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With the opening of its new frozen-food warehouse in Kuurne, Coldo is taking a major step forward in logistics automation. The 47-meter-high complex combines a capacity of 60,000 pallets with advanced software control, high throughput rates, and energy efficiency. “We are very proud of the end result,” says Bénédicte Soens, who runs Coldo together with her husband Thomas Demuynck. “We’ve created a state-of-the-art logistics hub that perfectly meets the needs of the rapidly growing food industry.”
The warehouse is designed as a fully automated system in which human intervention is kept to a minimum. From the moment a pallet is placed on a conveyor belt, the technology takes over.
“Our system measures, weighs, inspects, and scans every pallet fully automatically,” says Bénédicte Soens. “It is then transported to the correct location without any human intervention. Shuttles travel beneath the pallets, after which lifts transport them to one of the sixteen levels. At each level, additional shuttles ensure precise positioning within the rack warehouse. The entire process is controlled by specialized software.”
The warehouse’s logistics performance is impressive. With a capacity of approximately 400 pallets per hour, the system can handle peaks of up to about 12 trucks per hour. “Our facility has six inbound and six outbound docks, connected to conveyors that optimize the flow of goods,” says Soens. “This enables continuous and efficient goods handling, even during busy periods. In a 24/7 operation, we could process up to ten thousand pallet movements. At that scale, we must be able to rely not only on high-performance technology but also on flawless coordination of transport and planning.”
One of the major challenges in frozen food logistics is making optimal use of storage capacity, given customers“ seasonal production patterns. ”Vegetable processors build up their inventories starting in the summer, while ice cream manufacturers follow a completely opposite pattern,“ explains Soens. ”By cleverly combining these cycles, we maximize our capacity. Thanks to this approach, we can keep our warehouse running efficiently year-round, despite fluctuations in supply and demand.”
Frozen food logistics is particularly energy-intensive, but Coldo is strongly committed to optimization. Soens: “In the long term, we want to invest heavily in solar panels, using our own freezer as a kind of battery. When there is excess solar energy, we will use it to provide some additional cooling in our freezer.”
“In addition, maintaining a constant temperature of -20°C requires precise control. After the building was completed, we had to carry out a controlled cooling process: we lowered the temperature gradually by 1°C per day until it reached -20°C. This prevented the shrinkage effect that could have caused the building to warp. This demonstrates just how critical temperature management is—not only for the products, but also for the infrastructure itself.”
The location in Kuurne is a key component of the company’s logistical success. The warehouse is situated at a junction of major transportation routes, enabling rapid distribution to Belgium, northern France, and beyond. “For our customers, this means shorter lead times and greater flexibility,” says Soens. “This allows our company to build a strong market position as an external logistics partner.”
According to the co-manager, the growth in third-party frozen storage is no coincidence. “Logistics, and certainly frozen logistics, is a specialized field. Companies prefer to invest in their core activities and outsource storage. We’re perfectly positioned to capitalize on that trend, with a combination of scale, automation, and strategic location.”
As the third-generation manager of Asfaltbedrijf Tijtgat, Anthony Tijtgat, together with his father and brother, continues the tradition of the family business, with a clear focus on sustainable roofing. “We are primarily a bituminous roofing company, but over the past twenty years we have also focused heavily on materials such as EPDM, PVC, and TPO. Our broad expertise came in handy during the construction of Coldo’s frozen food warehouse.”
“For this project, we were responsible for bonding a PVC roof membrane to sandwich panels, combined with a traditional two-layer bituminous roof covering on the parking deck. The collaboration with contractor Alheembouw went very smoothly. We had worked together before. That helps us adapt quickly, though adhering to the tight schedule remained a challenge.”
According to Tijtgat, his company’s strength lies in its flexibility and autonomy. “We employ our own roofers and have our own fleet of trucks and crane trucks, some of which can reach heights of up to thirty meters. This means we aren’t dependent on third parties and can supply our job sites entirely on our own.”
Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in this. “We strive to recycle as much waste material as possible and rely on green energy to reduce our carbon footprint.” Thanks to our daily efforts and VCA certification, quality and safety are also guaranteed. “This was a great project, and we are grateful to the client and contractor for their trust.”
