about PRESCO

In the beginning…

Completing his apprenticeship, Steve Prestidge starts his career as a fully qualified electrician, working for local Hawera companies, building a reputation for great standards and service.

The birth of Presco

Now a young father looking towards his families future, Steve decides it’s time to go it alone and Presco Electrical is born. An electrical contracting business working out of an old horse stables, mainly across industrial properties and new homes.

Later that same year… With Kiwi (now Fonterra) engineers struggling with scaffolding on a job, Steve sees a better way and sub-hires a scissor lift from a friend in Hastings which becomes the first scissor lift available for hire in Taranaki.

The bright ideas keep coming

In a growing industry, Steve is inspired to make illuminated signs, some of which still stand today. His idea evolved into making moulded plastic covers for refrigeration.

Meanwhile, the electrical business is booming, with up to 15 contactors also working under the Presco Electrical name. Steve expands into a bigger space and hires his first employee; his youngest brother, Carl, another brother, David, manages the scissor lift delivery.

The hire fleet expands and Hire Lift is born

An acquaintance offers Steve an opportunity to purchase more access gear. Steve adds cherry pickers and another scissor lift to his fleet and starts trading as Hire Lift.

Hire Lift is joined by Hawera Hire

The acquaintance returns, this time with small hire gear on offer. Steve purchases the gear and Hawera Hire is created. The business moves to the corner of Scott St and Tawhiti Road.

Presco Electrical is let go

Steve sells Presco Electrical to a friend looking to start his own electrical business and focus’ on the growing Hire customer base. Presco Electrical becomes the Hawera branch of JLE.

Hire Lift heads to New Plymouth

Inspired by Hawera’s great response to his commitment to service and reliability, Steve leases a small building in New Plymouth and a second access fleet begins forming.

Presco Environmental is acquired

A small business cleaning roofs at Fonterra becomes available for sale. A plant manager approaches Steve suggesting he purchase. Presco Environmental begins operating from a portacom on the side of the Hawera Hire offices providing specialist industrial cleaning services focused on the food production industry.

Steve purchases a concrete business

With Steve adding a concrete manufacturing to the mix, he purchases an old BMX track down the road from Hawera Hire and sets up a base for Presco Environmental and the new Presco Products. Presco Products begins building a reputation for quality concrete products for farmers including troughs and feed bunkers.

A family affair

With Steve’s sons joining the business, Steve changes the business from a partnership to a company.

The first Presco Prosump is built

Presco Products becomes Presco Infrastructure and with effluent management for NZ farmers becoming a hot topic and plastic-lined storage ponds not lasting the distance, Presco develops their solution, the concrete Prosump.

Presco Hire is established

Hawera Hire and Hire Lift merge to become Presco Hire and the ribbon is cut at a new purpose-built branch in New Plymouth.

A new addition

Presco acquires Titan Precut in Hawera and Marton and renames the business to Presco Prenail; designing, building and delivering wooden frame and truss.

A Presco Hire Hawera customer is so impressed by the service he receives; he asks to deal with them throughout the country. Supplier partnerships start forming and the service is offered to more customers.

Change is in the air

With the big concrete infrastructure installs requiring staff to spend a lot of time away from home and family, the decision is made to sell the business.

Meanwhile, a new purpose-built manufacturing shed is built for Prenail and the new hire facilitation service is well-received in the market.

Presco Environmental moves online

Presco Environmental opens an online store selling quality, innovative products that supplement their cleaning service.

Looking ahead…

As a business we’ve continued to innovate and provide services where our local industry needs them most. We’re excited about new opportunities ahead, as we continue to grow and support our customers across all areas of our business.