Tetra Pak has long been synonymous with drinks cartons – but nowadays, these “cartons” are state-of-the-art aseptic packaging solutions that keep foodstuffs safe and give them long shelf lives, without any need to keep them in the fridge. The global technology leader produces not only packaging materials, but the necessary machinery, too. One of these machines is manufactured in Flamatt, Switzerland, where Tetra Pak subsidiary eBeam Systems is working on innovative low-voltage modules that sterilise packaging without using any chemicals.

When building its highly specialised systems, the eBeam team puts its trust in SolidWorks, which has so far been connected to SAP ECC via conventional CAD desktop integration. When the decision was made to switch the system to SolidWorks PDM Professional and the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, a new solution for connecting the two worlds was needed. “Since the engineers were happy with SolidWorks, we took the next step – but with a clear idea about how integrated the new system should be,” explains Sven Muregard, Project Leader at Tetra Pak.

Cideon connects

The solution came in the form of a new connector from Cideon – a specially developed interface that connects Solid-Works PDM directly to the SAP Public Cloud. Tetra Pak decided on this solution quickly – partly thanks to its positive experience of Cideon in the CAD environment. “We had a seamless process between engineering and ERP – and that was something we definitely didn’t want to lose,” reports Muregard.

As this specific connection was uncharted territory for both partners, the migration was planned with meticulous care. Cideon extracted the CAD data and metadata from the old ECC system, and the new PDM system was set up at the same time. Meanwhile, SAP migrated neutral formats. The ultimate result was a clean data flow with an installed interface.

A smart link

The concept is based on a clear principle – large files remain local in PDM, while smaller files such as PDFs or STEP files are transferred into the cloud. Duplication of data is avoided, as the interface creates links – and this also saves storage space in the Public Cloud. Both the procurement team and external partners benefit from easy access to the information they need, without having to navigate complex data structures. “We’re delighted with the solution – in both technical and organisational terms,” Muregard sums up. A cutting-edge, cloudbased platform for product data management and ERP is now a reality – and it’s integrated, powerful and fit for the future.