You’re driving down the highway and whoosh – sheets of rain blast your windshield, instantly blocking your vision. Or, you’re driving in a drizzle and constantly switching the speed of the wipers, distracting you from driving attentively. The world-renowned car care brand Rain-X came into being to mitigate these problems. It was a break-through innovation designed to maximize water beading on windshields, enhancing visibility and safety.

But how well do you know this iconic brand? Today, its place in the carwash chemistry business goes far beyond the treatment of windshields. As a carwash owner, it’s worth it for you to know why you should choose Rain-X branded carwash chemicals, distributed exclusively by NCS.

In this post, we review the history, legacy and leadership position of Rain-X, exploring how this powerhouse brand got here, and why it’s still your best choice today:

The History of Rain-X Water Beading Treatment

Rain-X’s story begins in 1972 with Howard Ohlhausen. He invented an ultra-thin, silicone-based coating that made windshields repellent to water, soil and grime. This coating enhanced visibility and safety in bad weather. As a result, it caught on with truckers and racers quite quickly.

From the beginning, Rain-X outperformed competitors, branded and unbranded. Its revolutionary proprietary blend of polymers — the exact ratio remains a company secret — creates an invisible, super-slick barrier on glass surfaces, causing water and contaminants to roll off without wiper blades.

But let’s backtrack a little. After college, Olhausen, an immigrant, joined the Air Force as an aircraft observer and navigator. Regularly flying in bad weather, he acutely experienced the dangers of limited visibility. These experiences caused him to feel strongly about a crucial need — a solution to improve visibility in harsh conditions. 

But Ohlhausen didn’t act on his interest immediately. Instead, he joined the family business for a few years after retiring from Air Force service. He soon discovered he was better off as an inventor. So, he set up a small laboratory to experiment with coatings and water repellents that improve glass visibility.

Research and Creativity Pays Off

After months of research, Ohlhausen discovered that sealing glass is the only effective way to prevent the adhesion of water, soil and other contaminants to its surface. This breakthrough led him to invent several ultra-thin polymer coatings that effectively repelled water from glass and other surfaces. These coatings also offered an unexpected bonus — increased resistance to scratching, pitting, etching and other minor damages.

Recognizing he was onto something, Ohlhausen immediately patented these polymer coatings. In 1971, under the Unelko Company, Ohlhausen and his sons formulated two essential products — Repcon and Rain-X. Both products improved glass visibility. In 1972, they trademarked “Repcon” and sold it to the U.S. Air Force, where it’s still used as a rain repellent and surface conditioner for aircraft and military vehicles. They launched their other product, Rain-X, for consumers.

Building an Industry Leading Reputation

In 1981, Ohlhausen and his sons relocated their business to Scottsdale, Arizona, and dedicated themselves to building the Rain-X brand. In just four years, they expanded the company’s product line with innovative solutions, all meant to improve driving visibility. These included Rain-X Anti Fog, a glass scrub and stain remover, and a premium windshield wash with rain repellent.

With a solid product line established, Ohlhausen and his sons shifted their focus to building brand awareness. In a strategic marketing move, they began sponsoring motorsports in 1985, collaborating with A-list drivers like Scott Sharp, Mario Andretti and the Newman team. These sponsorships proved incredibly influential in propelling Rain-X into the limelight.

After over two decades of successful brand building, Ohlhausen and family sold Rain-X to Quaker State Co. Since then, Rain-X has changed ownership multiple times. Today, over 50 years after its inception, Rain-X is a well-established brand in vehicle surface protectants, including those used in commercial carwashes.

Rain-X Surface Protectant – A Consumer Favorite

Today, Rain-X® Surface Protectant has firmly established itself as the industry leader in automotive surface protection, boasting an impressive 80% brand awareness. This high level of recognition underscores the trust and reliability consumers associate with the Rain-X brand, influencing their purchasing decisions significantly. Studies have shown that when customers are familiar with and trust a brand, they are more likely to invest in higher-quality vehicle care. Rain-X, as the top recognized brand in its category with 81% customer awareness, exemplifies this trend. Additionally, 80.3% of consumers hold a positive perception of the brand, reinforcing its standing as a trusted name in automotive care.

The influence of Rain-X on consumer behavior is particularly notable in settings like conveyor car washes, where 44% of consumers opt to upgrade their service packages when Rain-X products are featured. This suggests that the presence of a trusted brand not only enhances the consumer’s experience but also drives higher sales through upgrades.

The unmatched benefits of Rain-X Surface Protectant, which include up to 30 days of protection against environmental elements such as UV rays, rain, snow, dirt and bugs, further justify these decisions. Its patented formula not only protects vehicles but also enhances visibility and safety in challenging weather conditions, offering a clear advantage that consumers are willing to pay for.

Rain-X Graphene – Ultimate Protection

Rain-X Graphene is the new kid on the block – but it inherits the rich legacy of Rain-X innovation and incorporates the latest nano-technology. It’s truly cutting edge protection. This technology incorporates an exceptionally thin form of carbon, known for its outstanding physical, electrical, and thermal characteristics, discovered in 2004. Applied across the entire vehicle, not limited to just the windshield, Rain-X Graphene sealant provides several remarkable advantages:

• Unmatched durability: The two-dimensional structure and honeycomb pattern of graphene contribute to unparalleled durability, offering robust protection against chips and cracks. (For a deep dive, check out our graphene white paper to understand its amazing qualities.)
  
• Superior water-beading: Due to its hydrophobic qualities, water forms beads more effectively, reducing evaporation and maintaining a cleaner surface even after severe weather exposure.
  
• Anti-dust capabilities: Rain-X Pro Graphene also significantly reduces the accumulation of dust and dirt on the car, enhanced by its antistatic properties.
  
• Exceptional gloss and shine: A nanoparticle layer imparts a spectacular gloss, enhanced slickness, and richer color depth, resulting in a visually striking finish.

Though Howard Ohlhausen passed away in 2017, his legacy of innovation continues with groundbreaking products like Rain-X Graphene. These innovations reflect Rain-X’s dedication to advancing the frontiers of auto care and driving safety.

They’re also a key reason the brand holds the #1 spot for all-surface protectants with over 80% brand awareness. Rain-X is estimated to generate over $91 million annually for wash operators, especially when graphene is actively and properly marketed as part of your carwash offering.

Rain-X: The Right Choice for Your Carwash Chemistry

From a single inventor’s frustration with visibility, to cutting edge car surface protectants, Rain-X is the unchallenged leader, overwhelmingly preferred by consumers. NCS is proud to be the exclusive supplier of Rain-X carwash surface protectant products in North America.

Contact us today to explore how you can elevate your car wash business with Rain-X’s rich range of quality products.