A history of innovation

Long before Tangent opened its doors in 2003, our founders were leading the way in the plastic lumber business.

Tangent corporate manufacturing plant

A Tradition of Being Untraditional

When we first opened our doors in 2003, the majority of the industry was manufacturing products for decking. Our founders, Guy DeFeo (CEO), Francisco Morales (Chief Innovation Officer), and Andy Stephens (Board of Directors), saw an underserviced segment in the marketplace. With focus and innovation on plastic lumber for outdoor furniture and other applications, Tangent quickly grew from a 20,000 square-foot facility with four production lines to a 600,000 square-foot facility with 40 production lines and over 500 employees.

True to form, innovation never slowed. In 2016, we developed our patented woodgrain dimensional lumber, plastic lumber with an internal grain that looks like real hardwood. The product was revolutionary, opening new doors for the plastic furniture industry.

Today, Tangent manufactures hundreds of sizes of extrusions, many created around specific applications for customers. And by recycling 15,000 tons of plastic waste annually, including the equivalent of 210 million milk jugs, we strive to make products that are as environmentally friendly as they are durable. With continuous innovation and guaranteed performance, Tangent remains the category leader to this day.

Read more below:

Cool Timeline

2021
2021
The Start of Something New
The Start of Something New

In 1983, Andy Stephens (Tangent Board of Directors) was a pioneer in the industry with the founding of Eaglebrook Plastics which was the first company in the United States to successfully recycle post-consumer recycled HDPE bottles back into recycled resin for reuse. Five years later in 1988, Eaglebrook Products was started with the mission to make recycled HDPE plastic lumber products from post-consumer recycled plastics. In the early 1990’s, Guy DeFeo (Tangent CEO) joined Andy Stephens at Eaglebrook Products along with Francisco Morales (Tangent Chief Innovation Officer) and the three of them hit it off, working hard and imagining how to turn recycled plastics into a multitude of possibilities for plastic lumber. In 1999, both Eaglebrook companies were sold to a public company. Eventually, four years later in 2003 the three of them decided to take their invaluable experience and start again by forming Tangent Technologies with the mission to be the most innovative plastic lumber company on the planet.

2020
2020
Filling the Void
Andrew stephens

While the majority of the industry was manufacturing products for decking, our founders saw an unmet need in the market. With an early focus on plastic furniture, Tangent’s modest 20,000 square-foot facility with four production lines quickly began to grow.

2019
2019
A Product Revolution
woograin polymer dimensional lumber

True to form, innovation never slowed. In 2016, we developed our patented PolyTuf Premium, a plastic lumber with an internal grain that looks like real hardwood. The product was revolutionary, opening new doors for the plastic furniture industry.

2018
2018
Competition Breeds Innovation

Meanwhile, another plastic lumber company was starting in Minnesota. In 1998, Bedford Technology was founded by Brian Larson in Worthington, MN. An engineer by trade and innovator by passion, Brian found Bedford Technology to find a use for plastic waste from Bedford Industries, which produces twist ties for the coffee, bakery and produce industries. The engineers at Bedford Technology found a useful and environmentally-friendly solution and started manufacturing plastic lumber. SelectForce® was the first recycled plastic lumber product line offered by Bedford Technology, with beloved brands of FiberForce, BarForce, SeaPile and SeaTimber to follow.

 

2017
2017
Joining Forces

In 2020, Tangent and Bedford joined forces to become a stronger company and better serve their customers. With the addition of a talented team and innovative products, we’ve been able to grow our offerings and capabilities. Today, Tangent is the largest player in the plastic lumber industry with a 600,000 square-foot facility, 40 production lines, and over 500 employees. We manufacture hundreds of sizes of extrusions, many created around specific applications for customers. And by recycling 15,000 tons of plastic waste annually, including the equivalent of 210 million milk jugs, we strive to make products that are as environmentally friendly as they are durable. With continuous innovation and guaranteed performance, Tangent remains the category leader to this day.

Just the beginning.

At Tangent, we’re constantly trying to push the boundaries of innovation and technology to encourage new ideas and products in the market. As our plastic lumber technology continues to evolve, so does our ability to solve problems brought to us by architects, engineers, and end-users. From premium furniture-grade plastic lumber to industrial-strength reinforced plastic lumber, we’re here to help find new ways to make your construction projects sustainable, environmentally friendly, and long-lasting.

With Tangent’s wide variety of sizes, colors, and product lines, you’re sure to find the right material for your job.