Continuing just-auto’s series of interviews with ignition system manufacturers, Matthew Beecham spoke to Celestino Badiali, sales and marketing director, Eldor Corp.
To begin, we would like to get a better understanding of Eldor’s engineering capabilities and facilities with respect to ignition coils. Starting with Europe, could you tell us your key attributes and programme launches last year?
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We have a very skilled engineering team based in our headquarters in Orsenigo, Como, Italy. Here we test advanced materials and components that satisfy customer requirements in the ignition coil and ignition system area.
Last year, we launched high energy, high voltage ignition coils. We are a front end player in this new engine application area, continuously improving technology of all our ignition coil products range, implementing new concepts and ideas with the clear target to improve product quality and reliability.
What would you say gives Eldor its competitive advantage?
For the past 42 years, Eldor has produced high voltage components. Since 1999, we have been fully dedicated to automotive components and are one of the top three world leaders in ignition coils.
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By GlobalDataVery high technical competence, full focus on ignition coils and ignition coils technologies, in-house design of full automatic manufacturing lines and plants in relative low labour cost countries with high production volume are Eldor’s competitive advantages.
Our largest manufacturing plant for ignition coil is in Izmir, Turkey.
In BRIC countries we made quite recently a big investment in China (SOP Q1-2013) and in Brazil (SOP Q1-2014).
Our first Italian factory, located in Orsenigo, near our headquarters, is smaller compared to other plants but still producing pencil coil for European and international markets.
How is your ignition business shaping up in BRIC countries?
In relation to BRIC countries our initial focus was on China and Brazil.
China is the biggest world manufacturing place for engines and cars. This year it is expected to sell about 21 million passenger cars and light vehicles and the expected volume will be close to 30 million units in 2018-2019. For this reason, we created Eldor Dalian that started manufacturing of ignition coils early last year. Eldor Dalian is intended to support our customers in China, Japan, Korea and South Asia. Eldor Dalian will also support North American customers up to 2019-2020 timeframe, when we plan a new manufacturing plant facility in North America.
In Brazil, we have a new factory just started this year and that will be focused to serve the LATAM market.
We are also evaluating the possibility to make an investment in Russia in coming years if conditions (market and supplier base) will allow.
Who are your main customers for ignition coils and what is your market share in Europe?
Our main customers are the world top players in the car industry. We also operate in the premium motorcycle European market. Our share in Europe in terms of sales of ignition coils exceeds 50 percent.
Are you also seeing more use of electronics in the ignition coil itself? How does that trend in Europe compare to the situation in Japan?
The continuous temperature increase in the engine compartment requires more innovative and robust product design with the capability to integrate electronics module in the coil. Energy requests and advanced functionalities on the ignition system are also pushing towards more control electronics. In some applications, the correct trade-off could be reached with an add-on ignition control unit separated by the coil. Here, we are able to offer innovative solutions. We see a similar trend in Europe and Japan.
There is also a clear trend toward increasing energy requirements. To what extent is that trend for more energy requirements being driven by more direct injection gasoline applications and emissions regulations?
The 2020 limit on CO2 is the main specification for the new engine design. The technology as GDI engine, downsizing, high EGR rate are ‘hungry’ of higher spark energy. This is the reason why new ignition technologies are under development.
In terms of tomorrow’s ignition system designs, what could we expect?
The remainder of this interview is available on just-auto’s QUBE Global light vehicle ignition systems and plugs market- forecasts to 2030
