Rust-Oleum plant provides paint products around nation

LESAGE -- Paint cans for preparation and removal are often purchased and used around the nation in places like Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace and Sears, but little thought is given to their source.

Some of that paint is canned in Lesage at the newly purchased Rust- Oleum factory. The shop was previously owned by the Parks Corporation and then Zinsser, but it now operates under new management.

"We have a lot of local workers, some have been working at this location for over 10 years," said plant manager James Farrand.

The business mostly deals with the production of paint preparation and removal products under such brand names as Pro-Finisher, Bull's Eye, Parks Brand and Rust-Oleum. The finished product is then sent to a distribution center, though the site does offer some retail capabilities.

The site employs about 30 local workers, mostly from the Lesage area. According to Farrand, a lot of the current work being done is transitioning the plant from the Zinsser plant to a Rust-Oleum plant. Rust-Oleum also is currently looking at expanding the plants operation, and expanding the work force along with it.

"We just hired a new chemical engineer, but we have jobs including general factory and production work, blenders who make the formulas, shipping workers and filler operators," Farrand said.

The plant currently produces more than 2 million gallons of product each year in sizes ranging from a quart to 55 gallon drums.

The Rust-Oleum company came into existence by an accident. Captain Robert Fergusson, a sea captain, accidentally spilled fish oil on the deck of his boat. When he noticed that it prevented corrosion he went to work developing a fish oil based paint that would stop corrosion.

Rust-Oleum currently has four factories including the one in Lesage, and generates approximately $700 million dollars in revenue per year.