Rust-Oleum is a manufacturer of protective paints and coatings founded in 1921 and headquartered in the United States. A subsidiary of RPM International Inc., the company employs more than 1,500 people worldwide and generates annual revenue exceeding $1 billion. It operates manufacturing facilities and offices across multiple countries.
The company serves both consumer DIY and professional markets across a broad range of product categories, including spray paints, primers, floor coatings, wood stains, automotive finishes, and industrial coating solutions. Rust-Oleum claims the position of the world's largest producer of paint aerosols. Its technical work spans coatings formulation, aerosol manufacturing, surface protection technologies, and wood finishing chemistry.
Rust-Oleum manages a portfolio of eight distinct brands: Stops Rust (rust prevention), Painter's Touch (general consumer and professional painting), Universal, EpoxyShield (epoxy and garage floor coatings), Varathane (wood finishing and stains), Zinsser (primers and specialty products), Watco, and Krud Kutter (surface preparation and cleaning). Each brand addresses a specific segment or application within the broader paints and coatings market.
The company traces its origins to sea captain Robert Fergusson, whose observation that fish oil applied to metal ship decks prevented rust led to the founding of the business over a century ago. Today Rust-Oleum operates across consumer retail and industrial channels globally.
