St. Marys, PA – July 19, 2011 – The Saint Marys, PA facility of Mersen USA celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 19th for its latest investment in manufacturing equipment, a +37ft. high cold isostatic press (CIP) believed to be the largest known CIP of its kind in the world.  With a working cavity of +500 cubic feet, Mersen’s new press is capable of producing graphite materials in excess of 14,000 lbs, the largest isostatic graphite in the world.

Built over the course of 18 months, the press was moved to the Saint Marys facility via boat to the Port of Erie, PA and the Port of Cleveland, OH. Featuring a 31.3´ × 23.6´ footprint, Mersen’s new CIP weighs a total of 1.1 million pounds, is powered by two 300 hp pumps and features operating pressures in excess of 20,000 psi, with operation cycle times averaging one hour.

The new isostatic press enhances Mersen’s already formidable presence in the isostatic graphite market, increasing their ability to produce large cross-section graphite blocks for customer networks in highly exacting industrial environments such as silicon production and refining, foundry and ceramic processes, EDM and other high temperature applications.

As the largest producer of specialty graphite in North America, Mersen USA Saint Marys iso-molded graphite products exhibit many unique characteristics, making them an ideal selection for a wide range of refractory applications. Such characteristics include high density and thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and high thermal shock resistance. In addition, Mersen’s rigorous selection of raw materials and the precise production controls ensure consistent, world-class quality is maintained throughout the manufacturing process.

About Mersen:
The Saint Marys facility of Mersen USA, part of Mersen Group (France), is located in St. Marys, PA. Previously known as Carbone and Stackpole, the site has more than 50 years of world-class isostatic graphite manufacturing history.

Mersen Group, an EN 16001 certified company, is a global expert in materials and equipment for extreme environments and for the safety and reliability of electrical equipment. The Group develops innovative solutions geared to the needs of its customers in order to optimize their industrial performance in expanding sectors, including energy, transportation, electronics, chemicals/pharmaceuticals and process industries.

With over 7,000 employees in 60 production facilities across 40 countries, Mersen is a world leader in the production of graphite anticorrosion equipment, power semiconductor fuses and brushes for electric rotating machines, with a strong hold on the market of industrial fuses and isostatic graphite production.

For more information, please contact:
Noah Nichelson, General Manager
Mersen USA - St. Marys, PA (formerly Carbone)
215 Stackpole Street
St. Marys, PA 15857
(P): 814-781-8423
(F): 814-781-8417
noah.nichelson@mersen.com

www.Mersen.com/en

-or-

Tim Glass
Altman-Hall Associates
235 W. 7th Street
Erie, PA 16505
(P): 814-454-0158

www.altman-hall.com