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"I was about to burst with pride to see what had been accomplished (at Manco). I am humbled by the opportunity to have been part of our fine relationship for many years."
- Sam Walton, Founder, Wal-Mart

About Jack

About Manco


The Manco Story

Jack Kahl is the visionary founder of Manco, Inc., a global consumer products company that now operates under the name, Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc. Henkel Consumer Adhesives develops and markets a broad array of imaginative products for the home, school and office under the Duck® and Loctite® brands.

Manco's history is a story rich in culture and a passion for servant leadership. Manco was founded in 1971, when Jack Kahl bought the Melvin A. Anderson Company with revenues of just $800,000, renamed the company Manco, Inc., and began selling products to the retail market. Today, the company's revenues are over $300 million.

In the mid-1970's, Manco became the first company to organize pressure-sensitive tape products into a single area of a store: the paint/hardware department. By the 1980's, Manco's "sea of green"-so called because of its eye-catching, green packaging-set the tone for innovative category management in retail.

In 1985, Manco introduced Manco Duck® as the patron of its products. Against the advice of market researchers, Jack Kahl decided to label America's favorite toolbox item with a fuzzy little duck. Manco Duck® became an enduring symbol of quality, but perhaps more importantly, the Duck® came to represent servant leadership at its finest: helping people get more from their lives.

Through the 1980's and 1990's, Manco expanded into many new categories of consumer products, including:

  • Draftbusters® home winterization
  • CareMail® mailing and shipping supplies
  • Duck® brand OneTouchT invisible tape
  • Correct ItT correction tape
  • Dry-LighterT highlighter
  • Easy-StickT instant adhesive
  • Easy Liner® multi-purpose shelf-liner
  • SoftexT bathmats

In January 1998, the Henkel Group acquired a majority interest in Manco, establishing it as Henkel's consumer products headquarters in North America. By the time Jack Kahl retired in 2000, Manco was selling consumer products to the best retailers around the globe and had achieved revenues of more than $300 million.

Timeline of Manco's History:

1966: Jack Kahl joins the Melvin A. Anderson Company, an industrial tape company. Over the next several years, he increases sales from $80,000 to $800,000.

1971: Jack Kahl buys the Melvin A. Anderson Company, renames it Manco, and begins selling tape products into the retail market.

1975: Manco organizes their tape products into one aisle in the hardware department, making it easy for customers to find what they need.

1976: The energy crisis inspires the introduction of Manco's home weatherization product line. Wal-Mart places its first retail order with Manco.

1985: Jack Kahl officially re-names duct tape, "Duck® Tape," and creates Manco T. Duck, Manco's mascot and ambassador of goodwill.

1986: Manco introduces a mailing and shipping product line.

1990: Jack Kahl initiates Manco's first Duck Challenge Day with a swim in the company pond.

1994: Manco introduces a housewares product line.

1996: Manco's corporate headquarters moves to Avon, Ohio.

1997: Jack Kahl shaves his head at Duck Challenge Day to celebrate $175 million in sales.

1998: Manco becomes part of The Henkel Group, the world's #1 consumer adhesives company.

1999: Loctite's consumer products and LePage of Canada are fully integrated into Manco. Manco enters the invisible tape market with the launch of One Touch Tape.

2000: Jack Kahl retires as CEO of Manco with sales of $300 million.

2002: Manco celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Duck® Tape and changes its name to Henkel Consumer Adhesives.