Champion Industrial Spark Plugs

CHAMPION

Hatraco is European Distributor for

INDUSTRIAL SPARK PLUGS

Champion has long been a leader in the manufacture of spark plugs for a vast assortment of applications. In the early years, spark plugs were imported primarily from France. in spite of general dissatisfaction with the inferior quality of these imports, the plugs dominated the market - at least until 1909. It was then that Robert Stranahan developed and marketed a spark plug incorporating an improved gasket designed to prevent gas leakage. By 1914, Stranahan's company, Champion Spark Plug, had become the largest spark plug manufacturer in the world.

EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL SPARK PLUGS-1909 to Present
In the early years, only a limited line of plug types was available. At that I time, there was little specialization, with a few plug sizes fitting all engines. In the early 1920s, Champion Spark Plug was again at the forefront of technology, introducing a two-ground electrode plug, designed specifically to service industrial engine applications by providing extended life. Also introduced at that time was a removable insulator assembly allowing for easy cleaning and accessibility (it could also be replaced if necessary).

Champion spark plugs have been used as original equipment by major industrial engine manufacturers such as Waukesha, Hercules, Bessemer and Fairbanks Morse since the early 1900s. Other industrial engines using Champion spark plugs included Black Bear, Buda, Climax, Clark, Niagara and Superior, just to name a few. Several of the engines from this era (1900-1940) are still in operation today and require a plug similar to the one originally used.
Innovation continued in the 1930s with the introduction of the four-prong ground electrode design by Champion, further enhancing plug life. The four-prong design was a significant achievement, in many cases increasing plug life by two to four times over previous electrode design. Through the years, many of the industrial engine companies dropped from production while others expanded. By the mid-1930s, Waukesha had over 70 engine models listed in the Champion catalog. Champion has and continues to work closely with these companies to provide a durable, reliable, reasonably priced spark plug.

During the 1950s, Champion worked closely with manufacturers to provide new designs necessitated by the advent of the turbo-charged engine. Spark plug designs that had previously run for months now only lasted weeks. This leads to electrode designs using precious metals and/or narrower gap, which provides longer life and more stable engine operation.
In the 1960s, an alternative to the metal braided shielded ignition was investigated. The metal braided shielded system was very expensive and troublesome, and resulted in voltage loss. With this in mind, Champion worked with several major ignition manufacturers and developed spark plugs that would allow the coils to direct mount, eliminating the shielded ignition lead.
In the years that followed, demand increased for precious metal plugs as engine companies emphasized lean operating conditions for fuel economy, and new emission standards. Changes in the combustion process subjected the spark plugs to even greater demands.

Today, Champion continues to work closely with the engine manufacturers to provide high quality products. Champion leads the market with technological innovations, providing customers with value-priced, dependable products. That's what makes Champion the World's Number 1 Selling Spark Plug.