Five Things You May Not Know About Tec Labs

The timing is perfect for this featured Cascade member, Tec Labs. With summer upon us, this over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturer has you covered in more ways than you may know.

1. Tec Labs’ flagship product, Tecnu Original Outdoor Skin Cleanser, was originally developed in 1960, during the cold war years, by Dr. Robert Smith as an effective, waterless cleanser capable of removing radioactive dust from skin and clothing. Then, his wife accidentally discovered that Tecnu would cleanse poison plant oils after exposure to poison oak in their backyard (to which she was highly allergic).
2. Dr. Smith’s son, Steven Smith, later researched and found out that poison oak was the number one workers’ comp claim for local utility workers in the summer. Thus, in 1977 the company began selling Tecnu as a solution to decrease workers’ comp claims.
3. Tecnu, manufactured in Albany, Oregon, is now standard issue in first aid kits of outdoor professionals, gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts across the country.
4. In addition to poison oak and ivy prevention and relief products, they continue to create and manufacture other products, including head lice treatment, insect repellant, and first aid gel for insect bites and minor cuts, scrapes and burns.
5. Tec Lab’s culture and hard work has paid off over the years, including recognition from the following: The Scientist magazine for Best Places to Work (first place); Oregon Business Magazine’s Hall of Fame Award for making the Top 100 Small Business list for 12 years; and Men’s Fitness magazine for one of the “15 Fittest Companies in America.”

Cascade is proud to showcase Tec Labs, a company that believes in their people and in giving them the tools and training to do their jobs right.