SGL Group’s HITCO Carbon Composites received Supplier Award from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Arkadelphia, AR, US, 20-1-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — HITCO Carbon Composites – a subsidiary of SGL Group – The Carbon Company announced today that it received the 2012 Supplier Award for Outstanding Quality and Delivery performance from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for its manufacture of insulation blankets for the Predator® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). This award distinguishes excellence in supplier performance as exhibited by the HITCO employees, who contributed to a notable 100% quality and 100% on-time delivery performance during the calendar year 2012.

“We are very pleased to receive this award,” said Glenn Brady, Site Manager HITCO Arkadelphia. “Through the dedication and commitment of our employees, we were successful in meeting or exceeding all of the project’s goals. We look forward to continuing to meet requirements by delivering exceptional quality parts on time. Together with the support of our parent company, SGL Group, HITCO continues to pursue its goal of becoming the world class Tier II supplier of composite components to the aerospace industry.”

HITCO first began the manufacture of the exhaust blankets at the Gardena facility in early 2004. By 2008, the processes were moved to the Arkadelphia facility as part of the Fabricated Insulation Line. This program continued to grow and deliver approximately 75 ship sets per year. HITCO’s commitment to excellence has contributed to timely, high-quality production of Predator-series RPA to support security priorities worldwide. To date, HITCO has manufactured and delivered approximately 500 ship sets to GA-ASI.

About HITCO Carbon Composites
HITCO Carbon Composites, a subsidiary of SGL Group – The Carbon Company, is a leading supplier of composite structures and advanced materials primarily for the aerospace / aircraft and defense markets. Founded in 1922 and based in Gardena, California, HITCO was an early specialist in composite structures and materials. Today HITCO continues to pursue its goal of becoming the premier Tier II Aerostructures supplier for commercial aviation, military and space applications. Additionally, HITCO has a leading global position as a supplier of high temperature materials and carbon-carbon brakes for military & commercial aircraft, high performance race cars and high value industrial applications.

About SGL Group – The Carbon Company
SGL Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products and materials. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group’s core competencies are its expertise in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. These competencies enable the Company to make full use of its broad material base. SGL Group’s carbon-based materials combine several unique properties such as very good electrical and thermal conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength combined with low weight. Due to industrialization in the growth regions of Asia and Latin America and increased substitution of traditional with innovative materials, there is a growing demand for SGL Group’s high-performance materials and products. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive and chemical industries as well as in the semiconductor, solar and LED sectors and in lithium-ion batteries. Carbon-based materials and products are also being used increasingly in the wind power, aerospace and defense industries.

With 44 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2012, the Company’s workforce of around 6,700 employees generated sales of €1,709 million. The Company’s head office is located in Wiesbaden.Further information on the SGL Group can be found online at: www.sglgroup.com

Important note:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on the information currently available to us and on our current projections and assumptions. By nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as a consequence of which actual developments and results can deviate significantly from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not to be understood as guarantees. Rather, future developments and results depend on a number of factors; they entail various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on assumptions which may prove to be inaccurate. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic, legal, and business conditions, particularly relating to our main customer industries, such as electric steel production, to the competitive environment, to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, to technological developments, and to other risks and unanticipated circumstances. Other risks that in our opinion may arise include price developments, unexpected developments connected with acquisitions and subsidiaries, and unforeseen risks associated with ongoing cost savings programs. SGL Group does not intend or assume any responsibility to revise or otherwise update these forward-looking statements.