WIXOM, Mich. -- NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc. recently marked the opening its third manufacturing facility in the U.S. with a grand opening ceremony May 19 for its new state-of the-art plant, located in Sissonville, near Charleston, W.Va.

At right: NGK Spark Plug assembly line equipment at new Sissonville, W.Va., manufacturing facility.

The plant will have a capacity of 20 million spark plugs per year for original and replacement equipment markets in the U.S., and is expected to provide more than 80 new jobs in the region. Two manufacturing lines are slated to begin producing plugs this July. NGK invested a total of $20 million in this facility, which encompasses more than 85,000 square feet.

Shinichi Odo, president and CEO of NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), said the plant will further strengthen NGK’s global network and better position the company to service its North American manufacturing customers.

West Virginia Governor, Joe Manchin, Senator, Jay Rockefeller, and Representative, Shelley Moore Capito, along with several NGK Spark Plugs executives, addressed the audience that included more than 300 NGK Spark Plug employees who work in the Sissonville plant.

For more information about NGK, go to: http://www.ngksparkplugs.com.