The WD-40 Company, originally the Rocket Chemical Company, is an American manufacturer of household and multi-use products, including its signature brand,

WD-40 WD-40 (Water Displacement, 40th formula) is an American manufacturer and the trademark of a penetrating oil manufactured by the WD-40 Company based in San Diego, California. Its formula was invented for the Rocket Chemical Company in 1953, ...

, as well as 3-In-One Oil,

Lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...

, Spot Shot, X-14, Carpet Fresh, GT85, 1001, Solvol, 2000 Flushes and No Vac. It is based in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, California. , the company marketed its products in more than 176 countries.

History

WD-40 Company was founded as Rocket Chemical Company in September 1953 by Cyril E. Irving, Norman Roulette and his son Robert Roulette, and Iver Norman Lawson. Reginald S. Fleet is also claimed to be a founding member by his alma mater, Georgia Institute of Technology. The company had offices in

Chula Vista Chula Vista ( ; , ) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh-most populous city in Southern California, the 15th-most populous city in the ...

and National City before moving to Kearny Villa Road in Kearny Mesa in 1955. Sam Crivello, who owned a tuna seiner, a major industry in San Diego at that time, was an early investor and became a director in 1958. Norman B. Larsen was president of Rocket in 1957 and 1958, and he had the idea of packaging WD-40 in aerosol cans and selling it into the consumer market. Larsen left the company in 1958 after a verbal agreement between Rocket and a distributor fell apart; the distributor set up CRC Industries to directly compete with Rocket and Larsen left to lead it. Cy Irving took over as president in 1958 and retired in 1969. In 1969, John S. Barry, on becoming

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

and

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

, changed the name to ''WD-40 Company'' after what was then its only product. Barry, who died July 3, 2009, reportedly made the name change on the basis that the Rocket Chemical Company did not make rockets.Martin, Douglas.
John S. Barry, Main Force Behind WD-40, Dies at 84
". ''The New York Times'', July 22, 2009. The company went public in 1973 on the then-newly established National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (

NASDAQ The Nasdaq Stock Market (; National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American stock exchange based in New York City. It is the most active stock trading venue in the U.S. by volume, and ranked second on the list ...

) stock exchange. Its stock symbol is "WDFC". Gerald C. Schleif became president in 1990 and CEO in 1992; he had joined the company in 1969. Schlief led the company until he retired in 1997, after which Garry O. Ridge took over. By the fiscal year 2017, gross revenue for the company totaled $381 million in annual revenue; about half of this was for sales outside the US. CEO Ridge told a NASDAQ publication that they manufacture the "secret formula" in four plants located in various countries and ship it to other companies which then blend and package the product before shipping it to customers.

Products

WD-40 stands for ″Water Displacement, 40th formula". In addition to its flagship WD-40 product, the WD-40 Company has acquired several household-products companies, adding such brand names as 3-In-One Oil,

, Spot Shot, X-14, Carpet Fresh, and 2000 Flushes to its roster.

References

External links

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WD-40 Company EDGAR Filing History
{{Authority control Chemical companies of the United States Chemical companies established in 1953 Manufacturing companies based in San Diego Companies listed on the Nasdaq 1953 establishments in California 1970s initial public offerings