What Rice Hydro does

Rice Hydro, Inc. is a privately held American manufacturer founded in 1976 by Allen Rice, a Harvard graduate who retired from the water municipality industry. Headquartered and manufactured in Carson City, Nevada (with an additional Mound House, NV address), the company designs and builds hydrostatic test pumps, fire hose testers, post hole diggers (under the DIRTDAWG brand), and pipeline chlorinators. Rice Hydro identifies itself as the inventor of the original hydrostatic test pump, a position anchored by founder Allen Rice building the first ST-1 model (5 HP roller pump, 5 GPM, 300 PSI) in his garage in El Cajon, California. The portfolio is anchored by five hydrostatic test pump series — Diaphragm (up to 600 PSI, 56 GPM, capable of testing 96-inch lines and handling 10% chlorine), Electric (up to 1,800 PSI), High Pressure Pneumatic (up to 30,000 PSI from 100 PSI shop air), Triplex High Pressure (up to 5,000 PSI ceramic plunger), and Manual (up to 1,500 PSI with dual check-valve) — plus the PCH-11/550 Pipeline Chlorinator (patent-pending, 2024) that combines AWWA C651-14 / C600-17 / C655-18 chlorination and dechlorination with hydrostatic testing, the ST-312 hydraulic shoring pump, and the FH-series fire hose testers meeting NFPA 1962.

Differentiated engineering features include triple-diaphragm pumps that run dry without damage, the patented NO WILD LINES ballvalve architecture for fire hose testers, torque-free hydraulic post hole diggers enabling one-man operation, and a "Built to Suit" custom-engineering program. Component partnerships with Honda, Briggs & Stratton, Udor, and Comet underpin multi-power-config (gas, electric, diesel, pneumatic) offerings, and the company has spun out two adjacent sub-brands — RHI Metal (custom metal design) and RHI Powder (powder coating, 50+ in-stock colors). Documented product lifespan exceeds 20 years (e.g., the 1977 ST-1 found operational in 2002; Voorhees Fire District units from 1988–1990 still in service 23+ years later), and rental-yard economics demonstrate the durability value proposition — one DIRTDAWG unit generated over $12,000 in rental revenue against $165 in maintenance.

Rice Hydro generates revenue through one-time equipment sales priced via quote (no public pricing), distributed through a US and international dealer network with a website-based dealer locator, direct factory sales (800.245.4777 / [email protected]), and equipment rental yards charging $70–100 per day with typical 3-day rentals. Customer segments span construction and pipeline contractors (primary), fire departments and the US military (primary), equipment rental companies, municipalities and water utilities, oil and gas operators, and specialty end users including university rocketry programs (CU Boulder, Université de Sherbrooke). The company has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no app or API, no digital channel beyond a corporate website with product manuals, parts schematics, and YouTube how-to videos, and no AI/ML capabilities referenced in any source.

Name

Rice Hydro

Legal name

Rice Hydro, Inc.

Website

https://ricehydro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rice Hydro is a privately held Nevada-based manufacturer, founded in 1976, that designs and builds hydrostatic test pumps, fire hose testers, post hole diggers, and pipeline chlorinators serving contractors, fire departments, the US military, municipalities, and equipment rental companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Hydrostatic Test Equipment

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Metering Pumps (IMAHANAC), Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Hydrostatic test pumps
• Fire hose testers
• Post hole diggers
• Pipeline chlorination equipment
• Hydraulic shoring pumps

Headquarters

HQ city

Carson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Rice Hydro generates revenue through direct sales of hydrostatic test pumps, fire hose testers, post hole diggers, and accessories. Products are available in various power configurations including gas, electric, diesel, and pneumatic. Custom 'Built to Suit' special order options are available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rice Hydro designs, manufactures, and sells industrial hydrostatic test pumps, fire hose testers, post hole diggers, manual test pumps, hydraulic shoring pressure pumps, and the PCH-11/550 pipeline chlorinator. The company is the inventor of the original hydrostatic test pump and offers multiple product series with gas, diesel, electric, and pneumatic power configurations, plus "Built to Suit" custom builds. Products are sold direct from the factory in Nevada and through a US and international dealer network, with availability through equipment rental yards.

Product overview

RICE Hydro is the inventor of the original hydrostatic test pump, established in 1976, and operates as a manufacturer of industrial pumping and testing equipment. The product portfolio centers on Hydrostatic Test Pumps available in five series (Diaphragm, Electric, High Pressure Pneumatic, Triplex High Pressure, and Manual), complemented by the PCH-11/550 Pipeline Chlorinator for water line chlorination and testing, the ST-312 Hydraulic Shoring Pressure Pump, DIRTDAWG post hole diggers (one-man and two-man models), and Fire Hose Tester Series. Accessories include wheel kits, pressure feed tanks, inlet hoses, adapters, auger bits, post pounders, and pullers. The company operates on a 'Built to Suit' custom ordering model, offering power options (gas, diesel, electric, pneumatic) across most product lines. Products serve commercial, residential, municipal, industrial, military, and contractor markets including fire departments, pipeline contractors, rental yards, and the US military.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DIRTDAWG: Post hole digger product line including one-man and two-man hydraulic/mechanical units, towable and handheld models.
• RHI Metal
• RHI Powder

Products and services

• PCH-11/550 Pipeline Chlorinator Patent-pending pipeline chlorinator that combines hydrostatic pressure testing with chlorination and dechlorination in a single unit for water line commissioning per AWWA standards, for water utility contractors and municipalities.
• Diaphragm Series Hydrostatic Test Pumps DP-series diaphragm pumps delivering pressures up to 600 PSI and flow rates up to 56 GPM, capable of testing lines up to 96 inches in diameter, handling up to 10% chlorine solution, and running dry without damage, for pipeline, water main, and large-diameter line testing contractors and rental yards.
• Electric Series Hydrostatic Test Pumps EL-series electric hydrostatic test pumps with flow rates up to 8 GPM and pressures up to 1800 PSI for testing sprinkler systems, irrigation lines, pressure vessels, and small diameter water lines, for plumbing, irrigation, and fire sprinkler contractors.
• High Pressure Pneumatic Series Hydrostatic Test Pumps HP-series pneumatically driven hydrostatic test pumps delivering pressures from 50 PSI up to 30,000 PSI and flow rates up to 7 GPM using only 100 PSI of standard shop air, for high-pressure testing of oil and gas, refinery, and industrial pressure vessel applications in hazardous environments.
• Triplex High Pressure Series Hydrostatic Test Pumps TR-series high-pressure hydrostatic test pumps with flow rates up to 10 GPM and pressures up to 5000 PSI, using triplex ceramic plunger pumps with inner oil bath, for testing boilers, pressure vessels, and process piping in industrial and boiler service applications.
• Manual Test Pumps MTP-series manually operated hydrostatic test pumps available in 500, 1000, or 1500 PSI pressure ranges with a dual check-valve system that eliminates waste bleed-back during testing, for low-volume field pressure testing and spot checks.
• ST-312 Hydraulic Shoring Pressure Pump Hydraulic shoring pressure pump delivering pressures up to 2000 PSI with a 20-gallon reservoir tank and a vertical ergonomic design for increased mobility and reduced operator fatigue, for trench shoring and excavation support contractors.
• DIRTDAWG Post Hole Diggers One-man and two-man post hole diggers in towable and handheld configurations with hydraulic and mechanical designs, featuring a torque-free hydraulic system for one-man operation, for fencing contractors, equipment rental yards, departments of transportation, forestry, and state parks.
• Fire Hose Tester Series FH-series fire hose testers with flow rates up to 26 GPM and pressures up to 1000 PSI for testing fire hoses up to 6 inches in diameter per NFPA 1962 standards, incorporating patented NO WILD LINES ballvalve technology, for fire departments, fire hose manufacturers, US military bases, naval ships, and fire hose testing service companies.
• Post Pullers and Pounders Post pullers and post pounders offered alongside the DIRTDAWG line for fence post installation, removal, and finishing, for fencing contractors and rental yard customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average equipment lifespan exceeds 20 years with proper maintenance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HondacoreTechnology or IntegrationHonda engines are a core component in many Rice Hydro products including the DPH-3B (196 CC 6.5 HP 4-cycle), DPH-8 (270 CC 9 HP), DPH-56/250 (389 CC 13 HP), ST-312 shoring pump (196 CC 6.5 HP), and various TR-series triplex pumps.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Blue-White Industries: Specializes in metering and chemical dosing pumps for water treatment and industrial applications. Comparable to the chlorination/dispensing functionality of Rice Hydro's PCH-11/550 in the regulated water utility segment.

Direct peers

• General Equipment Company: Manufacturer of earth drilling and post hole digging equipment for construction, fencing, and rental markets. Directly competes with Rice Hydro's DIRTDAWG post hole digger line in the same contractor and rental channels.
• Ardisam (Earthquake Power Equipment): Manufactures Earthquake-branded post hole diggers, augers, and outdoor power equipment. Competes head-to-head with DIRTDAWG in the equipment rental and contractor segments.
• Little Beaver: Specializes in one-man and two-man post hole diggers and earth drilling equipment. Closely comparable to DIRTDAWG on product configuration, target buyer (fencing contractors, rental yards), and go-to-market.
• Reed Manufacturing: Manufactures tools and equipment for the water and pipeline industries, including pipe and pressure testing tools. Comparable to Rice Hydro's hydrostatic testing and pipeline chlorination product lines serving municipal water contractors.
• MFE Enterprises: Manufacturer of hydrostatic and pressure testing equipment, including pipeline and vessel test pumps. Directly comparable to Rice Hydro's core hydrostatic test pump portfolio serving similar pipeline and pressure vessel end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Grundfos: Global leader in pump manufacturing, including dosing/metering pumps used in water treatment and disinfection. Relevant as an incumbent in the chlorination/dosing segment targeted by Rice Hydro's PCH-11/550 Pipeline Chlorinator.
• CAT Pumps: Large, established manufacturer of high-pressure triplex and plunger pumps used in industrial cleaning, oil & gas, and pressure testing. Comparable technology platform (triplex ceramic plunger pumps used by Rice Hydro's TR series) and end markets.
• Hipotronics (Hubbell): Established manufacturer of high-voltage and pressure test equipment serving utilities, industrial, and laboratory markets. Overlaps with Rice Hydro's high-pressure (up to 30,000 PSI) pneumatic and triplex test pump offerings but as part of a broader test equipment portfolio.
• Stihl: Major outdoor power equipment brand with handheld earth augers and post hole diggers. Competes with Rice Hydro's DIRTDAWG line in fencing and landscaping use cases, particularly the one-man handheld/towable configurations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rice-hydro-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rice Hydro