Kaz, Inc. is a Marlborough, Massachusetts-based manufacturer and distributor of health care products.

Kaz, Incorporated
IndustryHealthcare and Home Environment Products
Founded1926
FounderMax Katzman
HeadquartersMarlborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
Area served
65 countries
Key people
Jon Kosheff, President of Helen of Troy Health & Home (Kaz USA, Inc.)
Julien Mininberg, CEO of Helen of Troy
ProductsAir Purifiers
Blood Pressure Monitors
Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers
Fans
Heat/Cold Therapy
Heaters
Insect Control
Thermometers
Water Filtration
BrandsBraun, licensed
Chillout
Duracraft
Enviracaire
Febreze, licensed
Honeywell
Kaz
NOsquito
Protec
PUR
SmartTemp
SoftHeat
Stinger
Vicks (Vick, Wick),licensed
ParentHelen of Troy
Websitewww.kaz.com

History

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Max Katzman[1] invented the first electric vaporizer (original U.S. patent no. 1,628,784, issued May 17, 1927) and, in 1926, he founded Kaz, Incorporated to manufacture and market it.[2][3]

The expansion of the company – from a family business to a company designing, developing and marketing hundreds of healthcare and home environment products worldwide – came through research and development, acquisitions and licensing agreements.[4]

For more than 80 years, members of the Katzman family owned and managed Kaz. In 1956, founder Lawrence (Larry) Katzman succeeded his father, founder Max Katzman.[5] In addition to serving as Kaz’ second CEO, Larry was also a Palma d’Oro winning cartoonist best known for drawing Nellie Nifty, RN for a series of books and greeting cards.[6][7] Richard Katzman succeeded his father, Larry, as CEO in 1997.[5][8]

In 2006, Julien Mininberg became Kaz, Inc.’s first President outside the Katzman family. He became CEO in 2010.[5][8] Helen of Troy acquired Kaz, Inc. in 2010, and it continues to operate as a subsidiary.[4] Julien Mininberg remained the company's CEO until 2014, when he was appointed CEO of Helen of Troy.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "About Helen of Troy - Helen of Troy". Helen of Troy. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  2. ^ "New York Times obituary of Max Katzman". New York Times. August 9, 1974. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Patent Images". pdfpiw.uspto.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  4. ^ a b Kingsbury, Kevin; Stynes, Tess (2010-12-09). "Helen of Troy to Buy Health-Care Products Maker Kaz". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  5. ^ a b c "Company Information - Kaz". www.kaz.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  6. ^ "Sunday Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  7. ^ "Longtime NCS stalwart Larry Katzman: 1922-2016". Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  8. ^ a b "LinkedIn Profile of Richard Katzman". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "LinkedIn Profile of Julien Mininberg". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
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