Page 8 - Champion Get the Facts booklets

1939 Champion develops the
five-rib insulator

4
Product innovation played a large part in Champion's early success
and, despite heavy investment in expansion, R & D continued
unabated. In 1939 Champion designed the five-rib insulator.
Specifically created to reduce flashover, where electrical energy'
leaks' out over the spark plug insulator, the design solution was
so perfect that the five rib is an integral part of the design of
Champion plugs to the present day.

1959 Champion develops its silvery,
zinc-plated finish
1968
1972 Although most closely identified with the automotive industry,
Champion has a long and prestigious connection with both the
marine and aircraft industries. During the Second World War,
Champion developed the zinc plating process to reduce
maintenance on vital military and supply shipping - another
innovation which survives to the present day. It also made the
product look more attractive - an important plus in a world where
consumer choice would begin to play an increasingly important
role.

Champion builds a second
assembly plant in the UK

Designed to complement its UK facilities, Champion began
manufacturing in Belgium in 1965. Only three years later,
Champion opened its second assembly plant in the UK at Upton
on Merseyside underlining the importance of the major
automotive market to be found in Europe.

Upton expands to open a specialist
ceramics plant

Until now, all specialist manufacturing had been kept in the USA.
In 1972 all that changed. A major new ceramics plant is
inaugurated on the site of the existing assembly plant on
Merseyside: this is high-tech manufacturing.