Custom Controls Ltd was founded in 1980 by two experienced process control engineers, Richard Stilwell and Mike Helean. In 1981 Fisher Controls, a division of Emerson and the world's premier control valve company, appointed Custom Controls as its exclusive New Zealand Representative. During the 1980's Custom Controls grew rapidly as a result of numerous major projects in the Pulp & Paper, Refining and Oil & Gas Production industries.

Jim Neville succeeded Richard Stillwell in 1994 as Managing Director and led Custom Controls through another successful growth period with expansion into new process control technologies such as UHF industrial communications, radar-based tank inventory management systems, and hazardous area protection.

After 27 years as a Director company founder Mike Helean retired in January 2007 with further change in company management in November 2009 with Jim Neville's retirement and John Sullivan's appointment as Managing Director.

In 2013 Stephen Baillie re-joined Custom Controls after a successful career at Emerson and was appointed as a Director.

In January 2017 Emerson transitioned the New Zealand representation of its range of Instrumentation products including Rosemount, Micromotion and Daniel to Custom Controls. This transition proved to be very successful so in April 2018 the process was repeated with Custom Controls now also representing Emerson’s Final Control and Pressure Management portfolios which includes Keystone, Vanessa, KTM, Biffi, Bettis, Anderson Greenwood and Crosby.

Currently Custom Controls has 34 employees and offices in Auckland, New Plymouth and Christchurch.

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