It was founded by Otto Bernz (May 21, 1856 – February 17, 1932) in 1876[1][2] in Newark, New Jersey as Otto Bernz Co..[2] The company manufactures handheld torches and accessories, especially gas burner torches using fuel cylinders containing butane, propane, MAPP gas, and oxygen for soldering, brazing, and welding.
[5] Bernzomatic, now a Worthington entity, continues to manufacture handheld propane and propylene ("Map-pro") cylinders found at big-box and hardware stores.
Cylinders containing propane fuel were omitted from the recall but under review due to several injuries, including a fatality.
On February 14, 2019, a study was released identifying several alleged defects with all of the cylinders, regardless of fuel content.
In some instances severe injuries, including a fatality, were noted due to explosions attributed to failure of a pressure relief valve.