Electrically conductive, temperature-resistant and a good heat conductor, dimensionally stable, lightweight and more – graphite has numerous positive properties. This makes it the ideal material for a wide range of applications and industries, such as tool and mold making, electromobility and the semiconductor industry. However, machining has its challenges. Daniel Gruber, Managing Director of CIMTRODE GmbH and an expert in graphite machining, has been driving forward the optimization of processes since the beginning of his career.
The demand for graphite on the global market is growing continuously – and at an increasing rate. This is hardly surprising, as the is versatile material is used in many booming markets. For example, numerous components in the semiconductor industry, such as wafers, electrodes, brackets and clamps, are made of graphite. In electromobility, the material is an important component of anodes for battery production as well as brushes and contacts for current collectors. In electrode production in die and mold making, for example, graphite is preferred to copper in many areas.
Alkemy Capital Investments plc (LON:ALK) is focussed on developing projects in the energy transition metals sector. Tees Valley Lithium is developing a state of the art lithium hydroxide plant at Teesside, UK. Tees Valley Graphite is developing the UK’s first natural graphite active anode material processing facility at the ‘plug-and-play’ Wilton International Chemicals Park.