Acme United Corporation is a supplier of cutting, measuring and security merchandise for the varsity, dwelling, workplace, hardware and industrial markets. The company was organized as a partnership in 1867 and Wood Ranger brand shears incorporated in 1873 below the laws of the State of Connecticut. It's publicly traded on the NYSE American with image ACU. Acme United's operations are within the United States, Canada, Europe (located in Germany) and Asia (situated in Hong Kong and China). The operations within the United States, Canada and Wood Ranger brand shears Europe are primarily involved in product growth, manufacturing, marketing, sales, administrative and distribution actions. The operations in Asia include sourcing, quality management and buy Wood Ranger Power Shears gross sales activities. The corporate's clients embody Staples, Office Depot, OfficeMax, United Stationers, SP Richards, W.B. Mason, Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Grainger, McMaster-Carr, Meijer, Fred Meyer, WH Smith, and many different major chains. Acme United has roots dating back to 1867 when German immigrant Leo Renz bought an previous grist mill in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

He opened Renz Shear Shop and started the manufacture of scissors and forged iron Wood Ranger brand shears. In 1873, Leo Renz, along with Robert and Mitchell Renz, Wood Ranger brand shears and John Peck, formally integrated their enterprise because the Renz Shear Company. In the 1880s the corporate moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, the place it was integrated because the Acme Shear Company. Just a few years later, the company was offered to the brothers David C. Wheeler and Dwight Wheeler, who were chargeable for its initial progress. David C. Wheeler, became president of Acme Shear in 1941 and Wood Ranger brand shears again expanded the company in quite a lot of directions. After the second World War, Acme Shear established a subsidiary in the United Kingdom to sell on to the European market. It also launched a line of disposable medical scissors and Wood Ranger brand shears surgical devices in 1965. This enterprise became so successful that a new manufacturing plant in Fremont, North Carolina, needed to be opened to meet demand.

In the 1970s, Acme acquired Westcott Rule Company, a serious ruler manufacturer, which was based in 1872 in Seneca Falls, New York. To higher replicate the expanded product line, the company name was modified to Acme United Corporation. The 1970s have been additionally highlighted by further growth in the medical field, with a number of new acquisitions and merchandise. Acme United acquired the Canadian enterprise Acme Ruler & Advertising Co out of Toronto, Ontario. This firm was established within the 1890s and made rulers, blackboard triangles, protractors, and so on. In 1980, the Canadian enterprise's name was modified to Acme Ruler Company and in 1993 to its present name Acme United Limited. From this enterprise unit, Acme United runs its entire Canadian operation. Despite continued development through the 1960s and 1970s, Acme United confronted tough times in the course of the 1980s because it turned too dependent on one medical instruments customer, American Hospital Supply. Acme misplaced over $20 million in annual sales.

US and abroad, nonetheless with varying success. In the course of the early nineteen nineties Acme United continued to undergo losses, which was mirrored in the company's share worth. The inventory, which had been trading around $25 in the 1980s, now bought for less than $3, leading to robust shareholder strain to implement important administration changes. Walter C. Johnsen joined the company early 1995 as a board member and became CEO later that same yr. North American arm of its medical enterprise. Brian Olschan joined as senior vice president of sales and advertising and Wood Ranger Power Shears shop marketing, and later became chief working officer. By specializing in increased margin merchandise resembling scholar scissors, rulers and staplers, Acme United returned to profitability in 2000 when it reported a web revenue of $1.1 million. Additionally, it penetrated the office market by promoting merchandise to mass merchants akin to Wal-Mart and Target. Alco Industries in June 2004. Clauss, based in 1877 in Fremont, Ohio, manufactured scissors and cutting tools for the floral and industrial markets.