Spark Plug Innovation

The Key Factors Pushing Innovation in Spark and Glow Plugs Include Longer Service Intervals, Emissions Legislation and Engine Design

Monday February 20, 2006 - 11:00 am ET

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2006--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c33066) has announced the addition of A Global Market Review Of Spark Plugs And Glow Plugs - Forecasts To 2010 - 2nd Edition to their offering.

In this second edition review of vehicle spark plugs, we extend the analysis in chapter two by forecasting market volume of OE glow plugs as well as spark plugs. The key factors pushing innovation in spark and glow plugs include longer service intervals, emissions legislation and engine design. Chapter three sets out some recent innovations. Chapter four provides brief profiles of the major spark and glow plug manufacturers, namely AC Delco, Autolite, Beru, Bosch, Champion, Denso and NGK Spark Plug.

Extract from the report - Chapter 1 Introduction

The spark plug is a key engine system component, playing a major role in fuel economy, efficient combustion and the reliable operation of engines and catalytic converters. Although the useful life of a spark plug has been extended, its basic function has not significantly changed since the early 1900s. What has changed, however, are the requirements for emissions and service life.

In 1902, Bosch was awarded the patent for the first spark plug. Designed to be combined with a high-tension magneto ignition system, the spark plug solved what Carl Benz had described as the most fundamental obstacle to early motoring. Together with improvements in production technology, the spark plug laid the foundations for the rapid increase in vehicle production over the decades that followed.

Early version spark plugs, used in low-speed, low-compression gasoline engines had a life of just 600 miles compared with copper alloy multi-ground electrode plugs lasting about 20,000 miles. In the mid-1980s, Bosch introduced the first platinum-tipped spark plug designed to help maintain a constant electrode gap thereby extending the plugs life by a multiple of three to four times.

Today, spark plug manufacturers talk of precious metal plugs lasting between 55,000 and 80,000 miles. Platinum can withstand temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit and so less metal is lost during firing. It is also more resistant to corrosion and pitting than traditional copper and nickel-alloy electrodes.

Manufacturers Mentioned:
• AC Delco
• Autolite
• Beru
• Bosch
• Champion
• Denso
• NGK Spark Plug

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Source: Research and Markets Ltd.