History

For decades, Champion-brand products have brought power to flight, incorporating breakthrough technology and innovative product developments. Throughout the years, the famous Champion-brand bow tie has represented a worldwide symbol for superiority in product ingenuity and service integrity.

In 1987, Champion acquired Livingston Industries, a highly respected supplier of leads and exciters to the OEM market; and, in 1988, opened a massive state-of-the-art facility in Liberty, South Carolina. Its division headquarters moved from Ohio to Greenville, South Carolina, only one year later.

In the 1990s, Champion undertook and completed a $10 million expansion project at its Liberty facility; earned ISO 9001 certification; pioneered the first turbine igniter and lead for multiple engine platforms; and introduced its PPT-Powered™ dual-redundant exciters, the new standard in solid-state exciters.

Champion now manufactures and markets a broad range of Champion-brand-name igniters, exciters, and leads for turbine engines, as well as spark plugs, oil filters, and ignition harnesses for reciprocating engines. In addition Champion Aerospace provides power supplies to the aviation industry in standard and custom configurations.

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Early 1900s

  • Wilbur and Orville Wright’s powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
    (Predates Champion’s entry into the aviation industry by only a short time.)
  • Champion Spark Plug Co. formed.
  • Introduced automotive spark plugs into single ignition systems (adapted automobile engines) for small planes.
  • Champion plugs used in liquid-cooled V-8 engine of Curtiss “Jenny”, chief U.S. training plane in WWI

1920s – 1930s

  • Began development of spark plugs specifically for aviation industry.
  • Champion Aero-1 plugs sparked world’s speed record (318 mph) and world’s altitude record (38,793)
  • Champion spark plugs helped power Aeronca Dowager, first successful U.S. light plane.
  • Created Aero RA, a low-profile spark plug with radio dome shield.
  • Expanded facilities for ceramic research.
  • Pioneered the C-26 spark plug.
  • Developed industry’s first aluminum oxide insulator.

1940s – 1960s

  • Produced approximately 500,000 aviation spark plugs annually.
  • Converted manufacturing capabilities and production knowledge of aviation spark plugs for U.S. fighter planes and tanks.
  • Produced 24 million spark plugs annually.
  • Became principal aircraft spark plug supplier to U.S. military services, as well as a supplier to Allied Forces. Between 1941 and 1945, produced in total more than 78 million ceramic aircraft plugs for war effort.
  • Refined massive electrode, stable heat rating, zinc-plated shell, new electrode alloys, and new cementing techniques.
  • Developed all-weather shielding barrel for aircraft spark plugs.
  • Used igniter assembly core in first U.S. jet aircraft engine.
  • Pioneered automated plasma assembly techniques.
  • Pioneered laser beam welding technology in production of iridium electrodes.
  • Pioneered inspection and CNC-directed manufacturing.
  • Developed first annular gap for high-tension igniters.
  • Developed first successful recessed center electrode.
  • Developed first welded right-angle igniter assembly.
  • Introduced nuclear-hardened exciter for government applications.
  • Pioneered developments in lead terminations that resulted in better sealing in turbine engine leads.
  • Helped power Rare Bear Racing Team, first to break world speed record (500 mph) at low altitude on three kilometer course.
  • Champion turbine igniter in second stage oxygen-hydrogen engine in Saturn C-1 rocket helps launch U.S. space program.

1970s – 1980s

  • Introduced first spin-on oil filter for recip engines.
  • Acquired Livingston Industries, highly respected supplier of leads and exciters to OEM market.
  • Opened 145,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Liberty, South Carolina.
  • Introduced one of industry’s first 100 percent solid-state discharge exciters.
  • Moved division headquarters from Toledo, Ohio, to Greenville, South Carolina.

1990s – 2000s

  • Completed $10 million expansion at Liberty, South Carolina, manufacturing facility.
  • Became sole supplier to Rolls Royce and SNECMA for Olympus engine (Concorde).
  • Vertically integrated Liberty, South Carolina, manufacturing facility. Earned ISO 9001 certification from DNV.
  • Pioneered use of exotic materials in igniters to extend product life.
  • Pioneered routine use of alumina oxide insulators in aircraft spark plugs.
  • Introduced Series 21™, first turbine igniter and lead used across multiple engine platforms.
  • Introduced PPT-Powered™ dual-redundant exciters, the new standard in solid-state exciter.
  • Acquired Slick Magnetos™.