Form 6-K


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            Report of Foreign Issuer
                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month of: April 2003

                          SGL CARBON Aktiengesellschaft

                              (Name of registrant)

                               Rheingaustrasse 182
                                 65203 Wiesbaden
                                     Germany


                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

                  Form 20-F   X                               Form 40-F
                            -------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the SEC
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

                  Yes                                         No   X
                      -----                                       ---

If "Yes" is marked, indicate the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A







                                  Exhibit Index



1.       Press Release issued April 16, 2003 regarding sale of Italian
electrical contacts business, SGL Risomesa S.p.A.







                                    EXHIBIT 1

             SGL Carbon Continues Portfolio Optimization;
              Italian Electrical Contacts Business Sold

    WIESBADEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2003--The SGL
Carbon Group has sold its Italian electrical contacts business in the
past few days as part of the streamlining of its Graphite Specialties
portfolio which started at the beginning of the year.
    SGL Risomesa S.p.A., Milan, which manufactures sliding contacts
for trains, trams and electric motors, has been taken over by the
Schunk Group, based in Giessen, Germany. The Schunk Group is an
international technology group active in a range of activities
including carbon and graphite. The parties have agreed not to disclose
the purchase price.
    With the sale of this non-core business, which generates revenues
of around EUR 5 million, SGL Carbon has basically withdrawn in this
second step from the manufacture of electrical contacts. At the
beginning of this year, the company sold its German and Czech
activities in this area. Together, the divestments account for a
revenue volume of around EUR 12 million. The sale represents another
important step in SGL Carbon's plans to concentrate on high-tech
applications in the Graphite Specialties business unit.

    Important notice:

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined
in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It
contains forward-looking statements and information relating to sales
and earnings figures, based on currently available information. Actual
future results/trends could differ materially from those set forth in
such statements due to various factors. Such factors include
unforeseeable alterations in electric steel production, the
possibility of changing economic and competitive conditions, changes
in currency rates, technological developments, unanticipated
developments relating to recently acquired businesses and Group
companies, unforeseen difficulties relating to the investigations by
the European antitrust authorities and to the now completed
investigation by the Canadian and U.S. antitrust authorities and the
civil actions related to these investigations and other risks and
uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SGL Carbon does not
intend to update these forward-looking statements, and does not assume
any obligation to do so.

    CONTACT: The SGL Carbon Group
             Media Relations: Stefan Wortmann, 0049 611 60 29 105
             Fax: 0049 6 11 60 29 101, Mobile: 0049 170 540 2667
             stefan.wortmann@sglcarbon.de; www.sglcarbon.com






                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                 SGL CARBON Aktiengesellschaft



Date: April 16, 2003    By:      /s/ Robert J. Kohler
                                 ------------------------------
                                 Name:    Robert J. Koehler
                                 Title:   Chairman of the Board of Management


                                 By:      /s/ Dr. Bruno Toniolo
                                          -----------------------------
                                 Name:    Dr. Bruno Toniolo
                                 Title:   Member of the Board of Management