by N. S.
At the end of the design and construction of a packaging machine (secondary and tertiary) and after it has been subjected to rigorous tests to verify functional parameters, the acceptance process is carried out by Gampack in close collaboration with the end customer. Representatives of the commissioning company attend the acceptance test to perform an initial check of the system’s operation directly on site. On this occasion, a first real operational training is also conducted, involving the customer’s maintenance staff, line operators, and technicians, with the aim of ensuring full autonomy in managing the machine from its first installation.
We explored this topic with Giovanni Anzani, Group Commercial Director of Gampack, who explains that “this approach allows the verification of the machine’s performance before delivery, but also practical and effective training for those who will use it every day. A service that makes the start-up phase easier, reduces downtime risks, and ensures operational continuity, strengthening ties with international customers.”
From acceptance to delivery of the machine: why FAT and SAT are decisive phases
In the lifecycle of a packaging machine, acceptance stages are crucial to verifying and ensuring that the machine goes into production according to contractual requirements: FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) and SAT (Site Acceptance Test) are essential verification steps.
“FAT takes place at Gampack’s facilities before shipment: together with the customer, we verify that the machine meets the specifications, checking mechatronic, software, safety, HMI, recipes and size changeover functions. It is also effectively the first training session for operators who attend the acceptance and receive initial training,” explains Giovanni Anzani. “At the customer’s plant, with the machine installation and its integration with upstream and downstream lines, the SAT takes place, a test with real products to verify the contractual performance in terms of speed, quality, scrap and overall availability. At the end of the SAT the machine is, to all intents and purposes, in production.”
After Sales in packaging: quick interventions and preventive maintenance
Taking care of machines means guaranteeing the customer production continuity and peace of mind. This is the heart of Gampack’s after-sales service: support that does not stop at solving problems when they arise but accompanies every plant throughout its entire lifecycle.
“Already in the design phase, our technicians study solutions that minimize possible criticalities, turning the acceptance stage from a simple verification into a real confirmation that the machine delivers exactly what the customer needs. Once installed, maintenance becomes an added value: not only rapid interventions when needed, but integrated support that combines field experience and advanced digital tools. Today, alongside scheduled maintenance, we offer preventive and predictive maintenance logics that allow issues to be predicted before they turn into downtimes, thanks to the integration of advanced digital tools supported by artificial intelligence. This means extending the useful life of machinery, reducing unexpected costs and always getting the most out of production performance. Our After Sales grows together with the machines: with constant updates, digital assistance and direct contact that help customers work better and with greater peace of mind,” says Giovanni Anzani.
Remote assistance and the virtual home for After Sales
New digital solutions make machine assistance not only simpler but also immediate. Soon, customers will be able to rely on a real “virtual home”: a personalized portal where, at any time, they can find all the up-to-date documentation for their machines, consult the spare parts list, choose the necessary components, and generate the after-sales service order form in just a few clicks.
An additional advantage is the ability to connect to the installed machines remotely: Gampack technicians can view operational and software parameters in real time, intervening quickly and safely from a distance. In this way, time and costs related to travel are reduced, guaranteeing the customer fast, convenient, and extremely effective assistance.
Scalable service levels, tailored to seasonal production
Gampack’s service is designed to truly adapt to each company’s pace. “In addition to standard technical support, always guaranteed to all customers, we offer flexible, customized assistance contracts designed to follow the seasonality and production peaks typical of each sector. In areas such as food, where interruptions cannot be afforded during high season, we provide technicians on call 24/7 to ensure operational continuity and minimize the risk of machine downtime. In other cases, customers prefer to schedule interventions on a regular basis, even over long periods, to keep line maintenance constant and ensure that the machines are always in optimum conditions,” continues Anzani. “This flexibility allows Gampack to build tailor-made solutions for each plant, finding the right balance between response speed, cost optimization, and maximum production reliability. For companies with well-defined seasonal peaks—such as fresh-pasta or preserves producers, who work intensively from September to February—we offer dedicated maintenance contracts, with response times and technical presence planned in the most critical months.”
In this way, thanks to the combination of standard programs and targeted seasonal contracts, companies can minimize line stops, better control service costs, and maintain maximum machine reliability exactly when it is most needed.
Spare-parts logistics and ease of maintenance
Ensuring production continuity means having the certainty that spare parts are always available, anywhere in the world. Today, over 1,700 Gampack machines installed worldwide can rely on reliable logistics: consumables are replenished quickly from the central warehouse with ready availability, while other components arrive through a fast and efficient just-in-time system.
“However, maintainability is not improvised: it is designed. On lines that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the real economic parameter is not only the purchase price of the machine, but the Total Cost of Ownership. This means considering the frequency of interventions, downtime, and the ease with which technicians can access and replace components. We design the machines to be easy to maintain to drastically reduce unexpected stops and enable faster restarts, with a direct impact on costs and productivity. The difference is clear: a few hours of scheduled maintenance every six months do not weigh on production; on the contrary, having to dismantle half the line to replace a simple bearing can stop the plants for a long time, with significant economic consequences and losses,” continues the Director. “For this reason, at Gampack we design equipment from the outset with accessibility, modularity, standardized spare parts, and clear procedures. Added to this are advanced diagnostic tools, which make every intervention quick and predictable. The goal is simple and concrete: fewer stops, faster restarts, consistent quality, and costs always under control throughout the entire life cycle of the plant.”
After Sales: service and closeness to the customer
In the packaging world, After Sales does not only mean intervening in the event of breakdowns: it is a truly shared journey with the customer. Promoting a culture of periodic maintenance—light but constantly—means keeping the machine always at peak efficiency. The data prove it: small scheduled interventions prevent sudden and costly stops, ensuring stable quality and fewer rejects in production.
“This relationship is also built on a human and advisory level: carefully listening to the customers’ needs, proposing tailored maintenance plans, training operators, and sharing clear performance indicators. Alongside this, new digital solutions make support even faster and more effective: real-time software diagnostics, guided procedures, and remote assistance that reduce time and costs compared with on-site interventions. In addition to historical data analysis, today increasingly advanced digital tools are added and soon, also the Generative Artificial Intelligence will be integrated, capable of processing complex parameters and supporting targeted interventions with unprecedented precision,” continues Giovanni Anzani. “The relationship of trust that arises between customer and supplier, supported by technology and consulting, becomes a concrete competitive advantage: operational continuity, more reliable plants, and a user satisfaction that accompanies the machine throughout its entire life cycle.”
Artificial Intelligence in packaging: human at the center, efficiency on the rise
In the packaging industry, Artificial Intelligence will become an increasingly important presence. It will not replace people’s experience but will enhance it: algorithms support engineers and operators by turning large amounts of data into concrete operational decisions, from the design phase through to production.
“The difference is visible in day-to-day performance: a machine that is easy to use, flexible, and capable of starting up quickly reduces errors and downtime. The ability to reconfigure lines intuitively makes it possible to adapt quickly to packaging size or production changes. The result for the company is concrete: smoother processes, fewer interruptions, and reliable production that sustains competitiveness over time,” concludes Anzani. “For customers, the goal is clear: to produce continuously, with efficiency and satisfactory margins. For this reason, a plant must be conceived from the outset to ensure stability, productivity, and cost-effectiveness.”
