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GrafTech International Holdings, Inc. (nyse: GTI), (GrafTech), is a global company with 125 years’ experience in the carbon and graphite industry.

Graftech's customers are located in over 65 countries and represent a wide range of industries and end markets, including steel manufacturing, automotive products, alternative energy and electronics. GrafTech operates 16 manufacturing facilities on four continents and employs approximately 3 000 people.

The company’s operations are divided into two lines of business: Engineered Solutions and Industrial Materials. The company headquarters is in Parma, Ohio.

GrafTech has been listed as GTI on the New York Stock Exchange since 1995.

Company history
GrafTech’s business was founded in 1886 as the National Carbon Company, which then merged with Union Carbide in 1917, and the business that would later become GrafTech began to operate as the Carbon Products Division of Union Carbide.

Union Carbide was reorganized in 1989, with the Carbon Products Division renamed as the UCAR Carbon Company. In 2002, the company was rebranded as GrafTech International Ltd., and in 2008, became GrafTech International Holdings, Inc.

In late 2010, GrafTech acquired two companies: Seadrift Coke LP, a manufacturer of needle coke, which is an essential component in the production of graphite electrodes; and C/G Electrodes LLC, which manufactures graphite electrodes.

In February 2011, the company acquired Micron Research Corporation, a manufacturer of super fine grain graphite.

Notable Dates and Achievements
1886: The National Carbon Company, GrafTech’s predecessor, is founded.

1896: Dr. Edward G. Acheson makes the first synthetic graphite and patents the process.

1914: Introduces the first 12-inch diameter graphite electrodes.

1926: Produces the first impregnated electrode pins with high density and high strength.

1955: Receives an Oscar&reg; for the development and production of a high-efficiency yellow flame carbon for motion picture color photography.

1956-1978: Develops high performance carbon fibers; this work is later recognized in 2003 with a National Historic Chemical Landmark from the American Chemical Society.

1969: Develops rocket nozzles and re-entry vehicle nose cones.

1985: Develops advanced technology for carbon/carbon composites used in spacecraft.

1990: Introduces first 30-inch diameter graphite electrodes for UHP DC arc furnaces

1995: Develops new graphite for the US Advanced Battery Consortium for lithium batteries in electric vehicles; initial public offering

1999: Develops first thermal interface materials for electronic thermal management.

2002: Name changes from UCAR to GrafTech.

2003: Wins a grant from the Ohio Third Frontier for two fuel cell projects.

2004: Introduces optimized pinless joint design for large diameter graphite electrodes.

2007: Commercializes high-temperature insulation solutions for the polysilicon and solar industries.

2010: Launches high thermal conductivity SPREADERSHIELD™ products for electronics and lighting applications.

In November, acquires two US-based companies: C/G Electrodes, a graphite electrode producer and Seadrift Coke, the world’s second largest needle coke producer.

2011: In February, acquires super fine grain graphite materials manufacturer Micron Research Corporation.

Segments and Products
GrafTech’s Industrial Materials segment is focused on the global steel market. This segment represents approximately 80 percent of the company’s sales and includes the following product lines:
 * Graphite electrodes: Critical component in the production of electric arc furnace steel; used to conduct electricity to melt scrap steel.
 * Needle coke: Key raw material in the production of graphite electrodes.
 * Refractories: Unique brick technology for hearth walls installed in modern integrated steel furnaces worldwide.

The Engineered Solutions segment addresses a number of other high-growth markets, and represents approximately 20 percent of corporate sales and includes the following product lines:
 * Advanced Graphite Materials: A wide range of highly engineered synthetic graphite products used in a variety of end markets, including solar, oil and gas exploration, and transportation.
 * Flexible Graphite: Thin, lightweight flexible graphite solutions used to dissipate heat in demanding thermal applications, including flat panel displays, smartphones and LED lighting.

Markets
Steel
 * Electric arc furnace
 * Blast furnaces

Electronics
 * Appliances
 * Displays
 * Handheld devices
 * Mobile computing and entertainment
 * Telecommunications

Energy
 * Polysilicon
 * Oil and gas
 * Solar
 * Semiconductor
 * Fuel cell
 * Nuclear
 * Solid state lighting
 * Heating and cooling
 * Energy storage

Industrial
 * Metallurgical
 * Machine shop
 * Thermal
 * Chemical
 * Automotive
 * Building materials

Aerospace
 * Commercial aerospace
 * Defense

Locations
In addition to its global headquarters and R&D Center in Parma, Ohio, GrafTech has manufacturing sites, sales offices and employees located throughout the world.

North America
 * Parma, Ohio: Corporate headquarters, R&D Center
 * Lakewood, Ohio: Advanced energy technology manufacturing facility
 * St. Marys, Pennsylvania: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility
 * Emporium, Pennsylvania: Super fine grain graphite manufacturing facility
 * Clarksburg, West Virginia: Advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility
 * Lawrenceburg, Tennessee: Refractories systems manufacturing facility
 * Columbia, Tennessee: Refractories systems manufacturing facility
 * Port Lavaca, Texas: Seadrift Coke; needle coke plant
 * Monterrey, Mexico: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility

South America
 * Salvador, Brazil: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility
 * São Paulo, Brazil: Sales office

Africa
 * Meyerton, South Africa: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility

Europe
 * Bussigny, Switzerland: European headquarters
 * Calais, France: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility
 * Pamplona, Spain: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility
 * Vyazma, Russia: Graphite electrode manufacturing facility
 * Notre Dame de Briancon, France: Advanced graphite manufacturing facility
 * Malonno, Italy: Advanced graphite manufacturing facility

Asia
 * Hong Kong, China: Sales office
 * Beijing, China: Sales office
 * Shanghai, China: Sales office