Machine builder Sticomax bolsters international growth ambitions with acquisition of Dutch peer ICS Spiral Freezers
26 mei 2026
Staden (Belgium), 26 May 2026 – West Flanders-based machine engineering group Sticomax has acquired Dutch spiral freezer specialist ICS Spiral Freezers. It is the fifth Dutch company to join the Belgian group in just over two years. With this transaction, Sticomax further expands its technological expertise and cements its position as an integrator of complete production lines for the global food industry.
Key technological addition to the group
ICS Spiral Freezers is globally recognised as a developer and manufacturer of high-quality spiral freezers, spiral coolers and spiral proofing towers. The Dutch company’s product 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 and with a capacity of up to 100,000 croissants per hour.
According to Sticomax, ICS technology is a key addition to the group’s existing activities. The systems are characterised by efficient energy use, minimal product dehydration and a strong hygienic design. Thanks to horizontal airflow and integrated cleaning-in-place technology, ICS installations ensure a stable production process and optimal food safety.
Faster growth and innovation
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 the companies in the group retain their autonomy while working more collaborating more closely to accelerate innovation and develop more efficient end-to-end solutions for customers worldwide.
At ICS, the current management team – Wilfred Wander, Isard Dubois and Alex van der Ree – remains responsible for day-to-day operations and will report directly to the Sticomax group management. They consider the collaboration a natural next step in the company’s development: “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.”
Consolidation towards a global leader in food production lines
ICS Spiral Freezers is the fifth Dutch company to join the group in just over two years, supported by strategic investment partner Vybros Capital Partners (VCP), following earlier acquisitions of Romonta, ViwateQ, DTS and FoodeQ. Together, they bring expertise in process and transport technology, thermal systems and hygienic solutions. With this complementary know-how, Sticomax is increasingly positioning itself as an integrated partner for complex food production environments. Following this latest acquisition, combined group revenue rises towards €125 million, while 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.”
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About Sticomax
Sticomax is an international food tech group specialised in machinery, process installations and integrated production lines for the food industry. By combining the deep expertise of Stumaco, Romonta, Intocon, ViwateQ, DTS, FoodeQ and ICS, the group offers a unique integration capability across virtually every stage of food processing. The portfolio includes internal transport, thermal and hygienic processing, washing, peeling, cooling, freezing, pressing, weighing, dewatering and defatting. Sticomax serves global market leaders and OEMs across the potato, fresh and frozen fruit & vegetable, bakery, snack, chocolate, cheese and meat processing segments. The group employs nearly 300 staff (including 75 engineers) and has a strong international footprint. For more information about the group and its subsidiaries, please visit the respective company websites: www.stumaco.be, www.romontabv.eu, www.intocon.be, www.viwateq.com, www.dtsbv.nl, www.foodeq.nl, www.ics-spiralfreezers.nl
