ICS Spiral Freezers joins forces with Sticomax

Staden (Belgium), 26 May 2026. The Dutch spiral freezer specialist ICS Spiral Freezers has been acquired by the Belgian machine engineering group Sticomax. It is the fifth Dutch company to join the group in just over two years. With this partnership, ICS strengthens its technological position and supports its international growth plans within Sticomax, which focuses on the integration of complete production lines for the global food industry.

ICS Spiral Freezers is globally recognised as a developer and manufacturer of high-quality spiral freezers, spiral coolers and spiral proofers. Its portfolio includes fully customised installations for industrial bakeries and food producers. The systems range from compact solutions to large-scale installations up to ten metres high, with a capacity of up to 100,000 croissants per hour.

ICS technology is a key addition to the existing activities of Sticomax. The systems stand out for their efficient energy use, minimal product dehydration and strong hygienic design. Thanks to horizontal airflow and integrated cleaning-in-place technology, ICS installations ensure a stable production process and optimal food safety.

Through targeted acquisitions, Sticomax continues to build a group of complementary niche companies. With the integration of ICS Spiral Freezers, Sticomax reinforces its ambition to grow into an international process integrator for the food industry. All companies in the group retain their autonomy while collaborating more closely to accelerate innovation and develop more efficient end-to-end solutions for customers worldwide.

At ICS, the current management team of Wilfred Wander, Isard Dubois and Alex van der Ree remains responsible for day-to-day operations and reports directly to the Sticomax group management. They see the collaboration as a natural next step: “Our technologies and markets complement each other perfectly. Becoming part of Sticomax allows us to accelerate our growth and better support our customers with integrated solutions.”

ICS Spiral Freezers joins the group following earlier acquisitions of Romonta, ViwateQ, DTS and FoodeQ, supported by strategic investment partner Vybros Capital Partners (VCP). Together, the companies bring expertise in process and transport technology, thermal systems and hygienic solutions. Following this acquisition, combined group revenue rises towards 125 million euros and headcount increases to nearly 300 employees.

Sticomax CEO Lode De Boe emphasises the strategic importance of the acquisition: “With ICS, we strengthen our expertise in freezing, cooling and proofing processes and further expand our offering across the entire food processing value chain. This acquisition fits perfectly within our ambition to become a global reference as an integrator of complete production lines for the food industry. At the same time, our growth also creates new opportunities for project talent and technical specialists who want to help build a robust international industrial group.”