we can do more for our clients. With the right concept, we could longer guarantee the absolute quality of packaging and react faster to market demands.