In a safety deposit box that employees refer to as "the vault" is the WD-40 formula. The lubricant's trade secret is so closely guarded, most people in the company don't know what it is and outsourced "blenders" are given instructions with code names for some of the ingredients.
But Richard T. Clampitt, as WD-40 Co.'s general counsel, is charged with safeguarding the brand rather than the formula, a far more challenging endeavor.
"It's the secret sauce, but the tradema... (continued)