Konrad nuclear waste repository: Sandvik machines successfully in long-term continuous operation.

The article focuses on the long-term use and successful operation of Sandvik machinery in the conversion of the former Konrad iron ore mine in Salzgitter, Germany, into a licensed nuclear waste repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Since 2014, Sandvik’s Toro® LH514 and LH515i loaders, along with DS311DE and DD311 rock support drill rigs, have been continuously employed under challenging underground conditions managed by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE). The project involves complex logistics, strict dimensional constraints, extensive personnel training, and machine upgrades to meet emission standards, demonstrating a decade-long partnership marked by reliability and adaptability. Additionally, the article briefly highlights TAKRAF Group’s publication of its first Sustainability Report aligned with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, emphasizing its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities and transparent stakeholder engagement.