  |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry in a small lab in It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they obviously got it right, because the original secret formula for WD-40 which stands for Water Displacement and which was perfected on the 40th try is still in use today. |
 |
Convair, an aerospace contractor, first used WD-40 to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. The product actually worked so well that several employees snuck some WD-40 cans out of the plant to use at home. A few years following WD-40's first industrial use, Rocket Chemical Company founder Norm Larsen experimented with putting WD-40 into aerosol cans, reasoning that consumers might find a use for the product at home as some of the employees had. The product made its first appearance on store shelves in In 1960 the company nearly doubled in size, growing to seven people, who sold an average of 45 cases per day from the trunk of their cars to hardware and sporting goods stores in the In 1961 the first full truckload order for WD-40 was filled when employees came in on a Saturday to produce additional concentrate to meet the disaster needs of the victims of hurricane Carla along the U.S. Gulf coast. WD-40 was used to recondition flood and rain damaged vehicles and equipment. |
| Then, in 1969 the company was renamed after its only product, WD-40. Since that time, WD-40 has grown by leaps and bounds, and is now virtually a household name, used in numerous consumer and industrial markets such as automotive, manufacturing, sporting goods, aviation, hardware, home improvement, construction, and farming. Over the years, thousands of WD-40 users have written testimonial letters to the company sharing their often unique, if sometimes just plain weird, uses for the product. Some of the most interesting stories include the bus driver in |
| In December 1995, WD-40 Company acquired the 100 year old brand 3-IN-ONE Oil from Reckitt & Coleman. 3-IN-ONE, with its precise applicator spout, made a wonderful match for WD-40. Since then, the 3-IN-ONE brand has been much expanded through new product development. The first of these new products came in 1999 when a new delivery system, the Telescoping Spout, was launched. Reminiscent of an old-time oilcan, the plastic bottle comes with a five-inch extendable spout designed to get at hard-to-reach places. In 2002 this was followed by 3-IN-ONE with PTFE. Launched as an aerosol lubricant with added PTFE it offers outstanding lubrication and longer lasting protection. This is achieved through the low friction characteristics of PTFE, often better known as Teflon. Essentially, our PTFE product was developed for use on bike chains, cables and gears although it is extensively used in both industry and around the home too. |
 |
| The latest addition to the 3-IN-ONE family is a range of speciality products aimed at today’s professional tradesmen and experienced DIY enthusiasts. Aptly named, the ‘professional’ range it consists of a High Performance Penetrant, a Silicone Lubricant and a White Lithium Grease. In April 2004, WD-40 Company were proud to acquire the historical and trusted 1001 brand from Cussons plc. 1001 has an extensive range of existing consumer carpet care products and WD-40 have big plans for this big brand. Since those early days of the space race and workers sneaking WD-40 out of the shop, WD-40 Company has grown to more than 200 employees worldwide. The Corporate Brand Support Centre and manufacturing site has expanded to include two strategic account offices in the |
 |
privacy statement |