HFB Blast Furnace, Belgium

HFB is a former iron and steelworks in Belgium. This immense industrial wasteland was once the largest steelworks in the country. It is a dominant feature of the riverside skyline. The site dates back to the early 1800s, built by steel producers in alliance with local coal mining companies. By the early 1900s the site produced 5,000,000 tonnes of steel annually, mainly in the forms of semi-finished products such as plates, beams and rails.

Only two blast furnaces remained in service after damage sustained during the German occupation during the First World War; there were originally eight. HFB was mothballed during an economic downturn of 2009/2010. Subsequently, it saw a brief resurgence and return to operations. This was short-lived, however, and the site closed permanently after a few short months.

I explored this location in 2017, as part of the memorable Kolossal Tour.

The heart of HFB

The central piece of this rusting labyrinth of twisted metal is Blast Furnace No 6. The adjacent coking works would have heat-treated coal, removing impurities and producing coke. This coke along with limestone (flux), would have then been mixed with the raw iron ore. This mixture was loaded into the top of the blast furnace continuously via a series of conveyors. Air heated to over 1000 degrees celsius was blown in through the bottom of the furnace. Through a series of reactions in this oxygen-free system, the iron oxides were reduced and pure molten iron collects at the bottom of the furnace.

Large robotic arms would periodically open the taps at the base of the furnace, releasing the molten iron. These are shiny galvanised steel. Contrasting against the rest of the rusty machinery in HFB. There are two robotic arms at Blast Furnace No 6, each with its own operator cabin and a single simple control panel in each. Operation of the furnace was a continuous process, with the furnace running 24 hours