Robert Simmons, Inc.

Robert Simmons, Inc. ("Simmons") was acquired by Daler-Rowney, Ltd., the UK's leading manufacturer of fine art and graphics materials (private). New York City-based Simmons, was one of the country's leading manufacturers of high quality and innovative artist and craft brushes.

Robert Simmons, Inc. was founded in New York City in 1951 by Robert Simmons and grew to become one of the country's leading manufacturers of quality brushes, supplying the art, craft, hobby, ceramic, and cosmetic markets. It has a reputation for producing high quality and innovative brushes and was the first to successfully introduce the synthetic brush to the art market in the 1970's. After the transaction, the Robert Simmons New York facility was relocated to the Daler-Rowney U.S.A.'s distribution center in Cranbury, New Jersey.

Daler-Rowney is the UK's leading manufacturer of fine art and graphics materials. It has three manufacturing sites in the UK and subsidiaries in Belgium, Germany, and the US. Upon completing the transaction, Daler-Rowney's Managing Director, Jim Daler, said, "We are delighted with this acquisition. As with our purchase of Steig Products in 1990, which brought excellent new ink brands to the company, it is consistent with our strategy of acquiring manufacturers of high quality products. This both consolidates our rapid growth in the US and enables us to sell the same ranges of product through our distribution channels in Europe and in our export markets. Brushes are a significant and very competitive part of the fine art market. Together with our existing manufacturing in Dartmouth, England, this purchase means we will now offer the biggest and best range of artists' brushes from our own manufacturing facilities."