What Fol-da-tank does

FOL-DA-TANK, LLC is a U.S. manufacturer of portable water tanks and related equipment, founded in 1954 in Rock Island, Illinois and currently headquartered in Milan, Illinois. The company originated the first portable folding water tank for firefighting and has operated continuously for over 70 years, serving municipal and volunteer fire departments, the U.S. Forest Service, environmental and hazmat response teams, utilities, and oil and gas operators. Its core products include folding frame tanks, self-supporting tanks, pillow and bladder tanks, FOL-DA-DAM spill containment systems, flying water tanks for helicopter deployment, strainers, quick-assemble tanks, and a full line of accessories and replacement liners, organized across 11 product categories and 89+ SKUs.

The company's core technology centers on a proprietary HPR (High-Performance Rubber) fabric with patented heat-sealed seams carrying a lifetime warranty, plus issued U.S. patents (10,507,972 and 9,193,501) and patent-pending hinge protectors. Products are NFPA 1142 compliant, GSA approved, and include NSF/ANSI 61 certified potable water configurations; select offerings carry Berry Compliant federal procurement status. Manufacturing is American-made in Milan, IL, where EVAC Systems Fire and Rescue (acquired October 2022) is also co-located as an independent retained brand.

FOL-DA-TANK generates revenue through direct hardware sales across multiple channels: an authorized distributor network supported by a Distributor Portal, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site, and enterprise/government quote-based sales with multi-year contracts. Unit pricing ranges from roughly $40 for small accessories to $16,751 for large custom pillow tanks, with folding frame tanks between $2,103 and $5,967. Under owner/CEO Joel Wright, who acquired the business from the founding family in November 2020, the company reduced lead times from 45 days to under 10 days, launched a no-fee Quick Ship Program, executed its first acquisition (EVAC Systems in October 2022), and expanded into adjacent product lines (Da-Tub-Tank, Fuel Storage, Baptismal Tank).

Name

Fol-da-tank

Legal name

FOL-DA-TANK, LLC

Website

https://fol-da-tank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fol-da-tank is a U.S. manufacturer founded in 1954 that produces portable folding water tanks, spill containment systems, and related equipment for fire departments, the U.S. Forest Service, environmental response teams, and adjacent industrial customers, using its proprietary HPR rubber fabric.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firefighting Water Storage Equipment

NAICS

Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing (3324)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Storage & Delivery Infrastructure (Tanks, Reservoir Liners, Bladders) (AFABAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spill Control & Containment Equipment (Absorbents, Berms, Spill Kits) (IMAHALAK)

Keywords

• Portable water tanks
• Firefighting equipment
• Spill containment
• Emergency response products
• Folding tank manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Portable Water Tanks: Core revenue from manufacturing and selling portable folding water tanks, frame tanks, self-supporting tanks, and specialty tanks. Products range from $2,103 to $5,967 for folding frame tanks, with various capacities and material options.
2. Accessories and Replacement Parts: Accessories including strainers, flange kits, patch kits, grab handle kits, carrying racks, and replacement liners for existing tanks.
3. Spill Containment Systems: FOL-DA-DAM spill containment products including decontamination berms, dams, and portable containment units for hazardous material response.
4. Pillow and Bladder Tanks: Water bladder tanks for drinking water storage, firefighting supply, gray water, decontamination liquids, and fracking wastewater. Price range $664 to $16,751.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Fol-da-tank manufactures portable folding water tanks, self-supporting tanks, pillow/bladder tanks, helicopter-deployable flying water tanks, and FOL-DA-DAM spill containment systems for firefighting, wildland fire response, hazardous material containment, and emergency potable water storage. The company also sells tank accessories, replacement liners, strainers, and specialty products such as the Da-Tub-Tank emergency bathtub water storage system and EVAC Systems fire and rescue bags acquired in 2022.

Product overview

FOL-DA-TANK is a manufacturer of portable water tanks and related equipment founded in 1954, serving first responders with American-made products. The product portfolio centers on portable folding tanks (the original product category, introduced in 1954), self-supporting tanks, pillow and bladder tanks for potable water and liquid storage, and FOL-DA-DAM spill containment systems. Supporting product lines include flying water tanks for helicopter deployment, strainers (Float Dock Strainer and Low-Level Strainer), Quick Assemble tanks (FAST-TANK, ROL-LA-TANK, SINGLE LANE TANK), and a comprehensive accessories line including replacement liners, flanges, patch kits, and mounting hardware. The company acquired EVAC Systems Fire and Rescue in 2022, expanding into rescue bags and equipment. Products feature proprietary HPR (High-Performance Rubber) fabric technology with lifetime warranties on heat-sealed seams, and comply with NFPA 1142 and NSF/ANSI 61 standards where applicable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Evac Elite Rescue Systems: Fire and rescue bags, paks, and emergency gear products acquired in 2022
• FOL-DA-DAM®
• Da-Tub-Tank®
• Float Dock Strainer®
• HPR®
• FAST-TANK

Products and services

• Portable Folding Water Tanks (Folding Frame Tanks) Portable collapsible water tanks designed for rural firefighting and rapid deployment. Available in steel or aluminum frames with capacities from 600 to 5,000 gallons, featuring proprietary HPR fabric, patented heat-sealed seams with lifetime warranty, patent-pending hinge protectors, and NFPA 1142 compliance.
• Pillow & Bladder Tanks

Quantifiable outcome

• Lead time reduced from 45 days to under 10 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EVAC Systems Fire and RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2022FOL-DA-TANK acquired EVAC Systems Fire and Rescue on October 14, 2022. EVAC Systems manufactures bags, paks, and other products for fire and rescue crews. The acquisition expands FOL-DA-TANK's product portfolio into rescue equipment. EVAC Systems operates as an independent brand under FOL-DA-TANK, LLC, with manufacturing facilities relocated to Milan, IL headquarters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enduraplas: Enduraplas manufactures portable liquid storage and transport tanks, including frame tanks and specialty bladders for agriculture, firefighting, and industrial applications, overlapping with FOL-DA-TANK's portable tank offerings.
• Musthane: Musthane designs and manufactures flexible technical textiles and inflatable products including portable tanks and bladders for water, fuel, and chemical storage, closely paralleling FOL-DA-TANK's pillow tanks and folding tank technology.
• UltraTech International: UltraTech International specializes in spill containment, decontamination products, and secondary containment systems, directly competing with the FOL-DA-DAM product line for hazardous material response and environmental protection customers.
• SEI Industries: SEI Industries manufactures the Bambi Bucket helicopter water tank and a broad range of portable fuel and water bladders, directly competing with FOL-DA-TANK in aerial firefighting bladders and ground-based portable liquid storage.
• Husky Portable Containment: Husky Portable Containment produces framed portable tanks, bladder tanks, and secondary containment berms serving the same firefighting, environmental, and oilfield customers as FOL-DA-TANK's folding frame and spill containment products.

Broad incumbents

• E-ONE: E-ONE is a major manufacturer of fire trucks and firefighting apparatus, serving the same fire department buyer base as FOL-DA-TANK and often bundling or specifying portable water tank equipment for its apparatus.
• Norwesco: Norwesco is a large North American manufacturer of polyethylene tanks for water, chemical, and agricultural storage, providing competitive alternatives in liquid storage though not specializing in the portable folding firefighting niche.
• CST Industries: CST Industries is a global manufacturer of bolted and welded storage tanks for water, wastewater, and industrial liquids, competing in the broader tank storage market but not in portable folding tanks.
• Justrite Safety Group: Justrite Safety Group manufactures spill containment, safety, and environmental protection products, competing in the same spill containment category as FOL-DA-DAM but with a broader industrial safety portfolio.

Emerging players

• Onboard Systems: Onboard Systems designs and manufactures helicopter external load equipment including cargo hooks and aerial firefighting accessories, providing complementary technology to FOL-DA-TANK's helicopter water tank products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCttyADmaR5ba4R0ZdGLClNw
• Xx.com/FOL_DA_TANK_
• Facebookfacebook.com/foldatank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fol-da-tank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Fol-da-tank