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 CRM group.

CRM Group (Centre for Research in Metallurgy)

is an independent research organization founded in 1948 that provides technological R&D innovation in the fields of metal and steel production processes, product development and a wide range of metal applications, using a truly holistic process-product-application approach and focusing on industrial implementation of its developments. In addition to its historical steel mission, CRM Group has developed activities on current challenges, in circular economy, energy transition, digitalization and advanced manufacturing. These are aimed at multi-sectoral applications such as defense, chemistry, aeronautics, energy and the environment.  With the collaboration of its members and partners – large companies and SMEs – CRM Group is committed to contributing to a better future addressing economic, societal, and environmental challenges across various industries.

The CRM Group’s contribution to the HBI C-Flex project consists of:

The production of DRI samples with different carbon contents to be used for the hot briquetting trials. Those DRI samples are :

• representative of the main Direct Reduction shaft technologies (Midrex & Energiron), operated with up to 100% H₂;
• made from different iron ores grades (BF and DR grades).

For that purpose, CRM uses its Direct Reduction reactors (HUGE and RACHEL) which allows the production of 40 to 55 kg of (H₂)DRI.

Characterisation are performed on the DRI samples by optical microscopy for evaluation of the process impact on DRI structure : quantitative and qualitative assessment of the reduction, porosity and cracks repartition over the DRI pellets cross section.

CRM is organised around 6 research units, where the ones involved in the HBI C-Flex are:

Metal Production and Recycling:  Dedicated to raw material processing, carbon neutral iron & steel making, melting & refining, by-products treatment and valorisation.

• Frédéric van Loo is Activity Manager and coordinates the exchanges between CRM and other partners, administrative management, as well as decision-making on the reduction trials;
• Bárbara Dornelas is Project Leader and is responsible for the DRI characterisation and quality validation of the DRI produced.

Energy and low Impact Industry Department: Processing various wastes into synthetic fuel and applying carbon capture usage solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions in energy-intensive industries.

• Damien Garot is Activity Manager and leads planning and coordination of reduction trials on the direct reduction reactors as well as decision-making;
• Pierre Marrene is Research Engineer and responsible for the elaboration of operating conditions for reduction tests, their conduction and analysis of experimental outcomes.

To learn more about CRM Group, please visit the company’s website at https://crmgroup.be/en/.