Our History

In the early 1950s, during the Korean War, Howard G. Ohlhausen served as a U.S. Air Force Observer and Navigator, frequently undertaking missions in challenging poor weather conditions. He faced the hazards of flying with limited visibility during severe weather, including rain, sleet, snow and icy conditions.  Having encountered several near-crash incidents, he recognized the urgent need to develop a solution aimed at enhancing visibility and safety while flying or driving in adverse weather conditions.

After retiring from the Air Force, Ohlhausen uncovered a newfound passion as an inventor.   Working in a family business, he established a small lab where he began to experiment with altering the surface tension of glass and other hard surfaces. His focus was on coatings, treatments, and water repellents designed to enhance the performance of glass, porcelain, ceramic, and plastic surfaces by chemically sealing surfaces to dramatically repel rain, sleet, snow, and ice, and significantly improving visibility while flying in wet and icy conditions.

Ohlhausen realized that by sealing the pores, and “silica sites” of surfaces was essential to prevent the adhesion of rain, sleet, snow, ice, and other contaminants. The coatings also enhanced the appearance of glass, porcelain and other materials extending their useful life.  This breakthrough led him to invent several unique, ultra-thin polymer coatings that repelled water, soil, rain, sleet, snow, ice/frost, bugs, and other debris.  The coatings also provided increased resistance to surface damage such as scratches, pitting, etching, and permanent staining.

Ohlhausen secured several patents for innovative polymer coatings through Unelko Corp.  The patents were granted in 1972.  U.S. Patent #3,578,488, titled “Method for Rendering Substrates Water Repellant,” and U.S. Patent #3,579,540, an ultra-thin polymer coating that enhanced glass surfaces—such as windshields, side windows, mirrors and headlights—making them water, soil, and stain repellent.  Building on this foundation, Ohlhausen and his sons began to develop key products like Repcon^®, Rain Repellent and Surface Conditioner for aircraft canopies, adopted by the U.S. Air Force, and Rain-X^®, which was widely embraced as an automotive glass treatment that created an invisible, super smooth barrier on glass that shed water/rain, snow, ice and contaminants, dramatically enhancing driving visibility in poor weather.

In 1980, the family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, dedicating their efforts to grow the Rain-X brand. They broadened the product range with cutting-edge solutions that enhanced driving safety and visibility.  They expanded the product line, featuring the Rain-X Glass Treatment, Rain-X Anti-Fog, Glass Scrub Stain Remover, Wiper Refills, and Premium Windshield Wash with rain repellent properties. With a solid product line established, the family concentrated on increasing brand recognition.

In 1984, Unelko made a strategic marketing decision to sponsor motorsports, partnering with prominent race car drivers like Scott Sharp and Mario Andretti, as well as the Newman/Haas racing team. These sponsorships played a key role in elevating the Rain-X brand visibility, driving increased distribution and sales across Auto Parts Stores, Mass Merchants, and various other retail outlets.

Following a lengthy non-compete period, the Ohlhausen’s went back to work with a renewed mission and passion to enhance glass and surface coating technology.  They wanted to develop smarter cleaning and coating solutions, for a broad range of household & commercial surfaces. Focusing on the needs of the end user, aimed at improving visibility and safety, simplifying cleaning, reduce time, labor and effort cleaning without the need for harsh chemicals and abrasives.

After much research and development, Unelko developed the next-generation, Nano-Scale glass and surface coatings that are micron-thin, free of PTFE (PFAS/PFOS/ Fluorocarbons), designed for greater durability, easier application and safety.  The coatings provide enhanced protection against water, soil, stains & minerals for reduced soiling, enhanced appearance and to prevent surface damage such as etching, pitting, scratches and permanent staining.

They trademarked their improved “Ceramic” based coatings, Invisible Shield^® Glass & Surface Coatings which became widely used on residential and commercial glass worldwide. The glass coating seals & protects glass, porcelain, ceramics and other surfaces, and reduces time, labor and cost of cleaning.  Making cleaning and maintenance easier and minimizing the need for frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals and abrasives.

Unelko develops innovative, dual action 2-in-1 multi-surface cleaners/coatings that cleans, seals and protects a variety of hard surfaces across the household, commercial and professional cleaning sectors. The low-VOC, eco-friendly products minimized soiling, reduced cleaning time and improved the appearance of hard surfaces including windows & doors, showers, mirrors, sinks, tubs, tiles, counters, partitions, solar panels and windshields.

The products broaden the Unelko product line of glass and surface products under their Clean-X and Invisible Shield® trademarks, offering the first specialized “dual action” cleaners/coatings, and hard water, mineral and stain removers.  Unelko focused on raising awareness of their new and improved Invisible Shield Cleaners and Coatings across the B2B and B2C sectors.

Unelko began to position its Invisible Shield Glass Coatings as a leading glass coating and cleaning solution in the commercial glass industry. The company began supplying major glass and shower door manufacturers, producers and distributors such as Roman Shower Door, Coastal Shower, CR Laurence, Waxie, Brady, Ravak, Unger, along with numerous U.S. and international glass companies. Their distribution network extended across South America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions, providing distribution for their advanced glass coatings.

Unelko develops and patents two advanced, multifunctional surface care products, trademarked Sani-Shield® and Sani-Scrub® that contain a unique EPA registered antimicrobial agent and silane quaternary ammonium salt trademarked Interface 72 MUP.  The antimicrobial agent is designed to be incorporated into various materials, including cleaners/coatings for glass, porcelain, ceramic, plastic, fiberglass, metal, wood, and fabrics. The products containing the unique silane quat, effectively cleans surfaces and provide a barrier coating that is protected with the Interface antimicrobial agent to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew in between cleanings. Targeted for commercial cleaning applications, in janitorial, hotel/hospitality, healthcare, hotel, and related markets, they address major challenges within the commercial cleaning markets.  The Sani-Shield products keep surfaces cleaner, and the protected coating reduces the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew in between cleaning to keep surfaces preserved, odor free and sanitary.

Unelko acquires the “Eliminate” brand of bathroom, scale, mineral and grout cleaners from Herc Inc., a Phoenix manufacturer that supplies Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and other DIY retailers.

Responding to the expanding solar industry and demand for its protective coatings, Unelko introduces Solar Shield, a coating designed to safeguard and protect glass photovoltaic and solar modules on solar farms, homes, offices and buildings.  The solar coating prevents environmental soiling, stains & other degradation on photovoltaic glass panels that can negatively impact the energy efficiency and performance of the solar panels.

Unelko broadens the distribution of its Invisible Shield Glass Coatings and cleaners within the commercial glass and cleaning markets.  It introduces two automated glass coating machines called the Invisible Shield Microburst Glass Coating machine, which applies the glass coating automatically “in line” at high-volume glass producers.  Major glass producers and fabricators increasingly adopt the Invisible Shield “Easy Clean” coatings for enhanced preservation and protection. Unelko’ s Glass Scrub^® Water Spot & Stain Remover—a highly effective stain remover gains widespread popularity to deep clean surfaces before applying the coating, and is being used by leading glass restoration and window cleaning companies worldwide.

By 2017, Howard Ohlhausen and Unelko held more than 50 U.S. and International patents for various products including the unique “Organo silane Quaternary” ammonium salt cleaner/coating, a VOC-free silane quat, and various cream formulations of its water, soil, and stain repellent coatings.

Unelko develops and introduces, Repel^®, one of the first “Dual-Action” Ceramic Cleaners that simultaneously cleans glass and other hard surfaces and applies a protective “barrier coating” that repels water, soil, stains, helping surfaces stay cleaner longer.  Repel^® quickly gains national recognition and popularity among consumers, window and cleaning professionals, becoming a leading product for glass, shower doors, and other hard surfaces.

Unelko creates its Architectural Grade Coating, Invisible Shield PRO 15.  A durable coating for commercial and architectural glass on homes and buildings.  The advanced, complex coating is embraced by commercial glass producers and fabricators for its performance and 15-year limited warranty on shower glass, windows, facades, partitions, and other surfaces. It is trusted by industry professionals and is being used worldwide on many notable commercial & architectural buildings.

Amid the Covid pandemic, Unelko saw a rise in sales of its Sani-Shield^® and Sani-Scrub^® Cleaners driven by heightened demand for surface protection and improved hygiene. The products deliver a durable, water-, soil-, and stain and microbe resistant coating that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew stains.

Unelko continues to optimize its cleaners, coatings, stain removers and specialty glass care products by creating an Application and Referral program for Window Washers.  The company launches the Invisible Shield Glass Coating Application for window washers and glass restoration businesses across the U.S., enabling them to offer an advanced Invisible Shield Glass Coating service to residential and commercial building clients. This program allows window cleaning companies to provide enhanced glass protection that helps maintain glass cleanliness, clarity, prevent soiling and stains, and boosts their revenue through the premium coating service.

Unelko’s commercial and residential B2B and B2C operations will have expanded significantly, with major retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, TJX Stores, HD Supply, and other e-commerce platforms worldwide offering Invisible Shield, Repel, Sani-Shield, and Eliminate brands. Today, millions of users including shower door manufacturers, glass installers, distributors, cleaning and building contractors, as well as consumers, recognize Invisible Shield as a leading glass coating in the cleaning and coating industry.