Some things do get better with age. GrafTech International has been a part of Cleveland's manufacturing scene for 130 years. The producer of advanced carbon and graphite materials has stayed current with the times and technology to stay viable and profitable.

GrafTech, which among other things produces a micro-thin, flexible graphite used to dissipate heat on everything from laptops to flat-screen TVs, saw its nets sales increase 55 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2010. GrafTech's net income more than doubled to $40 million, and its gross profit increased from $28 million in third quarter 2009 to $75 million a year later.

With these numbers, it is no wonder that GrafTech is adding to its workforce. The company hired 60 people over the summer, and will likely add up to 40 more. The average annual salary for new hires is $80,000. The new jobs are located at GrafTech's Parma headquarters and laboratories and its Lakewood factory.

Craig Shular, chairman and CEO of GrafTech, says that the company's continuous improvement efforts have kept it on the cutting edge while focusing on changing customer needs. GrafTech, for example, has embraced Lean Manufacturing in recent years.  "Lean is very much a part of our corporate culture, the culture we are trying to build," he says.

SOURCE: GrafTech
WRITER: Diane DiPiero