Location: Eastern Belgium
Documentation date: Spring of 2021
This abandoned steel factory was built in 1962 and shut down in 2011 after the financial crisis delivered the final blow to the already struggling company it belonged to, which failed to compete with steel prices from abroad. It is located next to a river in the industrial district of a city formerly well known for its steel production, making for a cinematic scenery.
The gargantuan factory is obviously a dangerous place. Many of the open air staircases are already bending downwards quite a bit and some of the floors – both metal and concrete – are perforated with sizeable holes. They were clearly not made to withstand years of adventurous urbexers climbing up and down.
The roofed conveyor belts above as well as the rusted rails below once led through whole districts of the city, connecting the different production sites.
The by far biggest and most important building on this huge industrial site is the former blast furnace, the last one standing in the area. It was used to melt iron using air that was heated to up to 1000 degrees celsius by burning coal.
Steel beams, bars and rails were then produced with the melted iron. I have been told that climbing up alongside the furnace reveals a stunning view across the city.
An active rail line leads through the site and passes directly under the blast furnace in a tunnel.
Maybe this is the reason why the factory still has not been blown up and torn apart by bulldozers, despite permits being filed for the destruction in the end of 2018.
Until now only the roof in front of the blast furnace has been removed and there are no signs of ongoing deconstruction; however, this could change any day.
Update: HFB Ougree is sadly being completely demolished since the beginning of 2023. Soon almost every trace of the ancient steel production and manufacturing will be erased from this area.
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