NGK SPARK PLUG Company Profile

Who we are

With more than 80 years of industry experience, NGK SPARK PLUG is the world’s leading ignition and sensor specialist, serving Original Equipment, Aftermarket and industrial customers across the globe. The company is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. It has a presence on every continent, with 60 group companies, 35 production plants, five Technical Centres and three Venture Labs worldwide.

EMEA Region

Regional Headquarter

NGK SPARK PLUG’s Aftermarket Automotive Components activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are managed by NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE, located in Ratingen, Germany. The regional headquarter (RHQ) plays an important role within NGK SPARK PLUG worldwide. Its EMEA sales alone is accounting for 32% of the company’s global turnover. This strong presence is achieved by more than 1,000 employees across six regional companies, plus two production plants in France and South Africa.

Wide range

With a wide range of ignition and sensor products, NGK SPARK PLUG provides its ranges to almost all trading groups and major distributors. Futhermore the ranges are available to most of their workshop customers around the EMEA region.

Technical Centre

Founded in 1991 with an initial investment of around 10 million euros, it covers an area of 2,200 m² and comprises three high-tech engine testing stands and two chassis dynos. It also includes a climate chamber, with integrated wind speed fan for temperatures from -30°C up to 30°C and allows for complete exhaust gas analysis. It is thus the perfect environment to perform the widest range of test cycles and simulations, including durability tests. Recently, the dynamometer was upgraded and is now capable of simulating downhill as well as road loads.

NGK SPARK PLUG vision car driving in the night

Planning for the future

NGK SPARK PLUG’s 2030 Long-Term Management Plan ‘NITTOKU BX’ aims to pave the way for the transformation of its business portfolio, the development of innovative solutions and new businesses. The goal is to establish strong business pillars in the areas ‘Environment & Energy’, ‘Mobility’, ‘Medical’ and ‘Communication’. These pillars are in turn based on the UN’s 17 ‘Sustainable Development Goals’. As part of this, the company launched a $100 million Corporate Venture Capital Fund in April 2021 to pursue new opportunities in these areas.

Vision 2040

The NGK SPARK PLUG vision for 2040 gives the company the direction it needs to reinvent itself and to drastically change beyond the current way. This includes promoting cultural reform and diversity within the company. Employees will be empowered to think outside of the box and take risks, and a greater emphasis will be placed on increasing the number of women and foreign nationals in leading positions.

Global Innovation Division

Ceramics opened the road to spark plugs – and that was just the start. Today, Venture Labs are using the knowledge and expertise of NGK SPARK PLUG to drive a whole world of new possibilities. When it comes to harnessing new opportunities, NGK SPARK PLUG is taking very pro-active and creative approaches. Venture Labs is one of them. A forum designed to quickly and creatively cooperate with other established businesses and exciting new start-ups.

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Our Values

Our corporate values is based on fundamental elements that ensure corporate and personal success on all levels.

Commitment

We are committed to premium quality, sustainability from business to technology to environment, and social responsibility.

Management Policy

We encourage all employees to make full use of their individual skills and are highly dedicated to a management policy that is based on trust and confidence.

Guiding Principles

In everything we do, we take a positive approach to choose the best and quickest way of finding the right answers to tomorrow's challenges.

"The NGK SPARK PLUG Group from now on aims to “change drastically beyond the current way.” In today’s rapidly changing environment, while commonly sharing the Nittoku Way sense of value, every NGK SPARK PLUG employee will strive to solve social challenges with the action guideline 'Change with Will!' in mind and with noble intention."

Shinichi Odo & Takeshi Kawai

Representative Director Chairman of the Board & President and Chief Operating Officer

"By using the combined strength of both brands, we not only supply a broad range of products to our customers; we also provide strong values and bring unparalleled insight and knowledge into the industry."

Damien Germès

Regional President EMEA, President & CEO NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE GmbH and Corporate Officer of the Global Headquarter in Japan

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