Rust-Oleum

{{Short description|American paint manufacturer}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Rust-Oleum

| logo = File:Rust-Oleum logo.png

| logo_size = 250px

| logo_caption = Rust-Oleum logo

| image = File:Rustoleum 1.jpg

| image_caption = Corporate Headquarters in Vernon Hills, IL

| type = Subsidiary of RPM International

| traded_as =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1921}}
Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

| founder = {{unbulleted list|Robert Fergusson}}

| location_city = Vernon Hills, Illinois

| location_country = U.S.

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Jeff Ackerberg (CEO)|Bill Spaulding (President)}}

| industry = Coatings

| products = {{unbulleted list|Paint|Floor Coatings}}

| revenue = {{increase}} US$ 1 Billion{{cite web| title=About us| url=https://www.rust-oleum.eu/about-us/| website=Rust-Oleum| access-date=December 31, 2020}}

| revenue_year = FY 2014

| num_employees = 1,000

| num_employees_year = December 2016

| homepage = {{URL|rustoleum.com}}

}}

Rust-Oleum is a manufacturer of protective paints and coatings for home and industrial use. It was founded in 1921 by Robert Fergusson, a sea captain, after he noticed that fish oil spilled on rusty metal decks stopped corrosion from spreading. He soon incorporated whale oil into the formula, although many changes have been made over the years. Rust-Oleum products no longer contain whale oil, instead using resins derived from alkyds, polyurethanes, epoxies, latex, etc.

Rust-Oleum remained a family-owned company until 1994, when it was acquired by current owner RPM International Inc.{{cite news| page=8| last=Drown| first=Stuart| title=RPM Inc. Will Buy Rust-Oleum's U.S. Holdings| newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal| date=May 4, 1994| url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0EB63060B359A67E| url-access=subscription}} In 2015, the company reached one billion dollars in revenue.{{cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Janet H. |title=How Rust-Oleum became a $1 billion consumer brand |url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/09/how_rust-oleum_used_content_marketing_to_become_a_1_billion_consumer_brand.html |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland |access-date=June 24, 2020 |date=September 16, 2015}} Key brands include Stops Rust, High Performance, NeverWet, Painter's Touch, Universal, Varathane, Zinsser, and Watco. The company acquired Synta Inc., in 2012,{{cite press release| title=RPM Acquires Synta Wood Deck And Concrete Restoration Business | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rpm-acquires-synta-wood-deck-and-concrete-restoration-business-171032791.html| publisher=RPM International| date=September 24, 2012| access-date=December 31, 2020}} Krud Kutter, Inc. and Citadel Restoration and Repair, Inc. in 2014,{{cite news| title=RPM buys Krud Kutter, a Georgia maker of non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners and removers| url=https://www.cleveland.com/business/2014/07/rpm_buys_krud_kutter_a_georgia_maker_of_non-toxic_biodegradable_cleaners_and_removers.html| date=January 19, 2019| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| last=Cho| first=Janet| access-date=December 29, 2020}}{{cite press release |title=RPM Acquires Citadel Floor Coatings Business |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rpm-acquires-citadel-floor-coatings-business-241509591.html |via=PR Newswire |publisher=RPM International |access-date=June 24, 2020 |date=January 22, 2014}} and Seal Krete in 2016.{{cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Janet H. |title=RPM acquires Seal-Krete, maker of concrete sealants |url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/03/rpm_acquires_seal-krete_a_weatherproofing_coatings_maker_for_concrete_and_masonry.html |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |access-date=June 24, 2020 |date=March 7, 2016}} On the basis of market share, Rust-Oleum holds the top position in the U.S. and Canada in the rust-preventative, decorative, specialty and professional segments of the small-project paint category.{{cite web |title=Financial Reports |url=http://www.rpminc.com/reports-and-filings/financial-reports/ |website=RPM International |access-date=June 24, 2020}}

In 1979 the company's slogan, "Rust Never Sleeps", was adopted by Neil Young (upon a suggestion by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo) as a name for an album.{{cite book| title=Shakey: Neil Young's Biography| first=Jimmy| last=McDonough| pages=534–535| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsiBNqqwq_kC&q=rust| date=July 1, 2010| publisher=Random House| isbn=978-0307373809| access-date=December 31, 2020}}