In our campaign “Partners of HBI C-Flex”, we are introducing the team members of each partner and their tasks in our project continuing with the team from TATA STEEL.

Tata Steel Nederland is a leading player in the European steel industry, structured into two main business units. The first is Tata Steel in IJmuiden, an integrated steel plant located in the Netherlands, renowned for producing high-grade steel for a wide range of applications. The second is Tata Steel Downstream Europe, which comprises a network of steel processing companies operating across North West Europe, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. With a dedicated workforce of over 12,000 direct and 30,000 indirect employees, Tata Steel Nederland delivers innovative steel solutions for diverse sectors, including construction, automotive, packaging, energy transition, and engineering.

Our HBI C-Flex team is actively involved in several key project activities. These include conducting reduction studies on various grades of iron oxide pellets, analysing the properties of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), and assessing the impact of DRI and Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) characteristics on dust formation. Additionally, the team is focused on developing models to predict carbon levels and morphologies in DRI, which are essential for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of steel production.

Our members of the HBI C-Flex team include Balan Ramani and Jan van der Stel, who play key roles in driving these initiatives. Balan Ramani is responsible for planning and coordinating experimental trials, performing technical analysis of the results, and developing models to predict carbon content and morphology in DRI. Jan van der Stel contributes by evaluating experimental outcomes, analysing DRI behavior in the direct reduction process, and supporting strategic decision-making. He also plays an important role in disseminating findings across the Tata Steel organisation to enhance knowledge sharing and best practices.

The work being done in the HBI C-Flex project is critical to the steel industry’s journey toward decarbonisation. By improving the safety and efficiency of handling, storing, and transporting briquetted iron, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production.

To learn more about Tata Steel Nederland and our commitment to innovation and sustainability, visit our website at Tata Steel Nederland.