DENSO Corporation held a ceremony at its Anjo Plant in Aichi, Japan, to celebrate reaching the milestone of producing its 100 millionth segment conductor (SC) alternator, its flagship alternator and a major product for the company.

The company began producing its SC alternator in December 1999 and manufactures it in all major regions of the world.

“With the increasing demand for more sophisticated safety, information and communication technologies, there is a greater need for more electricity from the vehicle, and this requires a higher powered, more efficient alternator,” said Masahiko Miyaki, senior executive director of DENSO's Electric Systems Business Group. “To meet these growing needs, SC alternators generate more electricity, compared to traditional alternators due to the winding copper wire technology.  The SC alternators are among the smallest and most efficient alternators in the world.”

DENSO, which has supplied alternators since 1962, has been reducing the size and weight of alternators while also increasing their efficiency. The company will continue to  research and develop alternators with higher power generation efficiency, to meet vehicles’ growing demand for electricity. In addition, DENSO also will use its accumulated technologies to develop alternators tailored to meet the needs of emerging countries for its customers around the world.

Since 1988, DENSO has held the largest share of the global alternator market. Currently, SC alternators account for 70% of the companies alternator production.