WD-40 is a real star, because probably everyone knows this characteristic can and has had experience with the benefits of this spray. It is a popular multi-functional lubricant and penetrant known for its versatility in industrial, automotive and even home applications. Its main ingredients are hydrocarbons.
Source:
www.wd40company.com
This universal preparation began its stunning career over 70 years ago. It was created in a small laboratory in San Diego, USA, and was intended to protect the surface of Atlas space rockets against corrosion. The Rocket Chemistry Company's three-person team made many attempts, and only the fortieth gave satisfactory results. To commemorate this arduous work, the final formula was named WD - from the English water displacement and 40 from the number of attempts.
Interestingly, for almost 5 years the preparation was used exclusively for space programs, and only after some time the head of the company noticed that employees were successfully using it while doing housework, in workshops and garages. And so, in 1958, it began to be produced in aerosol form, selling increasingly larger quantities for civilian applications.
Then the company becomes almost twice as large and employs... 7 people who sell an average of 45 cases of WD-40 packaging per day from the trunks of their cars directly to stores in the San Diego area. The year 1973 was the spectacular entry of the WD-40 manufacturer onto the stock exchange. Attention! Having only one product in your portfolio!
There were several events in the company's history that accelerated brand recognition. In 1961, Hurricane Carla hit the Gulf Coast with great force. The great destruction caused by the disaster created a significant demand for building materials, including: WD-40, thanks to which repairs to houses and flooded vehicles could be carried out better and more efficiently.
Source: Press Advertisement, Escondio, California
May 29, 1958, page 10 In 1964, astronaut John Glenn took a can of WD-40 with him on a spaceship trip around the Earth. It was impossible to imagine a better advertisement than the use of the preparation by a NASA mission. A universal means by which everything could be repaired, improved and preserved appeared in the media all over the world. There is also a story about firefighters who used WD-40 to free a boy whose head was stuck in a metal fence. They sprayed the metal with WD-40, which allowed the boy to be safely released. In 1995, after a tanker disaster, volunteers used WD-40 to clean up oil-covered birds. WD-40 helped dissolve the oil, making it easier to clean the animals and return them to nature. Additionally, WD-40 is often used to remove stuck rings from fingers. Thanks to its lubricating properties, WD-40 makes it easier to move the jewelry and remove it safely. Musicians, on the other hand, use WD-40 to maintain musical instruments. For example, guitarists use it to clean strings and mechanisms, ensuring their smooth operation and longer life
Where does this popularity and customer loyalty come from? Former WD-40 CEO Gerald Schleif explained:
“Unlike few things in the world, the product actually delivers performance that far exceeds user expectations. So there is an emotional attachment. "People are starting to believe they can't live without WD-40."
The blue and yellow can became iconic and in 1993 it was used in 75% of American homes. Although the company is known mainly for its flagship product, it is constantly working on new solutions and expanding its offer. WD-40 not only maintains its position on the market, but also develops and adapts to changing conditions.
Advertising campaign from 2011
WD-40 is of course available in all Autos stores . Welcome, it's a must have in every home and workshop.
Karol Filarski
Workshop Equipment Department
