Rain-X
| Product type | Automotive aftermarket in glass care; other car care: Car Washes, Waxes, Bug & Tar Removers, and Headlight Restoration Kits. |
|---|---|
| Owner | ITW Global Brands, division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) |
| Introduced | 1972 |
| Previous owners | Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS Products |
| Tagline | Outsmart the elements® |
| Website | rainx |
Rain-X is a brand of consumer automotive and surface care products, including wiper blades owned by ITW Global Brands. Until 2011 it was owned by Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS Products, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. On March 1, 2011, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has acquired SOPUS Products' Car Care business. It became ITW Global, a division of Illinois Tool Works.
In the U. K., prior to 2010, Rain-X branded products (primarily car-care chemicals) were distributed by Auto Expressions, owned by Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS Products, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. On June 9, 2010, Kraco Enterprises acquired Auto Expressions. Since that, Rain-X branded products are distributed in the U.K. by Kraco Car Care International, the subsidiary of Kraco Enterprises.
Industrial Rain-X products were produced by Ecolab and used in carwashes and other industrial applications. Ecolab sold its vehicle care business to Zep, Inc. in 2012. The most well known Rain-X product is a synthetic hydrophobic surface-applied product that causes water to bead, most commonly used on glass automobile surfaces. Rain-X was originally registered as a trademark in 1972 by Unelko and sold to Quaker State in 1997.
The Rain-X brand includes seven categories of products: wiper blades, glass and windshield treatments, plastic cleaners, windshield washer fluid, car washes, car wax, and bug and tar washes.
Competing products include Pittsburgh Glass Works' (formerly of PPG) Aquapel.
Due to its general water repellent properties, the original Rain-X formulation is used in a wide variety of consumer, commercial and industrial settings. The primary use of Rain-X is for automotive applications. Commercially sold "Original Glass Treatment" is the original and most well known Rain-X branded product. It is a hydrophobic silicone polymer that forces water to bead and roll off of the car, often without needing wipers. It is sold in 3.5 or 7 oz. bottles, or as wipes or towelettes.
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