The Outside of HF4

The front view of this beautiful blast furnace in Charleroi.

The Outside of HF4

Inside the Blast Furnace

Haut Fourneau 4, commonly known as just HF4 was part of the Cockerill-Sambre steel works, a vast industrial site in Belgium. Steel has been produced at the site since the early 1800’s. The blast furnace was used for smelting iron ore, and was the major technique used for the production of steel at the time.

Inside the Blast Furnace

Cast Floor

The iron and steel produced at HF4 was mainly used for car production, an industry that almost collapsed in 2008. Production at the steel works was halted and the plant placed on standby. The facility was sold to another company, however production was never restarted and in 2012 the site was closed down after a failed merger.

Cast floor

On Top of the Cast Floor 

On Top of the Cast Floor 

The Last Train

The last Carsid locomotive and torpedo remaining on the site.

The Last Train

Climbing the Blast Furnace

From here I started the climb to the top of the blast furnace, but the security came looking for me.

Climbing the Blast Furnace

Steel factory

The ArcelorMittal steel factory, next to HF4 is still in use. On top of the blast furnace you have a beautiful view.

Steel factory

Control room

The control room of the blast furnace still in a good condition. This is where the blast furnace was controlled and all administration was kept.

Control room

Overnight

Some pictures of the overnight stay I had on the steel giant.

Overnight

Pictures of me

Pictures of me

Drone Shots

Drone shots