KARIYA, Japan ― Who knew when the first segment conductor (SC) alternator rolled off the line at DENSO’s Anjo plant in Aichi, Japan, that 12 years later the 100 millionth alternator would make its way down the very same line? Yesterday, DENSO Corp. held a ceremony at its Anjo Plant to celebrate the production milestone of its flagship alternator, which also is a major product for the company.
 
DENSO began producing its SC alternator in December 1999, and today manufactures it in all major regions of the world, including the United States, Thailand, China, Italy, India and Taiwan.
 
In the U.S., DENSO produces the SC alternator at its DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN) facility in Marysville, Tenn. The SC alternator is produced every seven seconds on every DENSO assembly line on which it is manufactured.
 
“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 products’ size and weight while also increasing the efficiency. DENSO 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, according to the company. Currently, SC alternators account for 70 percent of DENSO’s alternator production.