City of Lakewood News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2009

GrafTech Wins $1 Million Grant To Commercialize
New Product In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OHIO – GrafTech won a $965,000 grant to commercialize new products at its Lakewood, Ohio location. The award comes from Ohio’s Third Frontier Program, which is a competitive grant program designed to fund innovative, job-creating technologies in Ohio.

GrafTech, which has a site in Lakewood, will be the beneficiary of the newly commercialized product, a “thermal management solution for lithium ion batteries.” GrafTech seeks to commercialize a product that keeps lithium ion batteries cool, which improves the batteries’ performance, durability and safety. GrafTech’s partners in the program include Mobius Power, Nexergy, and the Center for Automotive Research at The Ohio State University.

By Third Frontier requirements, GrafTech has up to two years to commercialize the product. “GrafTech’s heritage dates back farther than the City of Lakewood, when the National Carbon Company built at what is now W117th and Madison in the 1890’s,” stated Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald. “We’re looking forward to working with GrafTech to continue their rich tradition of innovating and investing in Lakewood for years to come”.

GrafTech’s application to the Third Frontier Program states that the projected impact of the funds will create future opportunities in the automotive, energy storage and grid management fields.



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For more information, contact Nathan Kelly, Director of Planning and Development, at (216) 529-6630.