This summer, the team at HBTR successfully completed the revamp of the train loading station, a key asset that has been at the heart of our operations since it was built in 1976.
The train loading station is handling up to 6 million tons of iron ore annually for our steel-producing customers in the HBTR hinterland. Knowing the critical role it plays, we decided to give it a second life, replacing the conveyor belts and modernizing the system to ensure its reliability for years to come. According to Peter de Klerk, Technical Manager at HBTR, “this project was a real team effort. By coordinating closely with the HES Group and our customers, we were able to modernize a critical piece of equipment without any disruption to operations and, most importantly, without compromising on safety.”
The station now operates as a fully automated system, managed remotely from the control room. A single operator can efficiently supervise several machines at once — a major step forward in both efficiency and safety. This achievement reflects the value of strong collaboration between the terminal’s technical team and the Group. Over the past two years, the teams worked together to plan the renovation during a scheduled slowdown in production, aligning the project with the client’s blast furnace maintenance. This careful coordination allowed the work to be completed without disrupting customer operations.
The project required approximately 15,000 contracted man-hours. To reinforce our commitment to safety, an external advisor was hired and present daily on-site, supporting our supervisors and ensuring strict compliance with all safety protocols. As Jeroen van der Neut, COO of HES Group, explained, “The revamp of the train loading station is a great example of how we approach maintenance as part of our long-term asset strategy. By investing in reliability and efficiency, we ensure that our operations remain competitive while continuing to provide the high level of service our customers expect.”