Skybrokers decommissioned two VertexRSI 9.0m Earth Station Antennas at the ESA facility in Redu, Belgium for Satellite Operator SES

Skybrokers decommissioned two VertexRSI 9.0m Earth Station Antennas at the ESA facility in Redu, Belgium for Satellite Operator SES.
Our first project in 2024! We removed two VertexRSI 9.0m Satellite Earth Station Antennas in January at the ESA Redu facility in Belgium for satellite operator SES. In challenging weather conditions our four-member project and installation team took down, disassembled and packed the antenna parts for transportation with dedicated trucks. Both antennas were cleaned and checked-out at our Antenna facility in Holland and found a new home in the Ukraine and Cyprus.
SES is the world’s second-largest telecommunications satellite operator by revenue and operates a fleet of more than 55 satellites able to reach 99% of the World’s population. These satellites provide satellite communication services to businesses and government agencies, and broadcast TV and radio channels to audiences worldwide. SES satellites carry more than 6,200 TV channels (including over 1.800 in HD) and more than 40 direct-to-home (DTH) platforms across the world. SES satellites reach almost 300 million TV homes worldwide.
Originally founded in 1985 as Société Européenne des Satellites, the company was renamed SES Global in 2001 and in 2006 renamed SES. The company is based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg and is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris.
SES is one of the global market leaders of satellite communications services and a pioneer in many important industry developments. In 2007 SES was named ‘Satellite Operator of the Year’.
- ESA Teleport in Redu, Belgium.
- ESA is monitoring various satellites from the Redu site in the Belgium Ardennes.
- A site survey was conducted in September 2023.
- Two 9m antennas had to be removed from the site.
- The actual removal started in January 2024.
- The first VertexRSI 9m antenna was dismantled.
- De-icing enclosure was removed.
- Grout was removed from the Pedestal legs.
- Antenna reflector was prepared for lifting the next day.
- A 60T crane was arranged.
- Slings were attached to the reflector.
- Lifting the reflector from its Pedestal.
- The reflector was lifted carefully to ground level.
- The Pedestal was removed from the foundation.
- The Pedestal was removed from the foundation.
- Subsequently the Pedestal legs were lifted..
- ..and the sub-assembly removed from the reflector.
- The next days the team dismantled the panels..
- ..in winter weather conditions.
- 16 radials were removed from the hub.
- All parts were packed and palletized.
- Reflector panels packed carefully..
- ..to make loading in trucks easy.
- Antenna removed from its foundation.
- In parallel the team removed the de-icing from the 2nd antenna.
- De-icing enclosure removed.
- Last de-icing strips were removed with the cherry-picker.
- Antenna reflector stripped..
- ..and made ready for lifting the next day.
- The 60T crane was arranged again..
- ..and slings were attached to the reflector.
- The reflector was lifted from its Pedestal..
- ..and carefully moved..
- ..to the special place for further dismounting.
- The reflector was carefully levelled on the ground.
- Sub-assembly was removed.
- Next was the Pedestal..
- ..that was removed from the foundation carefully.
- Finally the Pedestal legs were lifted from the foundation.
- All antenna parts were removed from the foundation.
- Reflector panels were removed.
- Foundation was cleaned.
- We used a Telehandler to load the trucks.
- In total three dedicated trucks were arranged for final transportation.