NGK continues Mercedes-Benz partnership
NGK Spark Plugs is set to continue as the sole supplier of original equipment glow plugs to Mercedes-Benz.
It says the successful collaboration between the two companies over the past few years and the high quality and performance of its glow plugs are the reasons behind the extension of the exclusive co-operation until at least 2018.
In 2007, NGK supplied glow plugs to Mercedes-Benz for the first time when the car manufacturer chose the company’s New High Temperature Ceramic glow plug (NHTC) for its new generations of diesel engines.
By 2010, the NHTC glow plug had already become the only glow plug to be installed in passenger car diesel engines from the Stuttgart-based premium car manufacturer.
Exclusive supply agreements for all current diesel engines and all four and six-cylinder diesel engines to be developed by 2018 were recently signed.
Brian Childs, Deputy Managing Director, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, said: “It is fantastic news that our successful collaboration with Mercedes-Benz is to continue until at least 2018.
“We are continuing to work closely with many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and this agreement is testament to the professionalism and dedication of our OE team.”
The NHTC glow plug was the first glow plug with fully ceramic heating element to firmly establish itself in original equipment. It offers outstanding characteristics; reaching its operating temperature of about 1000 °C in less than two seconds, it also allows more than ten minutes of after-glowing or intermediate heating at a temperature of 1350 °C.
Apart from guaranteeing an optimal cold-start at the lowest ambient temperatures, it also ensures environmentally-friendly combustion and helps to minimise the output of noxious pollutants and particulate emissions.
It also plays a major role in the regeneration of the diesel particulate filter and NOx-storage. In doing so, the NHTC glow plug contributes strongly to compliance with ever stricter EURO regulations.
As well as Mercedes-Benz, the Volkswagen Group and Mitsubishi currently use the ceramic high-performance glow plug.
NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd is an original equipment supplier of spark plugs, glow plugs and NTK Lambda sensors to most of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers with whom it works hand-in-hand to produce parts that are manufactured to meet their specific requirements.
The company recently won the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation’s (IAAF) 2012 Supplier of Excellence award; the second successive year it has received the accolade and the fourth time overall.
Around eight percent of world turnover is invested into R&D to ensure that it can constantly develop spark plugs, glow plugs and NTK Lambda sensors that deliver optimum performance and reliability.