NGK Information

NGK UK
The dramatic growth of NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd represents one of the greatest success stories in the UK automotive market over the past decade. Starting in the 1960s, initially to serve the motorcycle market, NGK entered the UK automotive market in the early 1970s. In 25 years it has advanced from a market share of under 6% to one of over 50% and increasing.
NGK has become the brand leader in the UK spark plug market and the number one choice of the professional as a result of its quality, technical excellence and total commitment to Research and Development. This has led to major successes with vehicle manufacturers worldwide who are increasingly specifying bespoke plugs so as to achieve maximum efficiency from their new engines.

Research & Development
With major R&D centres in Japan and the USA, NGKs European research and development work is based at the Technical Centre in Ratingen, Germany. This facility, established in 1990, has continuously expanded to provide technical support to the European automotive manufacturers.
The NGK Technical Centre covers an area of approx. 2,200 square metres and cost approx. 15 million Euros. It has three modern engine test rigs for endurance and application tests, together with cold-climate chambers in which engine and chassis can be cooled down to -30 degrees Celsius for analysing cold-start performance. It also has comprehensive equipment for carrying out full exhaust gas emission tests.
Today, NGK has benefited from this investment in Europe by being the OE supplier of spark plugs and or glow plugs to most vehicle manufacturers in Europe including Audi / Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Fiat, Renault, Peugeot and Vauxhall.
With worldwide legislation demanding a reduction in exhaust emission levels, NGK has developed many technologies to combat these challenges. Through its NTK brand it has been increasingly involved in the development and manufacture of oxygen sensors which have a key role to play in exhaust gas after treatment. NGK Spark Plugs is now the world’s largest producer of these useful devices