NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE OPENS NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND AFTERMARKET

NGK Spark Plug Europe significantly increases the company’s logistics capacities. The ignition and sensor specialist has moved into a state-of-the-art distribution center in Duisburg, Germany. It will now supply OEMs and Aftermarket customers in 44 countries with products from the world’s largest manufacturer of spark plugs, glow plugs and Lambda sensors.

In recent years, NGK Spark Plug Europe has considerably expanded its product portfolio. Ignition coils, exhaust gas temperature sensors, intake manifold/boost pressure sensors as well as air flow meters were added to the already existing line-ups of spark plugs, ignition leads, glow plugs and lambda sensors. In so doing, NGK Spark Plug Europe became a one-stop shop for ignition products and significantly expanded its sensor range. Furthermore, the company is not only in charge of sales in Europe but also in the entire EMEA region, including the Middle East and Africa. This is why the demands placed on the company’s logistics increased: Each day, NGK Spark Plug Europe ships more than 1 million pieces in 300 consignments containing approximately 5,000 delivery items to Aftermarket customers. 

With the new distribution center, which is currently the largest of its kind, NGK Spark Plug Europe has paved the way for even faster and more efficient handling of high volume shipments. Also, there is enough room for further growth: 22,000 pallet bays, 21,000 sqm of storage area and 44,000 shuttle storage places offer sufficient capacity for storing all product groups and ensuring optimum product availability. Over 100 employees keep the new regional distribution center running. Automated processes as well as powerful warehouse management software ensure that every order is packaged and dispatched the same day. This significant investment, which is unique for the company, is preparing NGK Spark Plug Europe to take on the challenges of the future by ensuring fast, reliable deliveries to steadily growing markets in the EMEA region over the long term.

Duisburg’s excellent transport connections are making it an important logistic hub for the automotive industry with Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz already running logistic centres here. 

“The opening of our new regional distribution center is an important milestone for NGK Spark Plug Europe,” says Damien Germès, Senior Vice President of NGK Spark Plug Europe. “Our company developed with time. Until now, we had run three different warehouses at our Ratingen location. They will now be merged into our new central warehouse with its optimal traffic connection. We now have more space, shorter distances and more efficient, partly automated processes. And our customers can depend on fast and fault-free delivery.”

About NGK SPARK PLUG: Worldwide: NGK Spark Plug is one of the leading automotive and technical ceramics suppliers, with its corporate headquarters in Nagoya, Japan and sales organisations and production facilities all over the world. The automotive side of the company specialises in the fields of ignition and sensor technology, supplying Original Equipment and Aftermarket customers across the globe. Its product portfolio for the Aftermarket comprises spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils and leads under the NGK Ignition Parts brand, whilst oxygen and temperature sensors, NOx sensors, mass air flow (MAF) and manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensors operate under the brand NTK Vehicle Electronics. With more than 14,500 employees, the company’s automotive and technical ceramics activities generate a total annual turnover of around 3.1 billion Euros worldwide. NGK Spark Plug is represented on all continents and has 41 group companies, 24 production plants and five technical centres. Aftermarket EMEA: NGK SPARK PLUG has seen significant growth across the Aftermarket since expanding beyond motorcycle parts into the automotive sector in the 1970s. With an outstanding commitment to quality, technology and research & development the company has become the world’s number one in spark plugs and oxygen sensors, and a leading provider of glow plugs, ignition coils and leads as well as further sensor technology. Organisationally NGK Spark Plug’s regional headquarters in Ratingen, Germany serves the Aftermarket across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the EMEA region – which currently represents 32% of NGK´s global turnover – the company has ten group companies and more than 800 employees, as well as two production plants in France and South Africa and a technical centre in Germany. For more information please visit: www.ngk-europe.com

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Marcel Aßmann, Specialist PR & Event, Aftermarket EMEA, NGK SPARK PLUG Europe GmbH Harkortstr. 41, 40880 Ratingen, Germany, AG Duesseldorf HRB 43118 Tel: +49 (0)21 02 974 152 E-mail: m_assmann@ngkntk.de