Rationalizations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Rationalizations

Rationalizations

Throughout 2013, 2014 and 2015 the Company undertook rationalization plans in order to streamline our organization and lower our production costs. The majority of these initiatives were substantially complete as of March 31, 2016. The rationalization liability as of March 31, 2016 was $1.8 million consisting of the plan described below and severance payouts related to prior rationalization plans.

2015 Advanced Graphite Materials Rationalization

On March 2, 2015, GrafTech announced plans to further optimize the production platform for its advanced graphite materials business. These actions included the closure of our Notre Dame, France facility and further reductions in force in our Columbia, Tennessee facility and other locations totaling approximately 85 people. The 2015 Advanced Graphite Materials rationalization plan will result in approximately $10 million of charges consisting of severance, inventory losses and other related costs. Approximately $8 million of these costs will be cash outlays, the majority of which were disbursed in 2015. We incurred charges of $2.6 million and $0.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016, respectively. The remaining liability associated with this plan is $0.9 million as of March 31, 2016.