It is a division of Newell Brands, producing writing implements, in its plant of Atlanta, Georgia.

Brands currently commercialized by the company are Sharpie, Paper Mate, Expo, Parker, and Waterman.

In 1947, following World War II, the Sanford Ink Company was forced to move locations to make room for a new expressway.

In 1994 they acquired Eberhard Faber, in 1995 Berol and Phillips, and in 1998 Rotring, a German technical drawing instruments company.

In 2000, Gillette (now part of Procter & Gamble) sold its writing instruments division to Newell Rubbermaid, whose own stationery division, Sanford, became Sanford, L.P. (later renamed "Newell Rubbermaid Office Products").