The company was founded in 1899 by former banker Marten Talens, as Talens & Co., a Dutch factory that produced paint, varnish and ink. Whilst this initially involved only office supplies, in 1899 it started to produce Rembrandt oil colours as well. In 1904 the company name was changed to Talens & Zoon, when son Hildebrand Talens became a partner in the business. Exports to the United States and Russia commenced in 1905. In 1912 a sales office opened up in the United States. The factory, too, expanded, and in 1920 it switched to steam power. A local ink factory was also taken over and the company put into operation its own tin factory. In 1927 a new head office was built. The building’s architect was P.W. van den Belt, and it now enjoys the status of an industrial monument. As of 1932 the typewriter became increasingly popular in offices, and the mimeograph became all the rage. Talens started to supply carbon paper, typewriter ribbon, stencils and stencil ink. The brand Gluton, the glue in the famous pot-and-brush, became a household name. During World War II there was a shortage of raw materials, and the factory sustained a great deal of damage by a stray bomb. After the country’s liberation the factory started operations once more. In 1949 Talens received the designation 'Koninklijke' and changed its name to Koninklijke Fabrieken Talens & Zoon. The subsequent years were characterized by enormous growth for the company, and branches were set up in more than 50 countries. In 1963 Talens joined the Sikkens group, which was eventually taken over by AKZO. Royal Talens continued as a subsidiary within this group. In 1970 acrylic colours were launched, and since 1974 Royal Talens has been putting together an art collection. In the years that followed new brands were introduced, and in 1989 a modern new plant was opened. In 1991 Royal Talens became part of the Sakura Color Products Corporation, a privately owned firm based in Osaka. In 1996 a factory for easels and stretched canvases was set up in the Polish city of Lesko. In 1999 a new distribution hall was built in Apeldoorn. Several new brands and products have since been added to the range.
Brands
Royal Talens is as manufacturer active in the fine art segment with the following brands:
