Preload
Preload designs and builds wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks for municipal water utilities, wastewater facilities, industrial operators, and LNG/cryogenic storage projects across the United States, operating from five regional offices since 1930.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1930
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Preload does
Preload is a privately held specialty contractor that designs and builds wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks for liquid storage applications. Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, the company invented wire-wound prestressed concrete tank technology in the 1940s and has since constructed more than 4,000 tanks worldwide for municipal water utilities, wastewater treatment facilities, industrial operators, energy companies requiring LNG and cryogenic storage, and facilities deploying thermal energy storage systems.
The company's core technology is circular single-wire prestressing, which places the entire tank wall into permanent compression and eliminates cracking. Preload's tank systems include Type II walls with galvanized steel diaphragms and vertically ribbed reentrant channels, Type III precast wall panels assembled on-site, dome roofs with rise-to-diameter ratios of 1:8 to 1:12, and proprietary sliding floor-to-wall connections that accommodate differential settlement. The company pioneered restraint cable systems for high-seismic environments and operates a cloud-based quality-control monitoring system tracking metrics at hundreds of construction steps. Designs meet or exceed AWWA D110, ACI 372R, ACI 350, and NFPA 22 standards, and Preload engineers spearheaded ACI Committee 376 for cryogenic containment.
Preload operates an enterprise direct-sales model through five regional offices in the United States (Louisville, Hauppauge, Woburn, Richardson, and Mobile) and a joint venture with Jay Cashman, Inc. — Cashman-Preload Cryogenics — for cryogenic storage projects. Revenue is generated through custom project-based contracts priced by tank size, specifications, and site conditions, with life-cycle cost analyses positioning Preload tanks as delivering 30-40% savings in early years and over 100% savings over the 60-80 year lifecycle compared to welded steel alternatives. The company is led by CEO Ryan Harvey and COO Will Cooksey, with Tom Kleppe as VP of Sales.
Preload firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preload
- Legal name
- Preload LLC
- Website
- https://preload.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1930
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Preload designs and builds wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks for municipal water utilities, wastewater facilities, industrial operators, and LNG/cryogenic storage projects across the United States, operating from five regional offices since 1930.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preload industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prestressed Concrete Tank Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (23812)
- SIC
- Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Precast Concrete Products (IMADAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Storage & Delivery Infrastructure (Tanks, Reservoir Liners, Bladders) (AFABAHAK), Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations) (EUANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Preload is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Preload business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Tank Construction Projects: Project-based revenue from design and construction of custom wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks. Projects include water storage, wastewater treatment, thermal energy storage, LNG, and industrial applications. Pricing based on project specifications, size, and complexity with life-cycle cost analysis provided.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Preload product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preload designs, manufactures, and constructs wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks for liquid storage applications. The company's tanks serve municipal water storage, wastewater treatment, LNG and cryogenic storage, industrial process and fire protection storage, and thermal energy storage. Preload provides singular responsibility from engineering through completed construction, with tanks built to AWWA D110, ACI 372R, ACI 350, and NFPA 22 standards.
Product overview
Preload is the leader in prestressed concrete tank design and construction, offering wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks as its core product line since 1930. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of tank solutions including Water Storage Tanks, Wastewater Treatment Tanks, LNG & Cryogenic Storage Tanks, Industrial Application Tanks, and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Tanks. These products share a common foundation of AWWA D110-compliant wire-wound prestressed concrete construction featuring Type II or Type III tank walls, steel diaphragm core walls, and circumferential single-wire prestressing. Preload offers complementary product components including dome roofs, flat-slab roofs, membrane floor systems, baffle walls, and diffuser systems for TES applications. The company's Tank Accessories line provides customizable components such as vents, handrails, hatches, fall protection, manways, ladders, platforms, stairs, and instrumentation penetrations. Preload provides "singular responsibility" from design through completed construction, serving municipalities, industries, and government facilities across the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wire-Wound Prestressed Concrete Tanks Preload's primary offering — circular, wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks designed for liquid storage applications, featuring a steel diaphragm core wall, circumferential prestressing, and AWWA D110-compliant design for municipalities, utilities, and industrial clients.
- Water Storage Tanks Prestressed concrete tanks for municipal water storage, available in ground storage and standpipe configurations, featuring dome or flat roofs and membrane flooring systems.
- Wastewater Treatment Tanks Tanks designed for wastewater applications including CSO/SSO storage, clarifiers, sequencing batch reactors, digesters, and influent equalization, with aerobic/anaerobic digester and package plant options.
- LNG & Cryogenic Liquid Storage Tanks Prestressed concrete tanks designed for storage of liquefied natural gas and cryogenic liquids at temperatures below minus-260°F, featuring direct contact between the cryogenic product and the concrete wall and meeting ACI 376 requirements.
- Industrial Application Tanks Tanks for industrial uses including process water storage, fire protection, petroleum/crude storage, and biofuel applications, designed to exceed stringent industrial environment demands.
- Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Tanks Tanks for thermal energy storage in chilled or heated water form, used in centralized cooling systems for universities, hospitals, data centers, and power generation facilities, featuring diffuser systems for thermocline maintenance.
- Tank Accessories Customizable tank components including vents (frost-resistant), handrails, roof hatches, fall protection systems, manways, instrumentation penetrations/sleeves, internal/external ladders, sample taps, platforms, stairs, lighting, pressure gauges, level indicators, and commemorative plaques.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30-40% savings during first few years of tank service; over 100% savings during 60-80 year tank lifecycle compared to welded steel
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Preload
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Preload technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Preload partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- AE2S EngineeringminorEngineering firm retained by City of Eden Prairie to design their 4.0 million gallon finished water tank. Preload selected as general contractor for the project.
- JVA, Inc.minorEngineering firm retained by Pueblo West Metropolitan District to design their 2.0 million gallon finished water storage tank. Preload selected as sub-contractor.
- Cashman-Preload Cryogenics (CPC)coreJoint-venture partnership between Preload and Jay Cashman, Inc. combining Preload's technical and tank engineering expertise with large-scale heavy contracting capabilities. CPC has constructed multiple cryogenic liquid storage tanks including LNG facilities.
- Water BuffalosflagshipCharitable motorcycle organization that raises funds and awareness for water projects through annual rides to ACE conference and AWWA sectional meetings. Winning tanks in Concrete Decision Awards are featured on custom jacket patches worn by Water Buffalos riders.
- Water for PeoplecoreInternational non-profit organization that brings safe water to communities in nine countries. Preload makes donations to Water for People on behalf of Concrete Decision Award winning communities ($3,000-$3,500 per winner).
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)coreIndustry association for water professionals. Preload participates in ACE conference where Water Buffalos present, and tanks are featured. AWWA D110 standard developed in part through Preload's contributions.
- Water Environment Federation (WEF)minorOrganization supporting water quality professionals. Listed as a beneficiary alongside AWWA for Water Buffalos charitable initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Preload competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DN Tanks (formerly DYK): DN Tanks is the most direct competitor to Preload, also specializing in wire-wound and prestressed concrete tank design and construction for water and wastewater storage across North America. They compete head-to-head on AWWA D110-compliant municipal bids and represent Preload's closest like-for-like peer in core tank construction.
- Crom Corporation: Crom Corporation designs and builds prestressed concrete tanks and specialty prestressed structures, directly overlapping Preload's core product offering. They serve similar municipal and industrial customers with comparable wire-wound concrete technology and compete on the same AWWA D110 specifications.
- Fisher Tank Company: Fisher Tank is a US manufacturer and installer of welded steel and specialty liquid storage tanks serving industrial, municipal, and energy markets. They are a relevant peer on the steel-tank alternative side of bids where Preload competes, particularly for industrial process water and petroleum storage.
- Superior Tank Co. Superior Tank is a US provider of bolted and welded steel tanks for water, wastewater, and industrial liquid storage applications. They represent the lower-upfront-cost alternative to Preload's prestressed concrete tanks in many municipal and industrial specifications.
- Landmark Structures: Landmark Structures is a US builder of composite elevated and ground storage water tanks, including prestressed concrete tanks. They overlap with Preload in the AWWA D-compliant municipal water storage market and increasingly in composite elevated tank work.
- Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors: Phoenix Fabricators is a US manufacturer and erector of welded and bolted ground storage water tanks serving municipal and industrial clients. They compete directly with Preload on water storage bids where steel is specified or lower upfront cost is prioritized over lifecycle economics.
- Caldwell Tanks: Caldwell Tanks is a long-established US tank builder specializing in welded and bolted steel water storage tanks for municipal and industrial customers. They compete with Preload on the same bid lists, representing the primary alternative material and construction approach in municipal water tank procurement.
Broad incumbents
- McDermott International: McDermott is a large global engineering and construction firm with extensive LNG and cryogenic storage tank capabilities, particularly for LNG export terminals. They compete with Preload/Cashman-Preload Cryogenics for large-scale LNG containment projects but operate at much larger scale and broader scope.
- CB&I (Chicago Bridge & Iron): CB&I is a major global engineering, procurement, and fabrication firm with deep roots in welded steel tank, storage terminal, and cryogenic LNG tank construction. They are a broad incumbent competitor to Preload in LNG, cryogenic, and large industrial storage work, though Preload differentiates with concrete prestressed technology.
Emerging players
- TF Warren Group / T.B. Penick & Sons: TF Warren Group provides specialty concrete construction services including tank and reservoir construction across the US. They overlap partially with Preload on water and wastewater concrete structures but have broader commercial concrete construction exposure rather than a pure tank focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Preload social profiles
Digital presencePreload financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preload leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Preload subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Preload funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preload 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 Preload
What does Preload do?
Preload designs, manufactures, and constructs wire-wound prestressed concrete tanks for liquid storage applications. The company's tanks serve municipal water storage, wastewater treatment, LNG and cryogenic storage, industrial process and fire protection storage, and thermal energy storage. Preload provides singular responsibility from engineering through completed construction, with tanks built to AWWA D110, ACI 372R, ACI 350, and NFPA 22 standards.
Is Preload a public or private company?
Preload is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Preload founded?
Preload was founded in 1930. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Preload based?
Preload is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preload make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Tank Construction Projects.
Who are Preload's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DN Tanks (formerly DYK), Crom Corporation, Fisher Tank Company, Superior Tank Co., Landmark Structures, Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors and Caldwell Tanks. Broad incumbents are McDermott International and CB&I (Chicago Bridge & Iron). TF Warren Group / T.B. Penick & Sons is listed as an emerging player.
Does Preload have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preload.
What industry is Preload in?
Preload's product category is Prestressed Concrete Tank Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAAAB, Precast Concrete Products, with a secondary code of AFABAHAK, Water Storage & Delivery Infrastructure (Tanks, Reservoir Liners, Bladders). Its NAICS code is 23812 and its SIC code is 3272.