Products from WD-40

In 1953, the Rocket Chemical Company, a small company in San Diego, California, was given the task of finding a formula for water displacement and rust and corrosion protection for the ship and space industry. This goal was achieved on the 40th attempt, and the formula found became the eponym: WD-40 is the abbreviation for "Water Displacement", perfected after the 40th attempt.

It soon became apparent that the WD-40 product could do much more than just displace water. More and more new applications were discovered. The interest in the WD-40 multifunctional product grew so enormously that company founder Norm Larsen began to bottle it in aerosol cans in 1968. At first, employees sold the WD-40 multifunctional product out of the boot of their car within California. The WD-40 Company was born in 1969, when the company was named after its most successful brand.

Today, WD-40 Company has evolved from a small business into a global player. The company, which is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, is controlled from its headquarters in San Diego in the USA. The WD-40 Company's professional products are used in more than 176 countries - in industry and trade as well as for hobby and household use. The company has a European headquarters in Great Britain and a German branch in Bad Homburg. The latter was founded in 1995 and is responsible for sales to the trade in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Between 70-80 % of the population in these three markets know and appreciate WD-40 products as problem solvers.