Wd-40’s Secret
WD-40 has long become a household name in something like 187 countries. Its origins trace back to 1953 when it was a nascent company called Rocket Chemical Company with a staff of just three. Their aim was to develop a product for the aerospace industry that would act as rust-preventive and degreaser. It was tough going for a stretch of time. They toiled in their small lab in San Diego, California, but just couldn’t perfect the water-displacement formula they craved. They succeeded on their 40th attempt – and to commemorate that success, decided to name that secret formula after that event. WD-40 literally implies Water Displacement formula perfected on the 40th attempt. The product met with instant success for its first ever client – in fact, worked so well, that employees started to smuggle cans home. That prompted WD-40 founder to put the product into aerosol cans for home use. Ever since WD-40 has become a household name everywhere. Such a huge success that ultimately the company itself changed its name to WD-40 Company, Inc. Meanwhile the secret formula went from situation to situation and strength to strength. It was used in the Vietnam War by soldiers to prevent moisture from damaging their guns; as also to recondition vehicles and equipment ravaged by hurricane floods in 1961; gradually becoming the go-to solution in sectors as diverse as automotive, manufacturing, aviation, construction, farming and even in the humble home. Basically a near-universal product. At one point, it is believed that four of every five American households kept a can or two handy, and some 81% professionals used it at work. There’s even a WD-40 fan club that has long crossed 100,000 members worldwide. The brand has since extended its product line, while evolving its delivery system through frequent innovation. In all of this, there is now documented evidence of uses and applications that run into several thousands – and counting, because users keep sending testimonials sharing what is often a unique new use. Amongst those, a bus driver in Asia who got rid of a python that had coiled itself around the undercarriage; and police who use it to extricate a burglar stuck in an air conditioning vent.
