Richard Anton

What Richard Anton does

Richard Anton KG is a privately held, fourth-generation family enterprise headquartered in Gräfelfing near Munich, Germany, that has manufactured specialty carbon products since its founding on December 13, 1904. The company produces synthetic graphite and electrode graphite, calcined petroleum coke, calcined anthracite, specialty graphites and cokes, milled graphites down to micron sizes, and the RANCO inoculating carbon product, alongside a long-standing pig iron trading activity. Products are distributed globally under the registered RANCO brand to four primary industrial verticals: foundry and steel, brake lining (in which the firm pioneered asbestos-free materials in the 1980s), lubricant, and chemical industries.

The firm operates two highly automated, SPS-controlled production sites in Germany — Obernzell in Lower Bavaria and Mannheim on the Friesenheimer Insel — both running around the clock, seven days a week, with near-zero emissions and 100% product utilization achieved through pelletizing of process dust. Core processing capabilities span crushing, screening, grinding and pelletizing of carbon materials to tight grain-size tolerances. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications issued by TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH.

Richard Anton's go-to-market is sales-led B2B, leveraging direct global distribution, foreign representations, a 35+ year presence at the GIFA foundry trade fair, and downloadable product data sheets and certificates in multiple languages. The 2023 minority investment in cleantech startup CAPHENIA GmbH extends the firm into sustainable carbon and renewable-fuel value chains. The company employs 51-100 staff and is led by managing partner Florian Mader of the Mader family.

Name

Richard Anton

Legal name

Richard Anton KG

Website

https://richard-anton.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Richard Anton KG is a fourth-generation German family-owned manufacturer (founded 1904) of specialty carbon products — synthetic graphite, calcined petroleum coke, anthracite, milled graphites and RANCO inoculants — serving foundry, steel, brake lining, lubricant and chemical industries globally from two automated German production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Carbon Materials Manufacturing

NAICS

Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (335991), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

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

• Synthetic graphite production
• Calcined petroleum coke
• Carbon product manufacturing
• Industrial carbon materials
• Carbon additives supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Gräfelfing

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Carbon Products Manufacturing & Sales: Manufacturing and global distribution of synthetic graphite, calcined petroleum coke, anthracite, special graphites, and specialty cokes for industrial applications. Revenue generated from product sales to foundry, steel, brake lining, lubricant, and chemical industries.
2. Pig Iron Trading: Trading of pig iron in the form of ingots, a decades-long business activity
3. Investment in Cleantech (Minority Stake): Minority equity investment in CAPHENIA GmbH for sustainable carbon technology development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Richard Anton KG manufactures and globally distributes carbon products under the RANCO® brand, including synthetic graphite, calcined petroleum coke, calcined anthracite, special graphites, specialty cokes, milled graphites, and RANCO® inoculants for the foundry, steel, brake lining, lubricant, and chemical industries. The company also trades pig iron in ingot form. Production runs 24 hours a day at SPS-controlled facilities in Obernzell and Mannheim, with logistics centers in Gräfelfing, Hanau, and Duisburg.

Product overview

Richard Anton KG operates as a specialist manufacturer of carbon products, offering a comprehensive portfolio of synthetic graphite, calcined petroleum coke, specialty graphites and cokes, milled graphites, calcined anthracite, inoculating carbon, and pig iron. All carbon products are distributed worldwide under the RANCO® brand name. The company operates two highly automated production sites in Germany (Obernzell and Mannheim) and serves four main industry sectors: foundry and steel, brake lining, lubricant, and chemical industries. The product range spans from raw materials (petroleum coke, anthracite) to processed materials (synthetic graphite, milled graphites) and finished carbon additives (inoculants) for metallurgical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RANCO: Carbon products brand under which the company distributes its synthetic graphite, calcined petroleum coke, and anthracite products worldwide. The RANCO brand was awarded 'Marke des Jahrhunderts' (Brand of the Century) in 2022 by the ZEIT publishing group for carburisers.

Products and services

• Synthetic Graphite (Elektrographit)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% product utilization - even dust is pressed into pellets for new applications
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CAPHENIA GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Richard Anton KG acquired a minority stake in CAPHENIA GmbH in August 2023 to strengthen sustainable commitment. CAPHENIA's technology converts bio-methane, CO₂, water, and sustainably generated electricity into synthesis gas for renewable fuels and carbon products. The partnership is strategic as it offers synergies in the production of future carbon products and aligns with Richard Anton's innovation history (revolutionized brake pad industry in 1980s with asbestos-free materials).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• SGL Carbon: SGL Carbon is a Germany-headquartered global manufacturer of specialty graphite, carbon fibers, and carbon-based products serving automotive, steel, industrial, and chemical markets. Highly comparable to Richard Anton on synthetic graphite and specialty carbon additives, but operates at substantially larger scale across multiple product divisions.
• Tokai Carbon: Tokai Carbon is a Japanese specialty carbon producer covering graphite electrodes, carbon black, fine carbon, and smelting/industrial carbons. Overlaps with Richard Anton on calcined petroleum coke, synthetic/graphite electrodes, and specialty carbon additives for foundry and steel customers, with similar industry verticals.
• Resonac (formerly Showa Denko): Resonac is a Japanese diversified chemical and specialty materials company with a significant carbon/graphite business, including needle coke, synthetic graphite, and specialty carbons serving steel, electronics, and industrial markets. Comparable to Richard Anton's synthetic graphite-from-petcoke value chain and global B2B footprint.
• Toyo Tanso: Toyo Tanso is a Japanese manufacturer of isotropic graphite and specialty carbon products for semiconductor, industrial, and metallurgical end uses. Comparable to Richard Anton's specialty graphites and micron-milled carbon capabilities, especially in metallurgical and high-purity applications.
• Asbury Carbons: Asbury Carbons is a US-based processor and distributor of specialty carbons including calcined petroleum coke, synthetic and natural graphite, and carbon additives for foundry, steel, and industrial customers. Closely comparable to Richard Anton's product mix and distribution-led B2B model.
• GrafTech International: GrafTech is a US-listed manufacturer of graphite electrodes and petroleum needle coke serving EAF steelmakers. Comparable to Richard Anton's electrode graphite and petroleum-coke businesses, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• SEC Carbon: SEC Carbon is a Japanese producer of carbon electrodes, graphite electrodes, and calcined carbon products for the steel and foundry industries. Directly comparable to Richard Anton's carbon electrode and calcined petroleum coke offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys Graphite & Carbon: Imerys is a French specialty minerals group with a graphite and carbon division producing synthetic graphite, conductive carbons, and specialty carbon materials for batteries, automotive, and industrial uses. Comparable synthetic graphite and specialty carbon additives, but operates across many non-overlapping mineral segments.
• Mersen: Mersen is a French industrial group specializing in graphite specialties, carbon-based solutions, and electrical components for energy, electronics, and process industries. Overlaps with Richard Anton on specialty graphite parts for industrial and metallurgical customers.

Others

• CAPHENIA GmbH: CAPHENIA is a German cleantech startup developing plasma-based production of renewable fuels and carbon products from CO2, bio-methane, water and renewable electricity. Richard Anton holds a minority stake (Aug 2023), positioning CAPHENIA as a portfolio company and emerging technology/feedstock partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richard-anton-kg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Richard Anton