The NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. is a public company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK manufactures and sells spark plugs and related products for internal combustion engines, along with ceramics and applicable products. , the company employed 10,407 people, and operated a network of 7 liaison offices, 12 sales offices, 13 production sites and 2 technical centers worldwide. NGK Spark Plugs was founded as a spin-off of the spark plug division of NGK Insulators. Originally, NGK supplied most of its products to Japanese automakers. In 2018 the company became a shareholder of aftermarket data firm TecAlliance. NGK stands for Nippon Gaishi kabushikigaisha, the Japanese name of NGK Insulators.
NGK established its first European subsidiary, NGK Spark Plugs Ltd. in 1975. In 1979 they established their second European subsidiary, NGK Spark Plug Deutschland GmbH, in Germany. Ten years later it was renamed NGK Spark Plug Europe GmbH when it took charge of operations in Europe. In 2017 its remit further expanded across the EMEA region. NGK Spark Plug Europe has been run by Managing Director Masaki Sumiya since 2013 and it employs more than 800 people. The company has ten group companies, two production plants in France and South Africa and a Technical Center in Germany. Its European sales account for 26% of NGK Spark Plug’s global turnover. The European division has been operating a dedicated R&D unit since 1990. As well as designing and testing new prototype automotive products, the center develops technologies to combat issues such as vehicle exhaust emissions, and provides technical support to European car manufacturers. Since 2000, NGK Spark Plug Europe in Ratingen operates its own logistics center. It has a plant with of surface area and produces 25 million spark plugs as well as glowplugs for diesel motors.
Products
NGK Spark Plugs supplies ignition and sensor products to the automotive, motorcycle, marine and power tool markets. In the Aftermarket these products are supplied to parts wholesalers and distributors. The company’s ignition ranges include spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils and ignition leads and are supplied under the NGK Ignition Parts brand. Its vehicle electronics ranges include oxygen sensors, EGTS, MAP/MAF sensors and, since 2018, engine speed & position sensors, all supplied under the NTK Vehicle Electronics brand. Additionally, the company’s Technical Ceramics business unit produces fine ceramics, cutting tools and products for the medical industry, under NTK Technical Ceramics.
Future
In December 2017, the company announced it will shift its focus towards solid-state batteries, utilizing its ceramics expertise. The company said it is shifting its focus, due to an anticipated shift to EVs in the future that could turn its spark plug and oxygen sensor operations obsolete.
