• Awarded by the landmark initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas”
  
• Carbon-ceramic brake discs as an example of innovation from Germany
  

Wiesbaden, April 24, 2007. The SGL Group – The Carbon Company – was recently awarded for its carbon-ceramic brake discs as part of the landmark initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas”. Dr. Hariolf Kottmann, a member of the SGL Board of Management in charge of the brake discs, accepted the certificate from Deutsche Bank director Armin von Falkenhayn. The bank is an official partner of the initiative - a joint project of the German Federal Government and German commerce and industry, under the patronage of the German Federal President, Horst Köhler.

The carbon-ceramic brake discs from the SGL Brakes GmbH, a subsidiary of the SGL Group, are manufactured from the innovative composite, carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (CSiC) and offer many benefits. In addition to having a long service life (the length of a car’s service life), half the weight of conventional steel brake discs and almost no abrasion at all (dust emission), improved driving dynamics and a shorter braking distance also represent innovative char-acteristics of a carbon-ceramic brake system.

The SGL Group began developing brake discs together with Porsche in 1997 and suitable brake systems were introduced in different models starting in 1999. Since 2005, the SGL Group has also supplied brake discs to AUDI AG for use in models such as the A8 W12. Furthermore, SGL and Audi are cooperating in the development of carbon-ceramic brake systems for upper class vehicles. In 2007, the SGL Group is expected to fit approximately 8,000 vehicles from brands including Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.

On October 5 this year, SGL Brakes GmbH will host an official ceremony along with representatives of the initiative and invited guests at the SGL Group’s largest production site worldwide in Meitingen, near Augsburg, as the “landmark of the day” in the “Land of Ideas”.


About SGL Group – The Carbon Company
The SGL Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products. 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 electrical and thermal conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength combined with low weight. Due to the paradigm shift in the use of materials as a result of the worldwide shortage of energy and raw materials, there is a growing demand for SGL Group’s high-performance materials and products from an increasing number of industries. Carbon and graphite products are used whenever other materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, wood etc. fail due to their limited properties. Products from the SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive, chemical and glass/ceramics industries. However, manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, solar/wind energy, environmental protection, aerospace and defense industries as well as in the nuclear energy industry also figure among the Company’s customers.
With around 30 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, the SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2006, the Company’s workforce of 5,250 generated sales of € 1.2 billion. The Company’s head office is located in Wiesbaden/Germany.


Forward-looking statements:
This document contains opinions on future developments that are based on currently available information and that involve risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results deviating from these forward-looking statements. The statements on future developments are not intended as guarantees; rather, such developments and occurrences are dependent on a number of factors, they contain various risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic and social conditions, particularly in the area of electro steel production, the competitive situation, interest rate and currency developments, technological developments and other risks and unanticipated circumstances. We see other risks in price developments, unexpected developments relating to acquired and consolidated companies, and ongoing cost optimization programs. SGL Group does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.