April 20, 2026

Keep it cool: everything runs like clockwork in Sivafrost’s cold-storage warehouse

Cranes that move smoothly. Conveyors that keep running. Pallets that find their way without a hitch. And sensors that do exactly what they’re supposed to do. In a cold-storage warehouse like Sivafrost’s, everything has to be spot on. 24/7, every day of the year.

However, this wasn’t always the case. In the past, there were often problems to fix. Too often, in fact. This required a lot of attention and frequently disrupted the workflow. Today, everything runs like clockwork on the Dendermonde industrial estate. By working with E’Log to focus more strongly on preventive maintenance, based on a technical review of all the installations and a tight, customised schedule, the automated cold-storage warehouse now works with smooth predictability.

This allows Sivafrost to deliver the reliability that customers count on.

Indispensable link in the supply chain

The cold-storage warehouse operated by Sivafrost, which has formed part of the CubeCold group since 1 January 2025, is a crucial step in the supply chain of numerous companies including Colruyt, Godiva and Dirafrost. As a 3PL (third-party logistics) service provider, Sivafrost takes on logistics processes for its customers. The company specialises in storing, freezing, defrosting and packaging frozen food products. Sivafrost packages around 30,000 tonnes of finished product per year. The goods must be available at all times. As soon as an order from a customer arrives, Sivafrost must deliver it. With no ifs and buts, and no delays.

Every technical hiccup puts pressure on this promise. “We load and unload about a thousand pallets a day. Our internal logistics adds an extra 500 pallets a day. When things go wrong in our warehouse, this means wasted time, rescheduling and unnecessary stress for the entire organisation. Especially in an environment with low temperatures, a high degree of automation and a continuous flow of goods,” says Stijn Siongers, Managing Director at Sivafrost. “Trucks come and go at scheduled times. If the process gets disrupted, we feel it right away and ultimately so do our customers. We want to avoid, at all costs, any situation that could lead to empty shelves in stores.”

Operational, but too many corrective interventions

That’s why Sivafrost went looking for a maintenance partner that could intervene quickly and also ensure continuity. “For us, it’s important for the technicians not to have to start from scratch every time”, says Siongers. “You want people to take a look, ask the right questions right away and quickly find the cause of the problem.”

“Sivafrost was one of E’Log’s first customers,” adds Kwinten Cantraine, Key Account Manager at E’Log. “By staying closely involved and listening carefully, the collaboration was able to evolve in line with their needs.”

When E’Log took over the maintenance of the installation a few years ago, the warehouse had just become operational. Unexpected malfunctions arose during the start-up phase, leading to an increase in corrective interventions. These ranged from software problems to stalled conveyors and turntables, as well as faulty hoisting cables and the need to replace photocells and drag chains.

The experienced E’Log maintenance technicians were ready to intervene 24/7 and get the installations going again. Not only were these interventions quick and efficient, they also made something clear: corrective maintenance alone would not solve the problem in the longer term. As a result, the technicians went the extra mile: besides making repairs, they also noted why things were going wrong and helped to brainstorm structural solutions. This led to the growing awareness that a different approach was both necessary and possible.

Custom maintenance plan

Instead of addressing each issue individually, a task force was established to consolidate all data related to service calls, interventions, findings and the installations. The team did not stop at just collecting data. They structured the information and linked errors to specific assets and components. This revealed patterns and highlighted critical parts. The result was a list of recurring problems, such as sensors that needed better adjustment, or damaged drag chains and crane wheels.

Sivafrost and E’Log then got together to discuss these insights. The key shift was clear: the installation required a stronger on-site presence and more preventive maintenance. A maintenance approach that took into account the reality of the warehouse and Sivafrost’s operational planning.

“This was the right approach,” says Siongers. Cantraine adds: “We spent a year monitoring and analysing all the problems. Mapping out these trends allows us to plan maintenance at just the right time: not too soon, but also not too late. Together with Sivafrost, we worked out a plan to systematically eliminate the recurring issues.”

The task force scaled up the number of preventive man days from 45 to 100 to ensure sufficient depth and quality, spread over a dozen maintenance weeks in the year. For each zone, they determined realistic maintenance intervals based on usage, wear and impact on operations. Dedicated maintenance teams carried out this work according to a clear annual schedule, allowing maintenance and operations to become better aligned.

In parallel, E’Log streamlined its spare parts management to ensure that critical components were quickly available when needed. Where parts were reaching their technical limits, the team worked out possible retrofit solutions. The task force went beyond technology alone. With targeted training and knowledge sharing, E’Log also brought Sivafrost’s people on board. They gained greater insight into the installations, a better understanding of malfunctions and more control over day-to-day operations.

The result? No more individual interventions, but a workable rhythm fully adapted to Sivafrost’s day-to-day operations.

This kind of collaboration never happens without a few adjustments along the way. There were times when the approach was refined here and there. “What matters most to us is that people listen and that agreements are actually fulfilled,” says Siongers. “This combination of monitoring, feedback and improvement has been an integral part of our collaboration for years.”

Lifecycle services for a future-proof cold-storage warehouse

What began in 2023 as ‘just’ maintenance has since evolved into a broader trajectory within E’Log’s lifecycle approach. Not a set of isolated services, but a coherent whole in which maintenance, analysis and optimisation are aligned – underpinned by reliability engineering as the guiding philosophy.

Within this overall picture, Sivafrost now utilises almost the entire range of services. E’Log analyses performance and critical components, converts these insights into targeted optimisations of software and installations, and helps the company think about spare parts and future interventions. Each piece of the puzzle reinforces the others: as well as running stably today, the warehouse is also prepared for the future.

Preventive maintenance means peace of mind

Since the shift toward more preventive maintenance, a steady rhythm has been achieved and the warehouse is running more reliably. The number of interruptions has been significantly reduced. Issues are now addressed before they begin to impact day-to-day operations. Consultation also takes place before each maintenance period. What’s going on? What requires our attention? What can be incorporated immediately?

“You have to see it this way: our installation has more than sufficient capacity,” says Siongers. “So we expect it to do what it’s supposed to do. To be reliable and predictable. Because the smooth running of our operations does not depend on one factor alone. Everything plays a role in a high-bay warehouse: installations, software, goods and people. If one link fails, you feel the impact immediately.”

By acting promptly, ensuring regular coordination and always remaining open to improvement, Sivafrost has gained greater control over its planning and can continue to do what it does best: safe storage of goods and reliable delivery.

For Sivafrost, the benefit today lies in reliability: with 24/7 support and a clear SLA, someone can be on site within four hours if necessary. In environments where failure is not an option, trust is not a given. You gain it with proximity, insight and the willingness to take joint responsibility. Not just once, but every day.

“Are we satisfied? Yes,” concludes Siongers. “We give E’Log 8 out of 10. What they do isn’t easy, but they deliver what we need and we are continuing to improve together.”