Day-Glo Color Corp.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Paint and pigment manufacturing |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Joseph Switzer, Robert Switzer |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Sully Sullivan (President) |
| Products | Fluorescent paints and pigments |
| Parent | RPM International (since 1991) |
The Day-Glo Color Corp. (also known as DayGlo) is a privately owned American manufacturer specializing in paints and pigments, with its headquarters located in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1946 by siblings Joseph and Robert Switzer, the company focuses on producing fluorescent paints and pigments that serve applications in safety, artistic endeavors, and signage. It was a trailblazer in developing both black-light and daylight fluorescent paints, as well as innovative nondestructive testing techniques utilizing fluorescent dyes.
History
During the 1930s, brothers Robert and Joseph Switzer from Berkeley, California conducted research on fluorescence, leading to the creation of the first black light fluorescent paints by combining fluorescent substances with shellac. Their initial commercial efforts were through Fluor-S-Art Co., launched in 1934, primarily targeting advertising uses. Collaborating with Continental Lithograph based in Cleveland, they formulated fluorescent paints designed for movie posters and display purposes. By 1938, they had developed Zyglo and Magnaglo—inspection methods using fluorescent dyes to detect industrial flaws.
After encountering a legal dispute over rights with Continental Lithograph, the Switzer brothers founded Switzer Brothers, Inc. in 1946 to broaden the application of fluorescent materials; this entity was rebranded as Day-Glo Color Corp. in 1969. Throughout World War II, DayGlo's products were extensively employed by the U.S. military for high-visibility needs such as identification panels to avoid friendly fire incidents and aircraft markings aimed at minimizing collisions. Their fluorescent dye-based nondestructive testing techniques found adoption among military equipment manufacturers.
Following the war, DayGlo’s daylight fluorescent pigments became increasingly popular within advertising and safety sectors—Tide detergent packaging notably incorporated these pigments starting in 1959. These pigments also became widely used in safety-related items including traffic cones, street signage, and high-visibility apparel. The 1960s saw DayGlo colors playing a significant role in psychedelic art movements and album cover designs like Cream’s Disraeli Gears.
In September 1985, Nalco Chemical Company acquired Day-Glo for an estimated $40 million before divesting it to RPM International in 1991 for an undisclosed amount. In recognition of its pioneering work with daylight fluorescent pigments, the company was honored as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2012.
Day-Glo maintains manufacturing plants in Twinsburg, Ohio; Cudahy, California; and Houthalen, Belgium, supporting its worldwide presence within the paint and pigment industry. The current President is Sully Sullivan.
Community involvement
Day-Glo contributes to its local community in Northeast Ohio by annually donating paint for the DayGlo Show, an event where artists produce distinctive two- and three-dimensional artworks illuminated under UV light and exhibited within a gallery environment.