Superior Graphite
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Superior Graphite firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Superior Graphite
- Legal name
- Superior Graphite Co.
- Website
- https://superiorgraphite.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Superior Graphite industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Graphite 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 industry
- Anode Materials Manufacturing (Graphite, Silicon, LTO) (EUAFABAC)
Keywords
Where Superior Graphite is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Superior Graphite business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Graphite and Carbon Materials Sales: Superior Graphite generates revenue through the sale of graphite and carbon-based materials, including natural and synthetic graphite, purified graphites, and specialty carbon products. Products are sold directly to industrial customers and through a global distributor network. Revenue is derived from product sales with no recurring subscription component.
- Custom Processing Services: Provides custom thermal purification, sizing, blending, and coating services for graphite and carbon materials based on customer specifications. Toll processing services are also offered as part of supply chain management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B industrial products - custom quotation required |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Superior Graphite product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Superior Graphite specializes in thermal purification, advanced sizing, blending and coating technologies, producing graphite and carbon-based materials for industrial applications. The company manufactures specialty graphite products (FormulaDT for drilling, FormulaBT for batteries, FormulaFX for friction, FormulaPT for polymers, and Beta-phase silicon carbide for ceramics) using proprietary continuous Electro-Thermal Treatment/Purification Technology and High-Temperature Fluidized Bed (HTFB) technology. The company also provides custom toll processing services for graphite and carbon materials based on customer specifications.
Product overview
Superior Graphite offers a portfolio of graphite and carbon-based solutions organized around four core product lines: FormulaDT™ (resilient graphite for drilling/oilfield applications), FormulaBT™ (battery grade graphite for Li-ion batteries and fuel cells), FormulaFX™ (friction materials for brake pads), and FormulaPT™ (polymer additives). The company differentiates through proprietary technologies including Green Graphitization Technology and Electro-Thermal Treatment/Purification Technology. Additional offerings include Beta Phase Silicon Carbide (β-SiC) for advanced ceramics and Desulco® synthetic graphite. Products serve diverse markets including energy, industrial, automotive, and specialty applications across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Desulco: High-purity synthetic graphite product line produced at Hopkinsville facility since 1977.
- FormulaDT
- FormulaBT
- FormulaFX
- FormulaPT
- Protect Tiles
- RGC (Resilient Graphitic Carbon)
- ARG (Artificial Resilient Graphite)
Products and services
- FormulaDT™ Oilfield-grade resilient graphite product line designed for drilling applications, including lost circulation material and torque/drag reducing lubricant. Proven to reduce mud loss by up to 90% in field trials. Targeted at oilfield services companies and drilling operators.
- FormulaBT™ Battery grade graphite (graphitic and carbon powders) developed for Li-ion batteries and fuel cells. Provides high purity, superior quality, and high performance for active anode materials and bipolar plate components. Targeted at EV battery manufacturers and fuel cell OEMs.
- FormulaFX™ Friction materials portfolio including natural flake and synthetic graphite grades for brake pad applications. Features Resilient Graphitic Carbon (RGC™) and Artificial Resilient Graphite (ARG™) for high-performance targets, and High Resilient Synthetic (HRS™) and Carbons (HRC™) for intermediate performance levels. Targeted at automotive brake pad manufacturers.
- FormulaPT™ Carbon and graphitic powder product line for the polymer market, designed as polymer additives to improve tribological and conductive characteristics in thermoplastics, thermoset resins, PTFE, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. Targeted at polymer compounders and industrial coatings manufacturers.
- Beta Phase Silicon Carbide (β-SiC) High-purity Beta-phase silicon carbide (β-SiC) powders produced in the U.S. using proprietary synthesis and sizing technologies. Designed for advanced ceramics, composites, and next-generation manufacturing with tightly controlled particle size distributions. Reduces energy consumption up to 75% compared to traditional Acheson methods. Targeted at ceramic matrix composite manufacturers and advanced ceramics producers.
- Custom Processing Services Provides custom thermal purification, sizing, blending, and coating services for graphite and carbon materials based on customer specifications. Toll processing services are also offered as part of supply chain management. Targeted at industrial customers requiring specialized processing of graphite and carbon materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Mud loss reduced by up to 90% in field trials
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Superior Graphite
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Superior Graphite technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Superior Graphite partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- ExxonMobilflagshipExxonMobil acquired select assets from Superior Graphite including the manufacturing site in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, research and operations center in Bedford Park, Illinois, and select international offices. Approximately 150 employees joined ExxonMobil. The agreement includes Superior Graphite's proven processes and intellectual property to complement ExxonMobil's operational expertise and feedstock capabilities for scalable, high-performance graphite production for battery anode materials.
- UnimetalcoreSuperior Graphite divested the Desulco and X-Carb business to Unimetal, a global leader of carbon products. This strategic divestiture transferred these product lines to enable focus on core technologies and markets.
- Dotara Jerusalem Ltd.minorAuthorized distributor in Israel serving coatings, energy materials, graphite powder, and other product categories.
- Tesi S.P.A.minorAuthorized distributor in Italy serving friction materials applications.
- Tomoe Engineering Co Ltd.minorAuthorized distributor in Japan serving coatings, energy materials, graphite powder, and other product categories.
- Komex Carbon CorporationminorAuthorized distributor in South Korea serving coatings, energy materials, graphite powder, and other product categories.
- Synergistix (India) Pvt LtdminorAuthorized distributor in India serving energy materials, graphite powder, friction, polymers, and other product categories.
- Gustav Grolman GmbH & Co KGminorAuthorized distributor in Germany serving polymer additives market through Grolman International Distribution.
- Superior Graphite Deutschland GmbHminorRegional sales office in Germany serving energy materials, graphite powder, friction, polymers, and other product categories.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves3 records
Superior Graphite competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Talga Resources: Talga Group is developing natural graphite anode materials and silicon-graphite composites in Sweden/Europe for EV batteries, targeting similar low-carbon, ex-China supply chain positioning as Superior Graphite's synthetic graphite offering.
- Nouveau Monde Graphite: Nouveau Monde is developing a North American integrated graphite-to-anode-material production platform in Quebec, positioning as a low-carbon battery materials supplier — competing in the same end market as Superior Graphite's battery business.
Broad incumbents
- Resonac (formerly Showa Denko): Resonac is a major Japanese chemical and carbon materials producer with significant synthetic graphite and battery materials operations — a broad incumbent offering overlapping products across battery, friction, and industrial carbon applications.
- Tokai Carbon: Tokai Carbon is a Japanese producer of carbon black, graphite electrodes, fine carbon, and industrial carbon products — a broad incumbent with overlapping graphite and carbon materials capabilities serving similar industrial end markets.
- BTR New Material Group: BTR is the world's largest producer of synthetic graphite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, headquartered in China. It represents the dominant cost-competitive incumbent in the battery anode market that Superior Graphite's FormulaBT competes against.
Direct peers
- SGL Carbon: German-headquartered SGL Carbon manufactures specialty graphite products for batteries, fuel cells, automotive, and industrial applications — a close product-line peer to Superior Graphite across energy, friction, and specialty carbon markets.
- Asbury Carbons: Asbury Carbons is a US-based processor and distributor of natural and synthetic graphite, carbon blacks, and specialty carbons for friction, lubrication, polymers, and energy applications — closely aligned with Superior Graphite's customer base and product mix.
- GrafTech International: GrafTech produces graphite electrodes and related carbon products for steelmaking and industrial uses, with expanding focus on battery-grade graphite. Directly comparable as a major graphite/carbon products manufacturer serving industrial end markets.
- Syrah Resources: Syrah Resources operates the Vidalia active anode material (AAM) facility in Louisiana producing natural graphite-based anode material for lithium-ion batteries — a direct battery anode materials peer to Superior Graphite's FormulaBT line.
- Imerys Graphite & Carbon: Imerys' Graphite & Carbon division produces synthetic and natural graphite, conductive carbons, and anode materials for batteries, fuel cells, and industrial applications — directly overlapping with Superior Graphite's FormulaBT and core graphite portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Superior Graphite social profiles
Digital presenceSuperior Graphite compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Superior Graphite financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Superior Graphite leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Superior Graphite subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Superior Graphite funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Superior Graphite M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Superior Graphite
What does Superior Graphite do?
Superior Graphite specializes in thermal purification, advanced sizing, blending and coating technologies, producing graphite and carbon-based materials for industrial applications. The company manufactures specialty graphite products (FormulaDT for drilling, FormulaBT for batteries, FormulaFX for friction, FormulaPT for polymers, and Beta-phase silicon carbide for ceramics) using proprietary continuous Electro-Thermal Treatment/Purification Technology and High-Temperature Fluidized Bed (HTFB) technology. The company also provides custom toll processing services for graphite and carbon materials based on customer specifications.
Is Superior Graphite a public or private company?
Superior Graphite is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Superior Graphite founded?
Superior Graphite was founded in 1917. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Superior Graphite based?
Superior Graphite is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Superior Graphite make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Graphite and Carbon Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Processing Services.
Who are Superior Graphite's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Talga Resources and Nouveau Monde Graphite. Broad incumbents are Resonac (formerly Showa Denko), Tokai Carbon and BTR New Material Group. Direct peers are SGL Carbon, Asbury Carbons, GrafTech International, Syrah Resources and Imerys Graphite & Carbon.
Does Superior Graphite have an API?
No public API is recorded for Superior Graphite.
What industry is Superior Graphite in?
Superior Graphite's product category is Industrial Graphite Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAFAO, Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite), with a secondary code of EUAFABAC, Anode Materials Manufacturing (Graphite, Silicon, LTO). Its NAICS code is 335991 and its SIC code is 3290.