As a leading player in the domestic beer market, HEINEKEN Vietnam was looking to significantly increase the beer production output of its Tien Giang site, located in the south of the country. And they needed to do it quickly. Long-term partner and expert in turnkey solutions for beer players, Sidel offered a complete line project, featuring among other solutions, the new EvoFILL Can filler.

HEINEKEN Vietnam (a subsidiary of the HEINEKEN Group), is the second largest brewer in Vietnam, employing around 3,000 people, while operating six breweries across the country. With a focus on high-output and high-efficiency lines, the brewer produces the most famous international and local brands through dedicated ‘single-format’ lines.

A Proven Partnership Results in Complete Can Line

In Tien Giang, the brewer was looking to increase its production output. “We wanted to buy a new complete can line, doubling the capacity of the existing ones. However, a typical challenge is that you have to install the equipment while the brewery is in operation. This is why you have to look at the layout very well but – thanks to the experienced line design team from Sidel – we overcame this obstacle," explains Paul Bleijs, Supply Chain director at HEINEKEN Vietnam Brewery.

Gianmatteo Bigoli, Strategic Account Director for HEINEKEN at Sidel, adds,“We ensure that a stable expert team is supporting the customer on all their projects in Vietnam to capitalise on customer proximity, to easily grab their requirements, and to quickly implement the right solution for them. What cemented our cooperation through the past 13 years is also our continuous focus on innovations: this is key for a global leader like HEINEKEN.”

Paul continues: “From line design through installation up to the commissioning phase, the Sidel team helped us take each step very quickly.” This was instrumental in starting production seven days ahead of schedule. Sidel’s vertical start-up program, including a dedicated training that was specifically developed for the HEINEKEN team, reduces time-to-market by 40 percent while securing ongoing efficiency of line operations.

High Performance & Optimal Sustainability

Sustainability is absolute key for HEINEKEN. In 2017, the leading brewery was recognized as the most sustainable manufacturing company in Vietnam by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), based on the annual Corporate Sustainability Index. “Besides good productivity levels, this line is consuming less energy and water, thus contributing to a very good return on investment for us," Paul comments.

Ha Minh Thanh, Packaging Manager at HEINEKEN Vietnam, values the design of the can filler: “The ergonomics and safety architecture of the solution are great: It is very easy to operate, to maintain and to clean.”

Job Well Done

Sustainability, coupled with performance, was also high on the agenda when Sidel engineered SWING. Top-quality treatment in an equipment that is simple-to-operate and maintain, makes SWING the ideal solution for pasteurizing, heating or cooling cycles for cans of all formats and sizes. Moreover, it allows significant resource savings.

Increased output paired with consistently high product quality and optimal resource savings are now all achievable for HEINEKEN Vietnam thanks to the new complete canning line. Paul concludes: “Let the result speak for itself: if you can run four weeks after starting the first canning, in three shifts, at a good OPI (Operational Performance Indicators) level, that means the job was well done.”