(RIDGEVILLE, S.C. – July 11, 2018) Showa Denko Carbon, Inc. (SDKC), located in Ridgeville, South Carolina and the leading producer of ultra-high performance large diameter graphite electrodes, is proud to announce its 30th anniversary of business in the United States.
SDKC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Showa Denko KK (SDK). For three decades, the synthetic graphite manufacturer for electric arc furnace steel production in North America.
“For 30 years we have been dedicated to producing the best quality for our customers,” said Hidehito Takahashi, SDK General Manager and Showa Denko KK Managing Corporate Officer. “The 30th anniversary is a time to recognize that our longevity is the product of highly successful relationships and the many contributions of our colleagues, customers, suppliers and the people of South Carolina’s Lowcountry.”
On Wednesday, SDKC recognized its 30th anniversary with a ceremony at the Ridgeville plant with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, company leaders from across the globe, as well as prominent local government officials, our colleagues, customers and suppliers.
“We’re excited today to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.’s dedication to the Ridgeville community,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “The most significant reasons a company like this one stays in the same city for thirty years are the people they employ and the success they’ve had with those people. The over 275 South Carolinians that assist in operating the largest graphite electrode producer in the world should be extremely proud of the work they’ve done, and we look forward to continuing to partner with this tremendous company for many years to come.”
SDKC is proud to celebrate its long history in South Carolina and plans to continue investing in the state and its people.
“SDK’s most recent expansion in Ridgeville will bring our capacity to over 75,000 metric tons by the end of the year,” said Carl D. Kolts, SDKC President and CEO, and Chief Marketing Officer of SDK’s Carbon Division. “Ridgeville will be the largest and flagship plant of the Carbon Division with a continuing commitment to produce the highest quality graphite electrodes for our customers.”
About Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.
Showa Denko KK acquired the Ridgeville plant from Airco Carbon Inc., in July of 1988. In October of 2017, Showa Denko completed the acquisition of the Wiesbaden, Germany-based graphite electrode manufacturing division of SGL GMBH. SDK’s Carbon Division, now the largest graphite electrode producer in the world, operates plants in Japan, China, Malaysia, United States, Austria, Germany and Spain, and employs 1,600 people including over 275 colleagues in the Ridgeville, South Carolina plant.
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
