Tangent
Tangent Technologies, LLC manufactures recycled HDPE plastic lumber — including dimensional lumber, structural members, marine decking, and food-grade sheet — selling exclusively B2B to OEMs, fabricators, contractors, and government agencies across residential, commercial, structural, and marine markets in North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersAurora, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tangent does
Tangent Technologies, LLC is a US-based manufacturer of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic lumber, founded in 2003 by Guy DeFeo, Francisco Morales, and Andy Stephens — veterans of predecessor firms Eaglebrook Plastics and Eaglebrook Products. The company processes post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics through three distinct manufacturing methods (molded, continuous extrusion, and multi-stage extrusion) to produce dimensional lumber, fiber-reinforced structural members, marine piling and decking, and food-grade sheet products. Its product portfolio spans 170+ sizes and 100+ colors, including 8 patented woodgrain patterns protected by US utility patent 10,981,350 and four design patents. Tangent operates 9 manufacturing facilities across Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, and Ontario, employs 500+ people, and is in the process of consolidating into a new 1.5 million square-foot Montgomery, Illinois facility with 50 additional extrusion lines. The company diverts approximately 15,000 tons of plastic waste annually and holds GreenCircle Recycled Content and Closed-Loop Product certifications as well as the first PFAS-Free NSF/ANSI Standard 51 and NSF 537 food-grade certifications for its PolySheet CB product.
The company's business model is exclusively B2B and manufacturer-direct, with no public retail channel. Tangent sells HDPE plastic lumber to OEMs, fabricators, contractors, and government agencies under a quote-based pricing system, supplemented by an authorized marine dealer network for TanDeck products and a third-party distributor (Vinyl Tech) that fulfills small-quantity and one-off project inquiries that fall below Tangent's minimum-order thresholds. Customer segmentation is organized by vertical use case — residential, commercial, structural, marine, fencing, industrial, parks & recreation, OEM, agricultural, and animal & equine — with named anchor customers including Millwest Amish Furniture (Berlin Gardens and Levi's Leisure brands), ForeSight Designs, and Texas A&M Veterinary Facility. Custom color matching, in-house tool making for rapid prototyping, and closed-loop scrap take-back programs create deep operational integration with OEM customers and contribute to switching costs. The company has been private equity-backed since Sterling Group LP partnered with the founders in 2018, and Platinum Equity LLC announced a definitive agreement in June 2026 to acquire Tangent from Sterling, with closing expected in Q3 2026 at a reportedly high single-digit EBITDA multiple against approximately $60 million of EBITDA.
Tangent firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tangent
- Legal name
- Tangent Technologies, LLC
- Website
- https://tangentmaterials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Tangent Technologies, LLC manufactures recycled HDPE plastic lumber — including dimensional lumber, structural members, marine decking, and food-grade sheet — selling exclusively B2B to OEMs, fabricators, contractors, and government agencies across residential, commercial, structural, and marine markets in North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tangent industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled HDPE Plastic Lumber Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recycled Plastic Lumber & Construction Products (IMANAMAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins) (IMANAAAH)
Keywords
Where Tangent is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aurora
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Tangent business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- HDPE Plastic Lumber Sales: B2B manufacturer selling recycled plastic lumber materials directly to OEMs, fabricators, and commercial customers. Products include dimensional lumber, structural lumber, marine products, fencing, and custom engineered materials. Revenue generated through product sales with no minimum order requirements for custom projects.
- Custom OEM Solutions: Custom color matching, profile creation, and engineered solutions for specific customer applications. In-house tool making allows rapid prototyping of new cross-sections and products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B direct sales with quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tangent product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tangent manufactures recycled HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic lumber products sold to OEMs, fabricators, contractors, distributors, and government agencies. Its portfolio includes dimensional lumber, structural molded and extruded lumber, high-density sheet, marine decking (TanDeck), marine piling/timber (SeaPile/SeaTimber), horse fencing, and food-grade cutting board sheets, all made from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastic.
Product overview
Tangent is a manufacturer of high-performance recycled plastic lumber (HDPE) products serving residential, commercial, structural, marine, fencing, industrial, parks & recreation, OEM, agricultural, and animal & equine markets. The product portfolio centers on Dimensional Lumber (non-structural) and High Density Sheet, alongside structural offerings including Structural Molded and Structural Continuously Extruded products. Marine applications are served through TanDeck™ marine decking and SeaPile®/SeaTimber® piling and timber products. The company holds patents on its proprietary woodgrain technology (8 patterns). Tangent recently launched High-Density Sheet (2025) and Tangent PolySheet™ CB (2026), the latter being NSF 537 certified as the first PFAS-Free NSF Standard 51 Food Equipment Material. The company operates 9 manufacturing facilities in the US and Canada and holds GreenCircle certifications for recycled content and closed-loop recycling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tangent PolySheet™ CB: Food-grade synthetic cutting-board sheet certified to NSF 537, the first PFAS-Free NSF Standard 51 Food Equipment Material.
- TanDeck™
- TANDECK™
- SeaPile®
- SeaTimber®
- PolyTuf Premium
- FORESITE DESIGNS®
Products and services
- Dimensional Lumber Non-structural plastic lumber manufactured from recycled HDPE, serving as a wood alternative for fabricators and OEMs. Available in over 170 sizes and 100+ colors, including patented woodgrain patterns.
- High Density Sheet Durable, all-weather HDPE sheet material for high-performance applications, designed for CNC machining and standard woodworking tools. Available in multiple colors with UV stabilizers and made from recycled content certified by GreenCircle.
- Structural Molded Lumber Structural-grade plastic lumber created using a proprietary hard tool molding process, producing exceptionally strong and durable material for load-bearing applications such as horse paddocks and enclosures.
- Structural Continuously Extruded Lumber Continuously extruded structural plastic lumber formulated to project requirements with various loading levels of reinforcing fibers, including fiber-reinforced and bar-reinforced options for structural applications.
- TanDeck Marine Decking Marine decking product made from recycled plastic lumber, highly durable and low-maintenance. Available in 1"x6" and 2"x6" cross-sections with wood-grain embossed finish and backed by a 50-year limited product warranty.
- SeaPile and SeaTimber Marine Piling Advanced composite plastic marine piling and timber products engineered for the marine industry, including bridge pier protection, pier and wharf fenders. Available in sizes up to 16" cross-sections with pultruded rebar and reinforcing structural fibers.
- Tangent PolySheet CB Food-grade synthetic cutting-board sheet certified to NSF 537, the first PFAS-Free NSF Standard 51 Food Equipment Material. Designed for food-contact applications.
- Horse Fencing HDPE plastic fencing designed for equine applications, ultra-durable, easy to clean, and resistant to moisture, chemicals, and horse cribbing. Includes Lexington and Wellington installation systems.
- ForeSight Designs Benches Commercial-grade bench products using Tangent's structural materials, sold as part of the site amenities product category.
- PolyTuf Premium (Woodgrain Lumber) Patented woodgrain dimensional lumber with internal grain pattern that replicates real hardwood aesthetics, available in 8 patterns including Antique Mahogany, Birchwood, Brazilian Walnut, Coastal Gray, Driftwood Gray, Natural Teak, Walnut, and Seashell.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products last in excess of 50 years based on studies and real-world applications
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tangent
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tangent technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Tangent partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Bedford TechnologycoreTangent acquired Bedford Technology in March 2020, combining two industry leaders with robust product lines. The acquisition created the largest player in plastic lumber industry with expanded manufacturing capacity and product offerings. Bedford Technology was founded in 1998 by Brian Larson in Worthington, MN.
- Millwest Amish FurniturecoreMillwest Amish Furniture distributes outdoor furniture made from Tangent materials through brands Berlin Gardens and Levi's Leisure. Collaboration demonstrates circular economy approach where plastic waste is continuously collected, processed, and repurposed into new furniture.
- GreenCircle Certified, LLCstrategicThird-party certification firm that audits and provides annual certification of Tangent's environmental claims. Certifications include recycled content certification and closed-loop product certification, qualifying FTC Green Guidelines compliance.
- Vinyl TechminorAuthorized distributor for small quantity and one-time project inquiries. Homeowners and small projects redirected to Vinyl Tech ([email protected]) for fulfillment when Tangent's minimum order requirements don't apply.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tangent competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Renew Plastics: Recycled HDPE plastic lumber manufacturer serving similar OEM, marine, and agricultural markets. Closely comparable technology and feedstock base to Tangent.
- Trex Company: The largest U.S. manufacturer of wood-plastic composite decking and railing. Competes most directly with Tangent's residential decking and outdoor living products, although Trex sells through retail/DIY channels while Tangent focuses on OEM/fabricator distribution.
- Fiberon (Fortune Brands Innovations): Composite decking and railing brand under Fortune Brands Innovations. Directly comparable to Tangent's wood-replacement lumber products for residential and commercial outdoor applications.
- PlasTEAK: Recycled HDPE lumber manufacturer focused on marine decking, boardwalks, and outdoor furniture applications. Competes head-to-head in the marine decking channel where Tangent sells TanDeck™.
- MoistureShield (Oldcastle APG): Composite decking manufacturer owned by Oldcastle APG (CRH). Competes in the same wood-alternative decking category as Tangent's residential and commercial dimensional lumber products.
- AXION International: Manufacturer of recycled plastic structural lumber and railway ties using recycled HDPE. Most direct competitor to Tangent's Structural Molded and Structural Continuously Extruded product lines serving marine, infrastructure, and industrial applications.
- TimberTech (Crane NXT): Premium composite decking and railing manufacturer owned by Crane NXT (formerly AZEK). Overlaps with Tangent's commercial and residential decking applications with a similar wood-alternative product positioning and shared focus on durability and aesthetics.
Broad incumbents
- CertainTeed (Saint-Gobain): Large building products manufacturer under Saint-Gobain offering decking, railing, fence, and siding products. Competes with Tangent in commercial building materials and offers wider category coverage including fiber-cement and vinyl alternatives.
Emerging players
- Westech Building Products: Building products distributor and manufacturer of recycled plastic lumber profiles. Overlaps with Tangent's fencing, agricultural, and OEM product categories through a similar HDPE-based product portfolio.
- Bedrock Lumber: Emerging supplier of recycled structural HDPE lumber for marine, industrial, and transportation applications. Competes in the same structural-grade plastic lumber segment as Tangent's Structural Molded products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tangent social profiles
Digital presenceTangent compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Tangent financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tangent leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Tangent subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tangent funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tangent M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tangent
What does Tangent do?
Tangent manufactures recycled HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic lumber products sold to OEMs, fabricators, contractors, distributors, and government agencies. Its portfolio includes dimensional lumber, structural molded and extruded lumber, high-density sheet, marine decking (TanDeck), marine piling/timber (SeaPile/SeaTimber), horse fencing, and food-grade cutting board sheets, all made from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastic.
Is Tangent a public or private company?
Tangent is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Tangent founded?
Tangent was founded in 2003. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Tangent based?
Tangent is headquartered in Aurora, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tangent make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. HDPE Plastic Lumber Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom OEM Solutions.
Who are Tangent's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Renew Plastics, Trex Company, Fiberon (Fortune Brands Innovations), PlasTEAK, MoistureShield (Oldcastle APG), AXION International and TimberTech (Crane NXT). CertainTeed (Saint-Gobain) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Westech Building Products and Bedrock Lumber.
Does Tangent have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tangent.
What industry is Tangent in?
Tangent's product category is Recycled HDPE Plastic Lumber Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAMAH, Recycled Plastic Lumber & Construction Products, with a secondary code of IMANAAAH, Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins). Its NAICS code is 326 and its SIC code is 3080.