Chicago-based Superior Graphite is expanding its manufacturing operation in Hopkinsville, KY, with a new specialty carbon plant, adjacent to another operation already there producing specialty carbon products. The groundbreaking for the project took place on October 30.
The expansion is a response to “rapidly developing demand for high purity materials, and will serve to satisfy Superior Graphite’s customers’ growing needs,” according to an announcement. Specifically, Superior Graphite is building a plant for high-temperature purification of specialty carbons and graphites, to produce synthetic and natural high-purity materials. The warehouse operations at Hopkinsville will be expanded, too.
The project is scheduled to be completed late in 2018, with production starting in Q1 2019. The new plant will employ 20 workers, mainly in engineering positions, according to Superior Graphite. The value of the capital investment was not announced.
Superior Graphite uses a proprietary, continuous manufacturing process to thermally purify granular carbon-based materials (typically at temperatures up to 2,500°C) to produce various specialized graphite/carbon materials for iron and steel producers.
“This is an exciting time and a timely investment into our second century of business,” stated Edward Carney, president and CEO of Superior Graphite. “We are proud to continue to invest in a state that has been so welcoming to us since 1977. We especially look forward to meeting our customers’ growing demands for high volume, ultra-pure materials.”