Niterra

Niterra Co., Ltd. (⽇本特殊陶業株式 社, Nippon Tokushu Tōgyō kabushiki gaisha) is a public company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. Formerly known as NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd., the company’s automotive business (with its brands NGK Ignition Parts and NTK Vehicle Electronics) revolves around the manufacturing and the sale of spark plugs and related products for internal combustion engines, as well as vehicle electronics and ceramics for a wide range of applications in the original equipment and aftermarket industries.

"NGK" redirects here. For NGK's parent company until 1936, see NGK Insulators. For other uses, see NGK (disambiguation).
Niterra Co., Ltd.
Native name
⽇本特殊陶業株式会社
Nippon Tokushu Tōgyō kabushiki gaisha
FormerlyNGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
TypePublic KK
TYO: 5334
NAG: 5334
IndustryAutomotive, technical ceramics
Founded11 November 1936 (1936-11-11)
FounderNGK Insulators
HeadquartersNagoya, Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Takeshi Kawai
(President and CEO)
Brands
  • NGK
  • NTK
Number of employees
19,774 (March 2023)[1]
  • 16,240 (consolidated)
  • 3,534 (non-consolidated)
Websitewww.ngkntk.co.jp

Niterra is a coined word, which combines the Latin words ‘niteo’ meaning ‘shine’ and ‘terra/earth’.[2] It expresses the Group’s desire to be a company that not only contributes to a sustainable society, but also one that makes the earth shine: a goal formulated in its 2040 Vision.[3]

As of April 2023, the company employs around 16,200 people and the company’s automotive and technical ceramics activities generate a total annual turnover of around 4.33 billion euros worldwide. It operates a network of 69 group companies, 34 production plants, five Technical Centres and three Venture Labs worldwide.[4] In 2021, Niterra moved its global headquarters to the N-Forest Building located at its Komaki Plant in Japan.[5]

Operations

United States

Established in 1966, Niterra North America, Inc. (formerly NGK SPARK PLUGS (USA) was founded as a subsidiary of Niterra Co., Ltd. (formerly NGK SPARK PLUG Co., Ltd.), of Japan. Its corporate headquarters was first located in California and then moved to its current location in Wixom, Michigan. The company produces both spark plugs and oxygen sensors in Sissonville, West Virginia.[6]

Europe
Niterra's EMEA headquarters in Ratingen, Germany

Niterra established its first European subsidiary, NGK SPARK PLUG (U.K.) Ltd. in 1975. In 1979, its second European subsidiary, NGK SPARK PLUG DEUTSCHLAND GmbH, was founded in Germany.[7] Ten years later, it was renamed NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE GmbH when it took charge of operations in Europe. In 2017, its remit further expanded across the EMEA region. In April 2023, the English-language name of the company was renamed Niterra.[8]

Niterra EMEA has been run by Damien Germès, President & CEO of Niterra EMEA GmbH, Regional President EMEA and Corporate Officer of the Global Headquarters in Japan, since April 2019[9] and it employs approximately 800 people in the EMEA region.

Niterra EMEA has six regional companies, one production plant in South Africa and a Technical Centre in Germany. Its EMEA sales accounted for 23% of the Group’s global turnover in 2023.[10] In its plant in South Africa, 22 million spark plugs are produced annually.

The European division has been operating a dedicated R&D unit since 1990. As well as designing and testing new prototype automotive products, the unit develops technologies to combat issues such as vehicle exhaust emissions. It also provides technical support to car manufacturers in the EMEA region.

In 2017, the company opened a new European Regional Distribution Centre in Duisburg, Germany.[11] It covers 21,000 m² of shelf space, has a team of around 100 employees and supplies customers in 44 European countries.

In 2018, the company became a shareholder of the automotive Aftermarket data firm TecAlliance.[12]

Products

Niterra supplies ignition and vehicle electronics products for 4-wheel, 2-wheel, ATV/SSV, snowmobile, agriculture, gardening, marine and industry applications.[13] In the Aftermarket, these products are supplied to parts wholesalers and distributors.

The company’s ignition product range includes spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils and ignition leads & caps, which are supplied under the NGK Ignition Parts brand.[14]

Niterra’s range of vehicle electronics includes oxygen sensors, EGTS, MAP/MAF sensors, engine speed & position sensors,[15] EGR valves and exhaust gas & differential pressure sensors (EDPS), all supplied under the NTK Vehicle Electronics brand.

Additionally, the company’s Technical Ceramics business unit produces semiconductor products, fine ceramics and products for the medical industry under NTK Technical Ceramics.[16]

Future

Since 2018, Niterra has created three ‘Venture Labs’[17] – innovation hubs designed to prepare the company for the future. They focus on three areas: Smart Health, Smart Mobility and Utility and are located in Tokyo, Japan; Silicon Valley,[18] USA; and Berlin, Germany.

With the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, Niterra has established ‘Eco Vision 2030’.[19] Based on the United Nations’ ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, this vision sets the milestones for the company until the end of the 2020s and the following ten years leading up to 2040.

Currently, the company is transforming its organisation and business portfolio in a more sustainability-driven direction. Four business fields have been identified for this purpose: Mobility, Medical, Environment & Energy and Communications.[20]

As part of this transformation, the company launched a $100 million Corporate Venture Capital Fund in April 2021 to pursue new opportunities in these areas.[21] Additionally, the company is expanding into new business fields through mergers and acquisitions of enterprises e.g., in the medical field, as well as start-ups, which contribute to this aim with additional digital automotive services.[22]

Motorsports involvement

Niterra is also a supplier of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team.[23] Niterra was the exclusive spark plug supplier for the IndyCar Series from 2007 to 2011. Since 2012, the company has only supplied Honda-powered IndyCar Series teams. Furthermore, Niterra supports a couple of teams in racing categories such as MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3,[24] the World Rally Championship, the Motocross World Championship, the FIM Trial World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.[25] In 2022, Niterra became the official technical partner to the X-raid motorsport team for the Dakar Rally.[26]

See also

References
  1. "Niterra Corporate Profile". Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. "New Niterra logo unveiled". Garage Talk. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  3. Newstead, Kelly (2022-07-06). "NGK Spark Plug announces name change". Professional Motor Mechanic. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  4. "Company Profile". www.ngkntk.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  5. "New NGK building a symbol of company's transformation". IAAF. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  6. aftermarketNews Staff (2007-08-17). "NGK Expands West Virginia Manufacturing Facility". aftermarketNews. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  7. "Company Profile". www.ngkntk.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  8. aftermarketNews Staff (2023-01-26). "NGK Spark Plugs Announces New Company Name and Logo". aftermarketNews. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  9. "Damien Germès Senior Vice President EMEA of NGK Spark Plug Europe". The CEO Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  10. "Damien Germès Senior Vice President EMEA of NGK Spark Plug Europe". The CEO Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  11. "NGK has officially opened a new European distribution centre". Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  12. "NGK Spark Plug underlines aftermarket commitment with TecAlliance shareholding". www.autotrade.ie. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  13. "Business". www.ngkntk.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  14. "Products". www.ngkntk.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  15. Autobiz.ie. "NGK launches new improved Part Finder". Autobiz.ie. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  16. "NTK TECHNICAL CERAMICS - Business Descriptions". Niterra Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  17. "VENTURE LABS: SECURING THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF NGK SPARK PLUG". Auto:resource. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  18. aftermarketNews Staff (2019-07-15). "NGK Hosts Grand Opening Of NGK/NTK Venture Lab Facility In Silicon Valley". aftermarketNews. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  19. Procter, Lydia (2021-11-02). "NGK Spark Plugs outlines plans for carbon neutrality". Professional Motor Factor. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  20. Antenora, Amy (2023-04-25). "Meet Niterra". aftermarketNews. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  21. "VENTURE LABS: SECURING THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF NGK SPARK PLUG". Auto:resource. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  22. Antenora, Amy (2023-04-25). "Meet Niterra". aftermarketNews. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  23. Hart, Ian (2016-04-11). "NGK and F1 Scuderia Ferrari team continue partnership". Professional Motor Mechanic. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  24. Holley, Chris (2021-10-14). "NGK Spark Plugs: Mancini Sells Them and Shirley Wins with Them". Mopar Connection Magazine | A comprehensive daily resource for Mopar enthusiast news, features and the latest Mopar tech. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  25. Holley, Chris (2021-10-14). "NGK Spark Plugs: Mancini Sells Them and Shirley Wins with Them". Mopar Connection Magazine | A comprehensive daily resource for Mopar enthusiast news, features and the latest Mopar tech. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  26. "X-Raid Teams Dakar 2022 Rest Day: Look Ahead - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
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