UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                      FORM 10-Q


[X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES 
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1996

[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES 
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number: Q-4823


                               ACME UNITED CORPORATION
______________________________________________________________________________
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter.)


CONNECTICUT                                                         06-0236700
_______________________________                            ___________________
(State of other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)


75 KINGS HIGHWAY CUTOFF, FAIRFIELD, CT                                   06430
________________________________________                            __________
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip Code)


                                (203) 332-7330
             ___________________________________________________
             Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  



______________________________________________________________________________
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last 
report

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant(1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                YES [X]        NO [ ]


Registrant had 3,337,620 shares outstanding as of May 15, 1996 of its $2.50 
par value Common Stock.

 2
PART 1  - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1  - CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


ACME UNITED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(ALL AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

MARCH 31 DECEMBER 31 1996 1995 (UNAUDITED) ____________ ____________ ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 352 $ 532 Accounts receivable 7,914 8,108 Inventories: Finished goods 9,844 9,942 Work in process 3,707 3,963 Raw materials & supplies 4,038 4,108 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 875 606 ____________ ____________ Total current assets 26,730 27,259 Plant, property and equipment Land 484 491 Buildings 4,195 4,237 Machinery and equipment 15,634 15,736 ____________ ____________ Total plant, property and equipment 20,313 20,464 Less, accumulated depreciation 13,281 13,142 ____________ ____________ Net plant, property and equipment 7,032 7,322 Licensing agreements 1,074 1,170 Other assets 437 452 Goodwill 807 818 ____________ ____________ Total assets $ 36,080 $ 37,021 ============ ============ See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
3 ACME UNITED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (ALL AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
MARCH 31 DECEMBER 31 1996 1995 (UNAUDITED) ____________ ____________ LIABILITIES Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,529 $ 3,193 Notes payable due within one year 3,750 3,650 Accrued liabilities: Restructuring reserve 1,198 1,198 Other accrued liabilities 3,191 3,243 ____________ ____________ Total current liabilities 10,668 11,284 Long term debt 15,402 14,880 Restructuring reserve 1,352 1,352 ____________ ____________ Total liabilities 27,422 27,516 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, par value $2.50: authorized 4,000,000 shares; issued 3,384,620, outstanding 3,337,620 8,461 8,461 Additional paid-in capital 2,145 2,145 Retained earnings (558) 258 Translation adjustment (1,033) (1,002) Treasury stock, 47,000 shares (357) (357) ____________ ____________ Total stockholders' equity 8,658 9,505 ____________ ____________ Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 36,080 $ 37,021 ============ ============ See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
4 ACME UNITED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (ALL AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 1996 1995 ____________ ____________ Net sales $ 12,040 $ 12,897 Other income 126 23 ____________ ____________ 12,166 12,920 Costs and Expenses: Cost of goods sold 9,122 9,276 Selling, general and administrative expense 3,322 3,344 Interest expense 428 457 ____________ ____________ 12,872 13,077 ____________ ____________ Loss before income taxes (706) (157) Provision (benefit) for income taxes 110 (89) ____________ ____________ Net loss $ (816) $ (68) ============ ============ Weighted average common and dilutive common equivalent shares 3,338 3,354 ============ ============ Loss per common share $ (.24) $ (.02) ============ ============ See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
5 ACME UNITED CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (ALL AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 1996 1995 ____________ ____________ Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (816) $ (68) Adjustments for non-cash transactions: Depreciation 308 350 Amortization 119 140 Deferred tax (credits) - (176) Change in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (43) 189 Inventory 310 (1,589) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (68) (47) Other assets 1 (22) Accounts payable (641) 841 Income taxes payable (18) (35) Other liabilities (3) (122) ____________ ____________ Total adjustments (35) (471) ____________ ____________ Net cash used by operations (851) (539) ____________ ____________ Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (107) (246) ____________ ____________ Net cash used by investing activities (107) (246) ____________ ____________ Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings 777 994 ____________ ____________ Net cash provided by financing activities 777 994 ____________ ____________ Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 1 1 ____________ ____________ Net change in cash and cash equivalents (180) 210 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 532 451 ____________ ____________ Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 352 $ 661 ============ ============ See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
6 ACME UNITED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. In the opinion of Management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 and the results of its operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 1996 and March 31, 1995 and changes in the cash flows for the three months then ended. The financial statements reflect all recurring adjustments but do not include all of the disclosures normally required by generally accepted accounting principles or those normally made in the annual Form 10-K filing. Please refer to the Company's annual report for year ended December 31, 1995 for such disclosures. 2. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. 3. Net loss per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. 4. On May 1, 1996 the Company's Peter Altenbach and Son GmbH subsidiary received 1,475,000 German marks, or $960,000, and release from all lease obligations in exchange for its fixed assets, inventory and intangible assets, including company name. The buyer has employed substantially all Altenbach employees and has assumed responsibility for their employee benefits, including pensions. The loss is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's earnings as the exit costs related to the restructuring of German operations was accrued for in 1995. 7 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Sales for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 were $12,040,000 compared with $12,897,000 for the same quarter last year, a 7% decrease. The Company reported a net loss of $816,000 compared with a $68,000 loss in 1995. On a per share basis the Company lost $ .24 compared with a $ .02 loss in 1995. The gross margin for the quarter was $2,937,000 or 24.4% of sales compared to $3,621,000 or 28.1% of sales in 1995. The Company's German subsidiaries and the U.S. Medical Division were the major contributors to the decline in sales. Germany reported a $597,000 or 21% decline, of which the Altenbach subsidiary, which was sold on May 1, accounted for approximately 40% of the decrease. Our other German subsidiary, Emil Schlemper, also reported a decline in sales as a result of several of its large customers deferring placing orders until late in the second quarter. The U.S. Medical Division continues to report declining sales. For the quarter ended March 31, 1996 sales decreased 14% or $626,000. The Division continues to feel the effects of consolidations among hospital buying groups, Medicare reimbursement policy changes and increased competition in the wound care market. Management hopes to reverse this trend by performing market research studies, adopting aggressive pricing structures and the use of consultants who have experience in the group buying area. The Company's U.S. Consumer Division reported a 5% or $210,000 increase in sales, principally due to the sale of excess inventory. The sales of the English and Canadian subsidiaries were flat. For the quarter the Company also reported reduced profit margins of 24.4% in 1996 compared to 28.1% in 1995. With the exception of our Canadian subsidiary, all locations showed a decrease in profit margins. This loss of margin is due to the effect of excess manufacturing capacity. The Company is in the process of consolidating the Bridgeport, Connecticut and Fremont, North Carolina facilities. The consolidation should be completed by the end of the second quarter. Selling, advertising and administrative costs, excluding severance and other termination costs incurred in 1996, decreased 6% compared to the same period in 1995. These costs were incurred by the Company as it continues to reshape itself for the future. The Company is continuing to strive for cost reductions in this area. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company has placed major emphasis on the reduction of inventory, debt and interest expense. During the first quarter, the outstanding debt in the U.S. increased approximately $600,000. This increase is the result of the seasonality impact of the school products market. However, this increase in the U.S. is approximately $1,000,000 less than the increase in the first quarter of 1995. All future debt reduction, along with normal payments for taxes and capital expenditures are expected to be funded by inventory reduction and cash generated from operations. 8 In the U.S. the Company has a $13,000,000 revolving line of credit which expires in May 1998. The revolving line is an asset-based agreement with various percentages applied to inventory, receivables and fixed assets. Currently the Company has an available line of $10,868,000 with $510,000 unused. As we convert inventory to receivables our available line will increase, as receivables allow for a higher borrowing base. Our foreign subsidiaries have overdraft arrangements which expire at various times during 1996. On May 1, 1996, the Company sold all the assets of its Altenbach subsidiary, excluding accounts receivable, to a German based group. The buyer purchased all fixed assets, inventory and intangible assets, including the Altenbach name. In exchange the buyer paid $960,000, assumed all lease obligations, employed substantially all Altenbach employees and assumed responsibility for their employee related social costs, including pensions. The loss on the sale is estimated to be between $1,600,000 and $1,900,000. This loss is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's earnings as the exit costs related to the restructuring of German operations was accrued for in 1995. The Company's working capital, current ratio and long term debt to an equity ratio are as follows:
March 1996 December 1995 _____________ _____________ Working Capital $16,062,000 $15,976,000 Current Ratio 2.51 to 1 2.42 to 1 Long Term Debt to Equity Ratio 1.78 1.57
9 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. A. The Annual Meeting was held on April 22, 1996. B. The following individuals were elected Directors at the Meeting and comprise the entire board.
Votes For Votes Withheld ______________ ______________ David W. Clark, Jr. 2,901,693 261,864 George R. Dunbar 2,901,493 262,064 Walter C. Johnsen 2,905,447 258,110 Newman M. Marsilius 2,905,447 258,110 Wayne R. Moore 2,901,270 262,287 Gary D. Penisten 2,901,693 261,864 James L. L. Tullis 2,905,447 258,110 Dwight C. Wheeler 2,861,089 302,468 Henry C. Wheeler 2,862,756 300,801
C. The Amendment to the 1992 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan was approved with 2,076,565 shares voting for the Plan, 910,277 shares voting against the Plan, 97,696 votes withheld and 79,019 shares not voted. D. The 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan was approved with 2,275,403 shares voting for the Plan, 710,896 shares voting against the Plan, 98,239 votes withheld and 79,019 not voted. E. The Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 was approved with 2,378,804 shares voting for, 670,424 shares voting against and 114,329 votes withheld. F. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. was appointed as Auditors for the Company for the year 1996 with 3,025,006 shares voting for the appointment, 44,109 shares voting against the appointment and 94,442 votes withheld. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K. A. No Form 8-K was filed by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 1996. 10 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ACME UNITED CORPORATION ____________________________ (Registrant) Date: May 15, 1996 /s/ Walter C. Johnsen ____________________________ Walter C. Johnsen President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Date: May 15, 1996 /s/ Richard L. Windt ____________________________ Richard L. Windt Controller
 

5 3-MOS DEC-31-1996 MAR-31-1996 351865 0 7950671 161053 17588828 26730156 20313146 13280914 36079793 10668177 15401990 0 0 8461550 196076 36079793 12039608 12166121 9102778 9102778 0 31245 428154 (705883) 110196 (816079) 0 0 0 (816079) (.24) (.24)