History

Avon Plastics had its start in 1966, on the shore of Middle Spunk Lake in Avon, Minnesota. Middle Spunk Lake was chosen because the founders Don and Eva Reum had a passion for fishing and plastics. Don could often be seen at lunch time “wetting a line” as he called. Don was the son of a Chicago postal worker and Eva the daughter of Numa, an Iowa coal miner. A mobile home alongside the factory was home for the family of seven.

The first products produced were custom extrusion that included flexible and ridged PVC profiles. The PVC profiles included rub rail, trim and tubing for sport industry manufacturers such as Lund, Larson, Silver Line and Arctic Cat. Also, Vinyl film for Ohio Medical’s disposable anesthesia bags and veterinarian products for Havor-Lock Hart, including, culture, infusion, insemination, swabs and speculum tubes.

Eventually a larger factory foot print was needed and with the help of Albany Industries and the City of Albany, MN a new building was constructed, in 1973. With the expansion to Albany, Lawn and Garden items were added including, tree protection, tree ties, lawn edging and trellis.

In 1982 the company expand to Paynesville, MN. In 1984 a decision was made to expand the Lawn and Garden family of products to a national audience under the brands, Master Mark and Master Gardener. In 1985 we saw development with the State of Minnesota the first Post Consumer HDPE Bottle recycling facility.

This North American first included sort, grind, wash and dry. This sustainable division provides material for many of our products today. Additional product lines added were plastic lattice in 1990 and composite decking in 1995. In 1990 the founders were ready to retire and passed the business on to oldest son Mark Reum and employee Nick Demuth who joined the company in 1978. The company is pleased to announce the next generation of ownership and management with Anne Haakenson (Mark Reum’s daughter) and Nicholas Demuth (Nick Demuth’s son) acquiring the business.