Can you introduce us to TAKRAF do Brasil?

We are headquartered in Germany with offices around the world and have been operating in Brazil since the beginning of 2000; our first significant contract was with Vale. This contract included the supply of all stockyard machinery and conveyors for raw material storage. It was a pivotal project that gave us the strength to establish a more robust operation in Brazil. We have an office in Belo Horizonte and 50 employees, split between our office and various sites. All our equipment is manufactured in Brazil. We can develop engineering solutions and manufacturing. However, we do not have our own fabrication workshop; we utilize local partners. Brazil has a robust industrial base, particularly in the mechanical industry. While we have seen some challenges in this area, the strong mining activities around us have provided suitable suppliers for structural components. What is TAKRAF do Brasil's product portfolio for the Brazilian market?

Our services begin post-blasting with solutions for crushing activities and extend through the entire transportation and processing process to loading onto trains or ships. We also provide conveying solutions for crushed material and have beneficiation equipment. After ore is processed, we have capabilities for storing and reclaiming materials. Our main products for the market include crushers, apron feeders, belt conveyors, stackers, reclaimers, ship loaders and unloaders, thickeners, flotation cells, filter presses, horizontal filters and screens. Can you tell us about your recent Dry Stack Tailings (DST) solution project?

We supplied Usiminas with a complete tailings processing plant. This included a filter press, conveyors to receive the discharge, and a thickener for processing. This project was the first DST solution implemented in Brazil, and it is now considered a benchmark for the industry. Since the legislative changed following the disasters at Mariana and Brumadinho, all mines are required to move to dry stack solutions, which has increased interest in our offering. What are the biggest challenges facing the iron ore industry currently?

The mining industry tends to be conservative, which means that change and innovations take longer to take hold. One significant challenge is the transition from tailings dams to dry stacking solutions, which requires new operating concepts and costs. Customers are hesitant to invest in processes that do not yield a final product. Another challenge is the increasing demand for larger volumes of output. There is pressure on the mining companies to improve competitiveness and adapt to emerging market demands, including green product initiatives to reduce carbon impact. We are observing increased demand for equipment automation, including retrofitting older machines. Safety and environmental considerations are a priority in the mining sector. Recently, we launched an innovation challenge within TAKRAF Group, encouraging employees to propose ideas for sustainability and AI projects. The challenge reflects our desire to adapt and innovate within a traditionally conservative industry. What is TAKRAF do Brasil’s interest in other metals and critical minerals?

TAKRAF Group helps to secure the metals supply of the future. Therefore, we are also investigating various minerals in Brazil, including lithium, which has seen new projects emerge due to increased demand. Nickel projects are also developing, and we are aware of gold projects, although they typically require smaller equipment, which may not be within our primary focus. Bauxite is another mineral where we see potential. Overall, the volume of mineral extraction is consistently increasing. What objectives and milestones have you set for TAKRAF do Brasil over the next 12 months?

We have set specific project targets for our portfolio, but we are closely monitoring the current political situation, which has a significant impact on investment levels. While greenfield projects are challenging, we are focusing on revamps and aftermarket opportunities, where we have a strong presence. We aim to increase our aftermarket order intake to even more sustainable levels and are on a very good track, while some competitors are struggling. We see potential in revamping thickening equipment due to high demand, and we are also exploring automation as a growth area, investing in skilled personnel to support our expansion.