Different perspectives: when the Equipment Managers from the Networks Division meet

The meeting took place at the Beauchamp Equipment Maintenance Workshop, a strategic site for ETF. It gave participants the opportunity to compare their organisations, share best practices and explore concrete avenues for collaboration within the VINCI Construction Group.

A tour of ETF’s rolling stock depot

The day began with a presentation on ETF’s rolling stock fleet, given by Virgile, the Agency’s Rolling Stock Manager. The participants then toured the site’s outdoor areas, where rolling stock arrives via the SNCF tracks before being moved to the workshop’s sidings. As several maintenance operations were underway at the time of the visit, the discussions provided a practical opportunity to address the technical constraints specific to railway rolling stock, as well as the challenges associated with planning and coordinating maintenance work.

A behind-the-scenes look at the maintenance workshop

Inside the Rolling Stock Maintenance Workshop, the RMAs were able to tour the various areas where technical work is carried out. In particular, they observed welding work on a rail-setting machine, adjustments to railway axles carried out in a pit, the use of lifting cranes to replace a locomotive engine, and finally visited ETF’s stock of strategic parts.

Different perspectives: four organisations, four realities of the profession

The second half of the day was devoted to a discussion session, during which each Equipment Manager presented their organisation and approach to the role.

At ETF, Virgile oversees the maintenance of around twenty specialised railway vehicles, all of which are different: ranging from locomotives to tamping machines to rail-road excavators. The organisation is based on a hybrid maintenance model, combining heavy maintenance operations and technical inspections carried out at the Beauchamp workshop with on-site repairs directly at job sites. This complementary approach helps to optimise the availability, reliability and performance of the equipment.

At Terélian, Michel has shared expertise honed over thirty-six years of service. He is supported by a structured team and a specialist technical unit. The organisation also relies on a mechanical and hydraulic workshop located in Valence, as well as the deployment of heavy machinery directly on-site for certain operations. Its fleet includes rare equipment, such as a deep-reach excavator capable of reaching 60 metres — an exceptional machine, of which only four exist in the world, two of which are at Terélian.

At Cardem, Éric presented a fully outsourced model. With no in-house workshop or dedicated maintenance team, he relies on a network of trusted partners. His area of operation is particularly extensive, covering the eastern region, the north-east, and projects in the French overseas departments and territories. Committed to finding innovative solutions, he also designs specialist equipment to meet the specific requirements of his sites, such as a machine designed to scrape polystyrene to facilitate its sorting and recycling during demolition work.

At Sogea Environnement, the organisation is newer and still being structured. The entity is gradually investing to expand its fleet and strengthen its technical expertise, whilst still outsourcing some maintenance work due to the lack of an in-house workshop. Mathieu currently has a fleet of around ten excavators, including one electric excavator, with a clear intention to increase the proportion of electric machinery in the coming years.

A collaborative idea: towards an interactive skills map

As the discussions progressed, a shared idea emerged, fully reflecting the collaborative spirit of the meeting. The participants discussed the creation of an interactive map listing the Networks Division’s RMA centres, their specific areas of expertise and the locations of depots or workshops capable of receiving equipment from other entities. This tool would be designed to facilitate networking, encourage the pooling of resources and make the most of the expertise available within the network.

A changing profession: technical skills… but that’s not all

The discussions also highlighted how the role of Equipment Manager has evolved. Everyone agrees that it is no longer limited to technical expertise. It now requires a wide range of skills, combining budget management, team management, mechanical expertise, supplier relations, site support, the ability to innovate and the search for solutions tailored to operational constraints. This versatility makes the Equipment Manager a key player in overall performance and safety on construction sites.

A meeting full of promise

This reciprocal visit enabled the RMAs to get to know each other better, gain a deeper understanding of their respective organisational structures, and identify concrete opportunities for collaboration. Several avenues for collaboration are already under consideration, notably the execution of hydraulic works for ETF at Terélian, as well as existing partnerships, such as the provision of ETF storage areas to accommodate a SOGEA Environnement excavator. Beyond the technical aspects, this meeting strengthened the spirit of collaboration and laid the foundations for a lasting partnership between the various entities.