PLASKOLITE Celebrates 75 Years

PLASKOLITE (Columbus, OH) is marking its 75th anniversary in engineering thermoplastics, according to a press release.

The company was founded on April 20, 1950 by decorated US Army veteran Donald G. Dunn, focusing on manufacturing drinking straws, fly swatters and hula-hoops. It has since grown from a small business in Columbus into a worldwide industry leader with over 2,000 employees. It now operates 18 manufacturing plants across four continents, producing engineering thermoplastics that include acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, Olefin, PVC and PETGF sheets, extruded profiles and PMMA polymers.

Throughout 2025, Plaskolite will celebrate this milestone with events across global locations, including cookouts, employee recognition programs, alumni reunions, and family days. Employees will also volunteer 7,500 hours of their time in total to local charities and organizations.

“As we look back on the journey from a handful of employees on City Park Avenue in Columbus to nearly 2,000 worldwide, one thing has remained constant: our people,”John Szlag, retiring Chief Commercial Officer, is quoted in the release. “Our success has been built on the dedication of our employees and our commitment to providing the highest quality products and services for our customers. It’s why we say, ‘our people are our greatest asset.’”

Donald Dunn passed away in 2021, aged 98. “A business is many things. It carries the hopes and dreams of its founder, the sum-total of years of effort and exhausting hard work,” he was quoted in the release. “It is the lifeblood of its employees, and it must be a partner in the community and a leader in the industry.”

For more information, visit plaskolite.com.