What SGL Carbon does

SGL Carbon SE is a Wiesbaden-headquartered, publicly traded technology company (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, symbol SGL) that develops and manufactures carbon-based materials and products. Operating from 29 sites in Europe, North America, and Asia with approximately 3,800 employees, the company is organized into three business units: Graphite Solutions (specialty graphite, fine-grain graphite, flexible graphite sealing, heat exchangers, nuclear-grade graphite), Fiber Composites (carbon fibers, prepregs, textile materials, flax-fiber noncrimp fabrics), and Process Technology (large-scale plants and systems for corrosive chemical applications, plus lifecycle services). Its products serve demanding industrial end-markets, including aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, semiconductor manufacturing, wind energy, energy storage, and increasingly nuclear energy through its X-energy SMR partnership.\n\nThe company monetizes primarily through B2B direct sales of engineered, application-specific materials and equipment. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with multi-year contracts for major customers (e.g., the ~$100M initial X-energy agreement, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Airbus, Boeing, Daimler Truck). It supplements direct sales with regional Sales & Service Centers in Germany, France, the U.S., China and Japan, and a global distribution network for flexible graphite sealing products. FY2025 reported revenue was approximately EUR 850 million, with structural decline through 2026 driven by Carbon Fibres restructuring, weak semiconductor/automotive demand, and exit from wind-exposed composites.\n\nStrategically, SGL is repositioning from a diversified carbon-materials portfolio toward higher-margin specialty niches: nuclear-grade graphite for small modular reactors, defense-adjacent composites (via the FMI Industries spin-off), process technology for chemical applications, and sustainable materials. The Carbon Fibres business unit underwent a restructuring program announced in November 2024 (with ~EUR 50M in one-time costs and site closures in Lavradio and Moses Lake), while management has set an SGL Growth 2030 target of EUR 1 billion+ revenue and 15-18% EBITDA margin. The company's stated FY2026 guidance is EUR 720-770M revenue and EUR 110-130M EBITDA pre, with Q1 2026 delivering positive free cash flow and a return to net profit despite a 21.3% YoY revenue decline.

Name

SGL Carbon

Legal name

SGL Carbon SE

Website

https://sglcarbon.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SGL Carbon SE is a Germany-based technology company developing and manufacturing specialty graphite, carbon fibers, composites, and process-technology equipment across 29 sites worldwide, serving aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, semiconductor, energy storage, and nuclear energy customers through direct B2B sales and multi-year contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon-based industrial materials

NAICS

Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (335991)

SIC

Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite) (IMAEAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Carbon & Pitch Products (Petroleum Pitch, Carbon Binders for Anodes) (EUALAKAK), Synthetic Graphite Feedstocks (Petroleum Needle Coke & Pitch) (IMAKAFAE)

Keywords

• Specialty graphite materials
• Carbon fiber composites
• Graphite heat exchangers
• Nuclear graphite components
• Industrial sealing materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiesbaden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Specialty Graphite Products: Sale of specialty graphite materials including DIABON heat exchangers, SIGRAFLEX sealing materials, SIGRAFINE precision components, and fine-grain graphite for industrial applications.
2. Carbon Fiber and Composite Materials: Carbon fiber products including prepregs, textile materials, and composite solutions for aerospace, automotive, and wind energy applications. Q1 2026 shows ongoing restructuring with discontinued carbon-fiber operations in Lavradio and Moses Lake.
3. Process Technology Equipment and Services: Large-scale industrial equipment for chemical process applications including HCl synthesis plants, along with lifecycle services covering installation, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal.
4. Nuclear Graphite Supply (X-energy Contract): Long-term supply agreement for graphite reactor components valued at approximately $100 million over three years for X-energy's first commercial SMR project, with reserved capacity for future facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SGL Carbon develops and manufactures carbon-based materials and products organized into three business units: Graphite Solutions (specialty graphite, fine-grain graphite, flexible graphite sealing materials and DIABON graphite heat exchangers for corrosive applications), Fiber Composites (carbon fibers, prepregs, noncrimp fabrics and composite components for automotive lightweighting), and Process Technology (large-scale industrial plants such as graphite heat exchangers, process pumps and HCl synthesis systems, plus lifecycle services). The company sells these customized specialty graphite and composite solutions to industrial enterprise customers in aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, nuclear energy (SMR), semiconductor, wind and energy storage markets via direct sales and regional service centers.

Product overview

SGL Carbon operates as a technology-based company and one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of carbon-based solutions. The company is organized into three core business units: Graphite Solutions (GS), Fiber Composites (FC), and Process Technology (PT). Graphite Solutions provides specialty graphite products including DIABON heat exchangers, SIGRAFLEX sealing materials, and SIGRAFINE fine-grain graphite materials. Fiber Composites delivers carbon fiber and composite solutions including flax fiber noncrimp fabrics and carbon fiber stacks for automotive lightweighting. Process Technology constructs large-scale industrial plants and systems, particularly for corrosive applications in the chemical industry. The company serves future-oriented markets including climate-friendly mobility, semiconductor technology, LED, solar and wind energy, fuel cells, and other energy storage systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SIGRAFLEX: Flexible graphite sealing materials for process technology applications, including SIGRAFLEX HOCHDRUCK, SIGRAFLEX HOCHDRUCK PRO, and SIGRAFLEX APX2 for high-temperature processes
• SIGRAFINE
• DIABON
• CARBOGUARD
• POLYFLURON
• SIGRATEX

Products and services

• DIABON Graphite Heat Exchangers Impervious graphite heat exchangers offering high corrosion resistance and efficient heat transfer for aggressive chemical processes; available in plate, guttered, block, and shell-and-tube configurations for chemical process manufacturers.
• SIGRAFLEX Sealing Materials Flexible graphite-based sealing products including high-pressure gaskets, foils, yarns and textile yarns for process technology applications requiring high temperature and corrosion resistance; includes the proprietary SIGRAFLEX HOCHDRUCK binder-free laminate construction.
• SIGRAFINE Fine-Grain Graphite Products Fine-grain graphite materials and components for industrial applications including precision components and specialty graphite used in sealing, process technology and high-temperature industrial uses.
• Flax Fiber Noncrimp Fabrics (NCF) Natural fiber composite materials combining renewable flax fibers with textile manufacturing expertise, designed to reduce environmental footprint while maintaining industrial performance standards for advanced composites applications.
• Carbon Fiber Stacks Carbon fiber-based structural components for automotive lightweighting applications, improving efficiency in vehicle manufacturing including use in EVs and high-performance vehicles.
• CARBOGUARD Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Process Equipment Carbon fiber-reinforced (CFR) process equipment components, including CFR reinforcement of graphite tubes and components, for enhanced durability and performance in demanding corrosive industrial environments.
• Battery Felt for Redox-Flow Batteries Battery felt electrodes for redox-flow battery systems enabling stationary energy storage; developed to address growing demand for energy storage solutions in industrial and grid applications.
• Nuclear-Grade Graphite for Small Modular Reactors Medium-grain graphite specifically developed and qualified for small modular reactor (SMR) applications, supporting X-energy's Xe-100 reactor program; supplied under long-term framework agreement for first commercial SMR projects.
• Process Technology Plants and Lifecycle Services Large-scale industrial equipment including graphite heat exchangers, process pumps and HCl synthesis plants for the chemical industry, paired with lifecycle services covering installation, maintenance and end-of-life disposal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graphite heat exchanger lifespans exceeding 20 years in demanding chemical applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Circular Structures GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 February 2026Distribution partnership for flax fiber noncrimp fabrics (NCF). Circular Structures provides application expertise and scalable supply chain for industrial implementation of SGL's renewable natural fiber composite materials.
• X-energycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 202610-year framework agreement for supply of medium-grain graphite for Xe-100 small modular reactors. SGL has received initial 3-year contract valued at ~$100 million for Dow's Seadrift, Texas project. Production for first commercial project has begun with delivery within 3 years. Additional capacity reservation for Cascade Advanced Energy Facility with Energy Northwest. Partnership dating back to 2015 for SMR graphite qualification.
• Arlington Capital PartnersminorOthers · 2 January 2026Private equity firm that spun off FMI Industries (incorporating SGL Carbon's Engineered Composites division) as independent portfolio company focused on defense, space, and aerospace composite applications.
• Dow (Seadrift Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025First commercial deployment of X-energy's Xe-100 reactors at Dow's Seadrift, Texas site. SGL Carbon supplying graphite reactor components under X-energy agreement. Project represents first SMR commercial deployment and initial $100M graphite contract.
• SolvaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20192019 partnership to develop advanced carbon fiber composites for aerospace structures. Solvay collaboration referenced in aviation carbon fiber market development context.
• Energy NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade Advanced Energy Facility partnership in Washington State with planned 12 Xe-100 units (960 MW total capacity). SGL has reserved graphite production capacity for the project, which is a joint venture with Amazon and X-energy targeting 5 GW by 2039.
• FMI Industries (Arlington Capital)minorOthersFMI Industries spun off from Fiber Materials Inc. and SGL Carbon's Engineered Composites division, forming new independent company focused on reinforced composites for defense, space, and aerospace applications.
• University of LinköpingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint laboratory inauguration for next-generation graphite coatings research, advancing material science capabilities for industrial applications.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Toray Industries: Japanese multinational and global leader in carbon fiber production (TORAYCA). Competes with SGL in carbon fiber for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: UK-listed specialist materials company producing carbons, ceramics, and composites for industrial applications. Broader portfolio than SGL but competes in specialty graphite and composite materials for aerospace and industrial markets.
• Hexcel: US advanced composites company producing carbon fiber reinforcements and prepregs for aerospace and industrial markets. Competes with SGL's Fiber Composites unit in aerospace-grade composite materials.
• Solvay: Belgian chemical company with significant composite materials business. SGL's 2019 aerospace composites partner and a broader incumbent competing in advanced materials for aerospace and industrial markets.

Direct peers

• Tokai Carbon: Japanese manufacturer of specialty carbon and graphite products including graphite electrodes, fine carbon, and friction materials. Direct peer across multiple product lines including specialty graphite and carbon black.
• Nippon Carbon: Japanese carbon products manufacturer including artificial graphite electrodes, carbon fiber, and specialty carbon materials. Comparable product portfolio serving similar industrial and semiconductor end markets.
• GrafTech International: US-listed producer of graphite electrodes and specialty graphite products. Closest direct peer to SGL Carbon in synthetic graphite and electrode-grade materials serving steel, aerospace, and industrial customers.
• Toyo Tanso: Japanese specialty graphite producer focused on isotropic high-purity graphite for semiconductor, solar, and industrial applications. Direct competitor in fine-grain graphite and SIGRAFINE-style precision components.
• Mersen: French industrial materials company producing specialty graphite, anticorrosion equipment, and electrical solutions. Direct competitor in graphite heat exchangers and process technology for chemical industries.

Emerging players

• Schunk Group: German privately-held specialist in carbon technology, graphite solutions, and ceramics. Competes in specialty graphite components and process technology applications across European industrial markets.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sglcarbon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/32646
• Xx.com/sglcarbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SGL Carbon