The spark plug industry is set for a period of innovation as key factors in the changing automotive industry prompt a shift in the market - with platinum one of the potential beneficiaries.

That is according to a new study by Research and Markets, A Global Market Review Of Spark Plugs And Glow Plugs, which predicts that longer service intervals and tighter emissions legislation will change the demands placed on spark plugs.

One of the key innovations of recent decades according to the report is the development of platinum-tipped spark plugs by Bosch in the mid-1980s, which are now set to flourish.

Platinum enables the plugs to maintain a constant electrode gap, which manufacturers say extends the life of the device by up to four times.

Modern platinum spark plugs can now withstand temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, with innovation driving longer mileages between replacements.

Improvements in efficiency and the resilience of the device makes it well placed to take advantage of the demands placed on vehicles by increasingly stringent emission legislation.

Vehicles are expected to operate with less waste and on a cleaner basis, which the report makes clear will have marked implications for the market.