Kaz, Inc. is a
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 41,793 at the 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the ...
-based manufacturer and distributor of health care products.
History
Max Katzman
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.
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
Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in Europe as research and technological development (RTD), is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products, and improving existi ...
, acquisitions and
licensing agreements.
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.
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. Richard Katzman succeeded his father, Larry, as CEO in 1997.
In 2006, Julien Mininberg became Kaz, Inc.’s first President outside the Katzman family. He became CEO in 2010.
Helen of Troy
Helen of Troy, Helen, Helena, (Ancient Greek: Ἑλένη ''Helénē'', ) also known as beautiful Helen, Helen of Argos, or Helen of Sparta, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believe ...
acquired Kaz, Inc. in 2010, and it continues to operate as a subsidiary.
Julien Mininberg remained the company's CEO until 2014, when he was appointed CEO of Helen of Troy.
[{{Cite web, url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/julien-mininberg-4677a35, title=LinkedIn Profile of Julien Mininberg, website=LinkedIn, access-date=April 10, 2017]
References
External links
Kaz.comHOTUS.com
Privately held companies based in Massachusetts
Home appliance manufacturers of the United States
Companies based in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Manufacturing companies established in 1926
Health care companies established in 1926
American companies established in 1926
1926 establishments in Massachusetts
Helen of Troy Limited
2011 mergers and acquisitions