GrafTech
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGrafTech is an industrial carbon-materials company best known for graphite electrodes and petroleum coke used in electric-arc-furnace steelmaking.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
GrafTech is an American industrial materials company whose principal businesses are the manufacture of graphite electrodes and petroleum coke. These materials are essential inputs for electric arc furnace steelmaking, in which graphite electrodes conduct electricity and withstand extremely high temperatures inside the furnace. Petroleum coke is an important raw material in the production of those electrodes. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, and has manufacturing operations associated with locations in Calais, France; Pamplona, Spain; Monterrey, Mexico; and St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The business traces its origins to the National Carbon Company, an American carbon-products company established in 1886. National Carbon became part of Union Carbide in 1917 and operated for decades within Union Carbide's carbon-products organization. Its technical history includes several important developments in carbon and graphite engineering. In 1914, it introduced 12-inch graphite electrodes, and in 1990 it introduced 30-inch electrodes designed for ultra-high-power direct-current arc furnaces. The company also worked on carbon fibers, carbon and graphite materials for batteries, thermal-management products, carbon-carbon composites, and high-temperature insulation. Some of the company's historical work extended beyond steelmaking. Its development and production of a high-efficiency yellow-flame carbon for color motion-picture photography received an Academy Award in 1956. Carbon-fiber research conducted from the mid-1950s through the late 1970s was later recognized by the American Chemical Society as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2003. In 1985, the company developed advanced carbon-carbon composite technology for spacecraft applications. It also conducted graphite research relevant to lithium-ion batteries and developed natural-graphite heat spreaders for electronic thermal management. Union Carbide reorganized its carbon business in 1989, creating the UCAR Carbon Company. The business became a public company through an initial public offering in 1995 and was renamed GrafTech in 2002. During the 2000s and early 2010s, GrafTech broadened its portfolio through new electrode designs, insulation products, thermal-management materials, petroleum-coke production, superfine-grained graphite, and carbon-composite capabilities. Acquisitions included Seadrift Coke, C/G Electrodes, Micron Research, and Fiber Materials. The company later sold Fiber Materials and divested its NeoGraf and Advanced Graphite Materials divisions, concentrating more strongly on graphite electrodes and petroleum coke. Brookfield Asset Management acquired GrafTech in 2015. GrafTech subsequently returned to public markets through an IPO in April 2018. Its modern identity is therefore more focused on supplying critical carbon materials to the global steel and metals industries than on a broad specialty-carbon technology portfolio. Even so, the company's historical capabilities span electrode engineering, petroleum coke, carbon fibers, carbon composites, battery-related graphite, thermal management, and high-temperature insulation.
History
GrafTech's history begins with the National Carbon Company, an American carbon-products company founded in 1886 in the United States. The company developed carbon-based products during the expansion of electrical, chemical, transportation, and industrial manufacturing markets. In 1914, it introduced graphite electrodes with a 12-inch diameter, an early milestone in the development of electrode products for demanding furnace applications. National Carbon was acquired by Union Carbide in 1917 and subsequently operated as part of Union Carbide's Carbon Products Division. The Union Carbide carbon organization pursued research well beyond conventional electrode production. In 1956, its work on a high-efficiency yellow-flame carbon used in motion-picture color photography received an Academy Award. From 1956 through 1978, the organization also developed high-performance carbon fibers. The American Chemical Society later recognized this body of work as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2003. In 1985, the company developed carbon-carbon composite technology for spacecraft applications, demonstrating the high-temperature performance of engineered carbon materials. Union Carbide reorganized its carbon business in 1989 and renamed the division the UCAR Carbon Company. In 1990, UCAR introduced 30-inch graphite electrodes for ultra-high-power direct-current arc furnaces. The business became a public company through an initial public offering in 1995. During the same period, its research extended into emerging applications: in 1995 it developed graphite for the United States Advanced Battery Consortium's lithium-ion battery work, and in 1999 it developed natural-graphite heat spreaders for electronic thermal management. The company adopted the GrafTech name in 2002. It continued developing electrode and specialty-carbon technologies, including an optimized pinless joint design for large-diameter electrodes in 2004. In 2007, it commercialized high-temperature insulation solutions for polysilicon and solar-energy applications. In 2010, it launched SPREADERSHIELD products intended to provide high thermal conductivity for electronics and lighting. GrafTech expanded its raw-material and manufacturing base through acquisitions. In 2010, it acquired Seadrift Coke LP, a petroleum-coke producer, and C/G Electrodes LLC, a graphite-electrode manufacturer. In March 2011, it acquired Micron Research Corporation, which produced superfine-grained graphite. In October of that year, it acquired Fiber Materials, a manufacturer of advanced carbon composites. The company's historical role in carbon and battery research was also marked in 2011, when the Ohio Historical Society awarded historical markers recognizing battery research associated with Lewis Urry and National Carbon Company and the history of the National Carbon facility in Lakewood. GrafTech later simplified its portfolio. Fiber Materials was sold in 2016, and in 2017 the company sold its NeoGraf and Advanced Graphite Materials divisions. These divestitures reflected a stronger concentration on graphite electrodes and petroleum coke rather than a broad specialty-materials portfolio. Brookfield Asset Management acquired GrafTech in August 2015. After the private-equity ownership period, GrafTech returned to the public markets through an initial public offering in April 2018. The company has also faced significant legal and regulatory controversy. A 1998 class-action lawsuit alleged stock-price inflation and was settled in 2000 for $40.5 million. Separately, the United States Department of Justice fined the company $110 million in 1998, and the European Commission imposed a €50.4 million fine in 2001, in proceedings concerning participation in an international price-fixing cartel in the graphite-electrode market. These events form an important part of the company's corporate history alongside its technical innovations, acquisitions, divestitures, and changes in ownership.
- 2018
Returned to public markets
[1]GrafTech completed another initial public offering in April 2018.
- 2017
Divested NeoGraf and Advanced Graphite Materials
[1]GrafTech sold these divisions as part of a strategic focus on graphite electrodes and petroleum coke.
- 2015
Acquired by Brookfield Asset Management
[1]Brookfield Asset Management acquired GrafTech.
- 2011
Expanded specialty-carbon capabilities
[1]GrafTech acquired Micron Research Corporation and Fiber Materials, adding superfine-grained graphite and advanced carbon-composite capabilities.
- 2010
Expanded into petroleum coke and electrode manufacturing
[1]GrafTech acquired Seadrift Coke LP and C/G Electrodes LLC and launched SPREADERSHIELD thermal-management products.
- 2002
Adopted the GrafTech name
[1]The company changed its name from UCAR to GrafTech.
- 1995
Became publicly traded
[1]The company became public through an initial public offering and also developed graphite for lithium-ion battery research conducted with the United States Advanced Battery Consortium.
- 1990
Introduced 30-inch electrodes
[1]The company introduced 30-inch graphite electrodes for ultra-high-power direct-current arc furnaces.
- 1989
Carbon Products Division renamed UCAR Carbon Company
[1]Union Carbide's reorganization resulted in the carbon business being renamed the UCAR Carbon Company.
- 1985
Advanced carbon-carbon composite technology
[1]The company developed an advanced carbon-carbon composite material technology for spacecraft applications.
Products and positioning
A specialized industrial supplier of graphite electrodes and petroleum coke, with a heritage in engineered carbon and graphite technologies and a primary focus on electric-arc-furnace steelmaking.
Industrial carbon products · 1914
Graphite electrodes
GrafTech's core product is the graphite electrode, a conductive, heat-resistant component used in electric arc furnace steelmaking and other high-temperature metal-production processes. The company has historically produced electrodes in increasingly large diameters, including products for ultra-high-power and direct-current arc furnaces. Electrode engineering has included joint and connection designs intended to support demanding furnace operations.
Industrial raw materials · 2010
Petroleum coke
Petroleum coke is a carbon-rich raw material used in the manufacture of graphite electrodes. GrafTech expanded its position in this part of the supply chain through the acquisition of Seadrift Coke LP in 2010. The material supports the company's integrated focus on supplying carbon inputs and finished electrodes to steelmaking and related metals industries.
Thermal-management materials · 2007
High-temperature insulation solutions
GrafTech commercialized high-temperature insulation solutions in 2007 for applications associated with polysilicon and solar-energy production. These materials were part of the company's broader specialty-carbon portfolio and were designed for industrial processes requiring resistance to elevated temperatures.
Electronic thermal-management materials · 2010
SPREADERSHIELD
SPREADERSHIELD products were introduced in 2010 as high-thermal-conductivity materials for electronics and lighting applications. They represented an extension of GrafTech's graphite expertise into the management and distribution of heat in compact electronic and lighting systems.
Advanced carbon composites · 1985
Carbon-carbon composites
The company developed advanced carbon-carbon composite technology for spacecraft applications in 1985 and later expanded its composite capabilities through Fiber Materials. These materials are associated with high-temperature and demanding aerospace or industrial environments.
Advanced carbon materials · 1956
Carbon fibers
From 1956 through 1978, the company's carbon organization developed high-performance carbon fibers. This research was later recognized by the American Chemical Society as a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The business subsequently concentrated more strongly on electrodes and petroleum coke.
Controversies
2001
European Commission cartel fine
In July 2001, the European Commission imposed a €50.4 million fine in proceedings concerning the international graphite-electrode price-fixing cartel.
2000
Stock-price inflation class-action settlement
A class-action lawsuit filed in 1998 alleged that the company's stock price had been artificially inflated. The case was settled in 2000 for $40.5 million.
1998
Graphite-electrode price-fixing investigation and fine
The United States Department of Justice fined the company $110 million in April 1998 in connection with participation in an international price-fixing cartel involving graphite electrodes and seven other firms.
Brand decisions
2018
Returned to public ownership through IPOOtherBackground
Following its acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management, GrafTech re-entered the public capital markets.
Action taken
GrafTech completed an initial public offering in April 2018.
Aftermath
The company resumed life as a publicly traded industrial materials business.
2017
Focused portfolio on electrodes and petroleum cokeStrategyBackground
GrafTech reviewed its specialty-materials portfolio during its period under Brookfield ownership.
Action taken
The company sold its NeoGraf and Advanced Graphite Materials divisions and had previously sold Fiber Materials in 2016.
Aftermath
The business became more concentrated on graphite electrodes and petroleum coke, its principal steelmaking-related activities.
2015
Accepted acquisition by Brookfield Asset ManagementM&ABackground
After operating as a public company, GrafTech entered a new ownership phase through an acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management.
Action taken
Brookfield Asset Management acquired GrafTech in August 2015.
Aftermath
GrafTech operated under private ownership before returning to public markets in 2018.
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