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The Early Years - 1939 Prenco is born

Josef Chmel, founder

Prenco Progress & Engineering Corporation Ltd. began its corporate life in 1939. Through the years, wars, and numerous innovations, Prenco has strived to not only meet current market demands but drive them. From producing aircraft parts for the Allied war effort, Prenco moved its expertise into the automotive field and beyond into the racing performance import/domestic markets.

Original Prenco logo design 1939

Mr. J.K. Chmel immigrated to Canada to escape the impending war in Europe. As a leading Czechoslovakian industrialist, he brought his manufacturing expertise to North America to assist in the Canadian war effort. Operating out of an old machine shop in downtown Toronto, Chmel created PRENCO as one of Canada's first aircraft parts manufacturing plants.

Prenco was incorporated in 1941 to manufacture aircraft hydraulics and various related parts for the Allied war effort.