About Klaus

For over 20 years, Mr. Klaus Rathberger has dedicated his career to the unique mineral graphite. After completing his university studies in natural sciences and gaining experience in sales and marketing, he has served as the Managing Director of LUH GmbH for the past 17 years. Klaus Rathberger has passionately pursued the development of graphite technologies and products, with a focus on flame retardance and thermal conductivity. His dedication also involves closely collaborating with customers and research institutes to drive innovation and tailor solutions to meet industry needs.

Could you give us a brief insight as to what makes graphite so significant?

Graphite inspires by its versatility and unique properties. It's one of the few materials that effectively conducts electricity and heat, making it invaluable in numerous industrial applications. Moreover, when transformed into expandable graphite, it serves as an excellent halogen-free flame retardant with intumescent properties. This dual functionality not only enhances safety but also improves performance in various applications, e.g. particularly in the rapidly expanding areas of e-mobility and new energy systems.

What recent innovations or discoveries are you most proud of?

Over the past decade, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of specialty graphite grades designed for conductivity and flame retardancy. This portfolio enables us to cater to a wide range of applications, which include everything from bipolar plates for fuel cells to highly conductive compounds suitable for heat exchangers in corrosive environments, thermally conductive plastic components for automotive uses, and halogen-free flame retardant graphite for thermoplastic applications.

Our commitment to continuous improvement and integration of customer feedback has made us the leading provider of graphite solutions in this sector. We are particularly proud of how these innovations not only meet diverse industrial needs but also drive advancements in sustainability and performance across multiple fields. This approach has not only enhanced our product offerings but has also solidified our reputation as innovators in the graphite industry.

How do you stay ahead as a business in meeting increasingly specific requirements?

Staying ahead in this dynamic market for us means a close collaboration with industry leaders and academic institutions to keep us on the cutting edge of emerging trends and technologies. This strategic focus ensures we continue to deliver innovative and effective solutions that meet our clients' specific and complex requirements.

What do you hope attendees will learn from your presentation?

I hope that attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how graphite's inherent properties can be utilised to significantly enhance the functionality of plastic components. Specifically, my presentation will demonstrate how graphite additives can achieve superior flame retardancy, as well as exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity, all within a single solution. I aim to provide attendees with practical insights and innovative ideas that they can apply to their own product development processes, helping them meet the latest industry standards and consumer demands effectively.

Klaus Rathberger will be speaking on Day 2 at the Compounding World Expo Theatre .