NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. (日本特殊陶業株式会社 Nippon Tokusyu Tōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO: 5334) is a Public Company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK is involved in the manufacture and sale of spark plugs and related products for internal-combustion engines and new ceramics and applicable products.
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'NGK Spark Plug Co. LTD' is headquartered in Aichi Pref, Japan. Currently (March 2007) NGK employs 10,407 people worldwide.[1]
In 2007 NGK operates a network of 7 liaison offices, 12 sales offices, 13 production sites and 2 technical centers worldwide.[2][2]
Established in 1966 - NGK Spark Plugs (USA), Inc. was founded as a subsidiary of NGK Spark Plug Co, Ltd., of Japan.
NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A), Inc. corporate headquarters was first located in California and then moved to its current location in Wixom, Michigan. NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A), Inc. produces products from two manufacturing locations: one location in Irvine California, which produces spark plugs; and another location In Sissonville, WV which produces both spark plugs and oxygen sensors.
In early October 2008 NGK launched the Art of Fast project.
NGK established its first European dependency, 'NGK Spark Plugs (U.K.) Ltd.' in 1975. Four years later 'NGK Spark Plug Europe GmbH' in Germany was the next European subsidiary, located in Ratingen, Germany.[3]
The first technology center outside Japan started operation in Ratingen, Germany in 1990.[3]
In 1991 NGK opened 'NGK Spark Plug Industries Europe S.A.S.', in Orleans, France, -its first European production facility. [3]
NGK Spark Plugs was founded as a spin-off of the spark plug division of NGK Insulators.[4] Originally, NGK supplied most of its products to Japanese automakers, with its clientele steadily increasing over the years. Today NGK is the largest OEM sparkplug maker in the world. Its products are mostly inexpensive and considered by many to be of high quality.
Since 2000 NGK Spark Plug Europe in Ratingen operates its own logistics center for the specialized trade. It has a plant on 6,000 square meters of surface area and produces 25 million spark plugs as well as glow plugs for diesel motors. There is also another NGK plant in Europe, lowering costs for European automakers.
NGK has received several industrial prizes for development co-operation and quality of its products. For instance the honor for outstanding quality (AUDI), the VALUE ton the Customer Award and Corporate Supplier Award/The leading Edge (Volkswagen). Fiat distinguished NGK with the car Qualitas Award, Honda UK with the title of the best supplier in all categories.