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, we expanded into Paynesville, MN, marking a significant step in our journey to shape the Lawn & Garden industry. By 1984, we took our products national under the trusted Master Mark and Master Gardener brands, establishing a strong presence across the country. Our commitment to innovation led to a groundbreaking partnership with the State of Minnesota in 1985, launching North America’s first Post-Consumer HDPE Bottle recycling facility. This pioneering effort introduced a new process for sorting, grinding, washing, and drying recycled materials, laying the foundation for sustainable manufacturing that continues today.

We continued to push boundaries, introducing plastic lattice in 1990 and composite decking in 1995, reinforcing our reputation for quality and forward-thinking solutions. As our founders looked to the future, they passed leadership to Mark Reum and Nick Demuth, who carried forward the company’s values of hard work and integrity. Under their leadership, we remained dedicated to innovation and sustainability, ensuring our products evolved to meet the needs of customers and the environment.

Today, a new generation is stepping forward. Anne Haakenson (Mark’s daughter) and Nicholas Demuth (Nick’s son) have taken ownership and management, honoring our legacy while embracing the future. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and family, we are excited to continue growing, evolving, and shaping a brighter tomorrow.