Prestwick group expands into Sussex
Manufacturer recycles milk jugs to make products
The Prestwick Group, Inc. has announced the purchase of a new headquarters and manufacturing facility, previously the Valeo Headquarters building in Sussex. With more than 55,800 square feet of manufacturing space including offices, the new building will provide ample room for the company's continual growth. The company plans to be fully relocated by the end of 2009.
The Prestwick Group, Inc. is a family of brands, which manufactures tailored outdoor furnishings to several key market segments in the sports and leisure, hospitality, education, entertainment, government and recreation industries.
The Sun asked Prestwick a few more questions in an effort to get to know its new Sussex neighbor better.
First, can you tell us a bit more about Prestwick? When was its inception? Who started it, why and where?
In October of 1996, a mutual friend introduced Matt Morse to a local businessman who had started a small company manufacturing rope stakes which he sold to Wisconsin area golf courses. Upon leaning that the products were made from recycled plastic, Morse began to visualize a wider array of furnishings for golf courses made with this attractive and low-maintenance material. His deep passion for golf was the driving force behind Morse's mission to offer golf courses better furnishing solutions. The company started from a small manufacturing facility in North Prairie.
We heard you recently moved your headquarters from Delafield to Oconomowoc?
We moved to Oconomowoc in 2007 from our Delafield facility due to increased manufacturing needs. We had rapidly outgrown our precious Delafield facility and needed more space for our operations. Our current address is 1880 Executive Drive, Oconomowoc.
Obviously the Sussex expansion is a sign of Prestwick's success and growth. What can be attributed to Prestwick's success?
Being innovators within the niche markets that we serve and finding new ways to integrate sustainable solutions that have little to no maintenance. By diversifying into several key market segments, the company has maintained its growth objectives. These market segments include entertainment, education, hospitality and corporate accounts. We now serve 36 countries worldwide and look forward to expanding our future operations within the Sussex community.
Where would we be able to see Prestwick products in the Lake Country/Sussex area?
We provided signage for Kettle Moraine Golf Club, signs for the City of Delafield and Hartland. In addition, we provided signs and furnishings for the City of Oconomowoc, as well as signage for Arrowhead High.
Prestwick recently sent out a press release that said you have reclaimed more than 55 million milk jugs to manufacture your products, can you explain this more?
We use recycled plastic to build the majority of our products, which is extruded from Type-2 recycled plastic, primarily milk jugs. A typical furnishing we sell can easily save 700 milk jugs from reaching the landfill.
Fast facts
Prestwick started in North Prairie as small manufacturer.
The company makes outdoor furnishings out of recycled milk jugs.
It is now opening a second location in Sussex.
New digs encompass 55,800 square feet in old Valeo Headquarters.