Custom Carbon & Graphite Machining

12 Jun

Guide to Selecting a Custom Graphite Manufacturer: What to Look For

Selecting a Custom Graphite Manufacturer If you company requires custom graphite components, choosing the right custom graphite manufacturer can make the difference between a successful project and costly delays or performance issues. While we at Semco may be a little biased about this topic, we have over 50 years of graphite machining experience to back up our recommendations. Whether you need precision-machined components for aerospace applications or specialized graphite parts for industrial processes, selecting a manufacturer requires careful evaluation of several key factors. Below we explore several considerations when choosing a custom graphite manufacturer. Qualification and Reputation Start by researching...

28 May

Synthetic Graphite in Modern Military Applications

Two years ago, we explored in a blog synthetic graphite's role in military equipment, focusing on rocket nozzles and graphite bombs during the early phase of the Ukraine conflict. Today, we're revisiting this topic with fresh insights into how this versatile material continues to serve important functions across various branches of our armed forces, from the National Guards to the Air Force and beyond. The U.S. Military's Graphite Dependency The U.S. Air Force, perhaps more than any other military branch, relies on synthetic graphite components. From the thermal protection systems in hypersonic vehicles to components in aircraft engines, synthetic graphite's...

16 May

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Turns Coal into Graphite

About 500 miles south of Semco Carbon’s manufacturing facility in Lorain, OH, in the hills of eastern Tennessee, sits Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a facility with a storied past in America's nuclear program. Today, this national laboratory continues its tradition of breakthrough research, but with applications far beyond nuclear power. One particularly promising development at ORNL involves transforming a declining but valuable material—coal—into high-quality graphite essential for renewable energy and clean energy technologies. Coal's Second Act: Clean Energy Technologies For generations, coal powered America's industrial might. As the nation shifts toward cleaner energy sources, coal mining communities face uncertain...

07 May

Synthetic Graphite in Electric Vehicles

Synthetic Graphite in Electric VehiclesThink back ten years. Do you remember seeing electric vehicles on the road? Hybrids, perhaps, and yes, those featured advanced battery technology. But lithium-ion batteries were not powering many cars. Now, think of your commute today. Chances are, you saw several electric vehicles, possibly even e bikes, on your way to work. Electric vehicles have become so common, you probably don’t even notice them. The electric vehicles revolution continues to accelerate in the market today, with automakers worldwide transitioning their fleets from internal combustion engines, with their carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse...

17 Sep

Semco Invests in Another Overhead Crane

Last month, we wrote about the installation of a new 2000 lbs Gorbel overhead crane in our lathe department work space. We are excited to share that we have made a similar investment in an overhead crane, or bridge crane, to transport graphite blocks to our milling machines. Concurrently, Semco is investing in OSHA certification for employees who will operate the crane. This overhead crane is 32 ft wide by 50 ft long and, when installed, will be used to transport heavy graphite material to five of our milling machines. This new set-up in our milling department will make loading and...