Boccella Precast is marking nearly six decades in business with the same qualities that defined its beginnings: hard work, dedication, and a commitment to doing things right. Founded in 1965 by Joseph Boccella Sr., an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States at just sixteen, the company has grown from a small family venture into one of the largest producers of hollow core precast planks on the East Coast. Today, it is still family-owned, led by Joseph’s sons, CEO Anthony Boccella, alongside his brother Joe Jr., vice president, and a team that continues to carry forward the values of their founder.
The origin story has become part of the company’s culture. Anthony recalls how his father came to America looking for opportunity and found it in precast concrete. “He came to America from Italy when he was 16 with his family, just for a better life and opportunities—that’s where the business was growing. He came here, he worked in a precast plant, he learned the business, and started one on his own.” From those modest beginnings, Boccella Precast has become a name synonymous with reliability and scale in the precast industry.
The company manufactures pre-cast and pre-stressed hollow core planks ranging from six to sixteen inches thick, with a standard width of four feet. These planks are the backbone of countless commercial and residential structures, valued for their efficiency, strength, and adaptability. Boccella Precast’s role begins long before the product leaves the yard. The team works with clients in the early design stage to assess whether hollow core solutions are feasible, providing budgeting and design input that helps set projects on the right track. In-house engineers prepare drawings that meet the engineer of record’s loading specifications, and project managers guide each job through to delivery and installation.
Many clients seek turnkey solutions, and Boccella Precast is able to provide them by partnering with experienced installation firms throughout the Northeast. “They are experienced installers,” explains Northeast Sales Director Steve Biernacki. “So we’re not just a material supplier, we can provide a turnkey price.” That ability to combine design input, production, and installation gives clients a high level of confidence and a streamlined experience.
“They are experienced installers. So we’re not just a material supplier, we can provide a turnkey price.”
Growing into one of the top hollow core producers on the East Coast has been a defining milestone. The company’s reach now extends from Maine to Buffalo and down through the Mid-Atlantic states, with projects underway or planned as far south as North and South Carolina. “From Maine to Buffalo and then down the Mid-Atlantic states through Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland—we’re looking at projects in South Carolina, North Carolina, and West Virginia, so basically the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast,” Steve explains. That expansion reflects both strong demand for precast solutions and Boccella Precast’s growing reputation for service and reliability.
Despite the scale, the business has held onto the family culture that shaped it. “It’s more like a family,” Anthony says. “Everybody definitely helps each other out. It’s pretty close; we work together. If there’s an issue or someone needs help, we’re definitely there to help each other and pick up the slack or whatever needs to be done.” This spirit of collaboration and mutual support is as evident in the plant as it is in the company’s relationships with clients.
One of Boccella’s key differentiators is speed. With a manufacturing capacity of up to 15,000 square feet a day, the company can deliver planks within two to three weeks of approved shop drawings. This ability to meet tight schedules is, in Steve’s words, one of their greatest “strengths.” Combined with the scale of its operations, it allows Boccella to deliver quickly without compromising on quality. “From the beginning, from sales or pre-engineering, or if we can help with design, we produce a great product,” Anthony says. “It’s delivered on time, and we’re here to support and work with our clients.”
Customer service is at the core of that promise. Both Anthony and Steve emphasize responsiveness as a central value. “That’s the big thing,” Steve notes. “If somebody has a question or needs assistance, our team members are all available right away to respond to them quickly.” For Anthony, that attentiveness is what turns first-time clients into long-term partners. “It’s our product and our service. We’re attentive, we’re there with the clients or design teams. Even if someone calls with a question, we’re here where you can reach us, and then once they see our product, that sells it even more.”
Product innovation has also been important in distinguishing the company. While common plank thicknesses in the industry are eight, ten, and twelve inches, Boccella Precast goes further by offering a six-inch plank for lighter applications and a sixteen-inch hollow core plank capable of carrying additional floors above. This flexibility provides designers with more options and underscores the company’s focus on meeting diverse needs.
Education plays a role as well. Anthony and his team take pride in helping architects, engineers, and clients understand the possibilities of pre-stressed hollow core planks. “That’s something that we really love doing, showing people the manufacturing process and going over the design and usage of our products,” Anthony says. Education can take the form of plant tours, Q&A sessions with engineers, or early design meetings where Boccella’s expertise helps guide material choices. “Working with the design team early on to educate them about the use of our products and where it will be the best fit for whatever kind of building they’re looking to design for use is very important,” Steve adds. This collaborative, educational approach builds trust and ensures that projects are designed with precast in mind from the outset.
Market growth has been steady, particularly in recent years. Traditionally, Boccella Precast served Western Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, and upstate New York. But with expanded capacity, the company has been able to push into new geographies. “The last three years we’ve been expanding into newer markets, and prior to that, based on the competition, Boccella Precast was servicing Western Pennsylvania, the state of New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, and upstate New York. Now, since we have a large capacity, we’re going further in servicing other markets where we have a lot of success,” Steve explains.
The scale of production speaks for itself. The company typically delivers around two and a half million square feet of product annually, but it can ramp up to between 3.6 and 4 million square feet when demand is strong. “We actually had a banner year where we produced just over 3.6 million square feet in a year,” Steve recalls. “So, being in the newer markets, the outcome looks great for us to be in that two and a half million square feet in a year range for production.” That kind of capacity ensures Boccella can respond to market needs quickly and effectively.
Looking ahead, the outlook for 2025 and 2026 is positive. With an expanded geographic reach, the ability to scale production, and a culture that balances family values with professional service, Boccella Precast is well positioned to continue its growth. At its core, the company’s success remains grounded in the same principles that guided Joseph Boccella Sr. when he first started: dedication to craft, a willingness to work hard, and a focus on building strong relationships. Nearly sixty years on, those values continue to shape one of the East Coast’s leading precast producers.
