BOC Water Hydraulics

What BOC Water Hydraulics does

BOC Water Hydraulics (legal entity BOC Components, LLC.) is a privately held, founder-family-owned industrial manufacturer founded in 1993 by Don Olson in Salem, Ohio. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures water hydraulic valves, cylinders, and components, supplying a niche alternative to traditional oil-based hydraulic systems. Its core technology is water-as-fluid-medium hydraulics, which delivers incompressible fluid power without the energy losses, fire risk, and environmental hazards of oil-based systems. The product portfolio is organized into Valve Lines (Descale, Decoking, Directional Control, Pump Bypass, Hydraulic Assisted Stop, Oil Cartridge, Low Pressure, Pneumatic Air, Mod Stacks, and Valve Stands) and Building Blocks (Quad-S Cartridges, V010 Valves, Pressure Reducing Orifice Stacks). Proprietary technology includes the Quad-S stainless steel soft-shift cartridge architecture that underpins most valve lines, the V010 pilot control system, and patented Descale and Control Valve product lines developed by founder Don Olson. As of 2024, every product is registered on the Reliability Data Network (RDN) with a unique QR code for performance, maintenance, and parts tracking.

BOC's business model is custom engineering and direct manufacture of water hydraulic components, complemented by remanufacturing and repair services for OEM products from other manufacturers (Hunt Valve, Elwood, Salem Valve, Oil Gear, Fluid Logics). All products are custom-designed to customer specifications using an engineered-to-fit approach, with pricing provided on a quote basis and revenue streams classified as one-time equipment sales plus professional services. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales in the United States with a network of channel partners in 15+ countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom), with international/export business representing 10-15% of annual revenue. Primary customer segments are heavy industry: steel mills (e.g., Nucor Steel), oil and gas refineries (e.g., Petron Corporation), government/maritime (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), hydro power, and municipal water departments. The 37,000+ square foot Salem facility, ISO 9001:2015 certified, houses 17 CNC machines and a state-of-the-art machine shop. The company is led by Todd Olson (President and Owner, Don Olson's son) with Don Olson continuing as Founder and VP of Engineering.

Name

BOC Water Hydraulics

Legal name

BOC Components, LLC.

Website

https://bocwaterhydraulics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BOC Water Hydraulics is a privately held Salem, Ohio manufacturer of custom water hydraulic valves, cylinders, and components serving heavy industrial customers in steel mills, oil and gas refineries, hydro power, and government maritime applications across 15+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Hydraulic Valves & Components

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydraulic Components (Pumps, Motors, Cylinders) (IMAHAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Water hydraulic valves
• Industrial hydraulic components
• Steel mill valves
• Hydraulic system engineering
• Fluid power components

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Water Hydraulic Valves and Components: Design and manufacture of custom water hydraulics valves including Descale Valves, Decoking Valves, Directional Control Valves, Pump Bypass Units, Hydraulic Assisted Stop Valves, Oil Cartridge Valves, Low Pressure Valves, Pneumatic Air Valves, Mod Stacks, and Valve Stands.
2. Building Block Components: Quad-S Cartridges, V010 Valves, and Pressure Reducing Orifice Stacks sold as replacement parts and system components for BOC and other manufacturers' products.
3. Service and Repair: Remanufacture and repair services for hydraulic components from BOC and other manufacturers including Hunt Valve, Elwood, Salem Valve, Oil Gear, and Fluid Logics. Returns products to OEM 'as new' condition with performance upgrades when possible.
4. Engineering and Design Services: Custom design and engineering services with over 100 years combined engineering experience. 'Engineer to fit' approach to minimize costs on piping and capital changes within customer facilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BOC Water Hydraulics designs, engineers, and manufactures custom water hydraulic valves and components used to transmit fluid power in industrial applications. The company produces valve lines (descale, decoking, directional control, pump bypass, hydraulic assisted stop, oil cartridge, low pressure, pneumatic, mod stacks, and valve stands) along with building block components (Quad-S cartridges, V010 valves, pressure reducing orifice stacks). BOC also provides remanufacturing/repair services for OEM hydraulic components and custom engineering/design services with over 100 years of combined engineering experience.

Product overview

BOC Water Hydraulics offers a comprehensive portfolio of water hydraulic valves and components for industrial applications, primarily serving the steel, oil and gas, mining, medical, and hydro power industries. The product portfolio is organized into two main categories: Valve Lines and Building Blocks. The Valve Lines include Descale Valves, Decoking Valves (DCU), Directional Control Valves, Pump Bypass Units, Hydraulic Assisted Stop Valves, Oil Cartridge Valves (OCV), Low Pressure Valves (LPV/SPV Series), Pneumatic Air Valves, Mod Stacks, and Valve Stands (VSA Series). The Building Blocks category includes Quad-S Cartridges, V010 Valves, and Pressure Reducing Orifice Stacks which serve as core components powering many of the valve products. All products are custom designed to customer specifications with an 'engineered to fit' approach, and all products are tracked for performance and reliability via Reliability Data Network (RDN). The company also offers service and repair for OEM products from other manufacturers including Hunt Valve, Elwood, Salem Valve, Oil Gear, and Fluid Logics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Descale Valves Rugged valves designed for harsh descaling environments in steel mills, using Quad-S Cutting Water Cartridge Technology with V010 Pilot Control System; available as bolt-in replacements for cutting water isolation valves.
• Decoking Valves (DCU) Direct replacement valves for 90 and 180 degree flanged envelope decoking applications, featuring Pump Thrust Control to eliminate jet pump rotor position excursion and redundant pump dead head protection.
• Directional Control Valves Mill duty valves supporting NFPA and MSA patterns, utilizing BOC Quad-S Cartridge technology, designed for drop-in replacement in industrial applications.
• Pump Bypass Units Control and reliability systems for pump operation with bypass mode protection, consisting of Main Valve, Pilot Valve, and Pressure Reducing Orifice Stack in Din 16 through Din 200 sizes.
• Hydraulic Assisted Stop Valves Lever-operated valves with hydraulic assist for opening and closing, mechanically lockable in either position, designed for demanding high-dirt and high-pressure applications.
• Oil Cartridge Valves (OCV) ISO 7368 compliant cartridge valves interchangeable with Oilgear, Eaton/Vickers, and other ISO 7368 cavities, with full repairs, parts availability, site service, and total replacements offered.
• Low Pressure Valves (LPV Series) Low pressure valves typically operated at 150 psi (down to 40 psi), available in 4", 6", 8", and 10" sizes with mounting options for 150#, 300#, and 600# rated flanges.
• Single Plunger Valves (SPV Series) Single plunger valve series designed for low pressure applications.
• Pneumatic (Air) Valves Full-flow spool-packed valves for air, water, or hydraulic fluids up to 300 psi and 150°F, available in 2-Way, 3-Way, and 4-Way operations with U-Cup packing for high dirt environments.
• Mod Stacks 100% customized stacked components including Pilot Valves, Shut Offs, Flow Controls, Check Valves, and Pressure Reducing Orifices, all stainless steel and stackable in any order.
• Valve Stands (VSA Series) Manifold-mounted valve assemblies with test ports, optional gauge boards, and reduced piping leak points, designed for ease of service, troubleshooting, and flexible packaging.
• Quad-S Cartridges Stainless steel soft shift cartridges serving as the core of BOC valve lines, field-swappable in minutes for serviceability.
• V010 Valves Versatile valves used standalone or as pilot valves for larger valves, with multiple actuation options including Hydraulic Solenoid, Pneumatic Solenoid, and Manual Lever, built as packed spool/zero leakage valves.
• Pressure Reducing Orifice Stacks Flexible solutions for constant flow pressure reducing applications available in stacked plate or threaded disk form with multi-stage pressure drops created by tortuous flow plate design.
• Service and Repair Remanufacture and repair services for hydraulic components from BOC and other manufacturers including Hunt Valve, Elwood, Salem Valve, Oil Gear, and Fluid Logics, returning products to OEM 'as new' condition with performance upgrades when possible.
• Engineering and Design Services Custom design and engineering services applying an 'Engineer to fit' approach to minimize costs on piping and capital changes within customer facilities, backed by over 100 years of combined engineering experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Less than $1,000 maintenance cost over 7 years for USACE water hydraulic system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reliability Data Network (RDN)coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive agreement enabling BOC to ship all products registered on RDN with proprietary unique QR code. QR codes embedded with secure critical information such as technical drawings, operation manuals, and order details. Allows downstream tracking of performance, parts consumption, maintenance tracking, and preventative maintenance tracking.
• ArcumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• Aussie Fluid PowerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralia-based distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• HeisaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• Japan MachineryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapan-based distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• Torishima Service Solutions Europe LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK/Europe-based distribution partner (Fluid Power Division) located at Unit 5 Berrington Road, Sydenham Industrial Estate, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 1NB.
• Prime Metals TaiwanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan-based distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• Prime MetalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• RimarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChile-based distribution partner for BOC water hydraulics products.
• Sustainable Opportunity Development Center (SOD Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development organization partnership in Salem for workforce development. BOC supports the center and partners on programs exposing young people to manufacturing careers. Partnership on program at Salem High School and SOD training center that opened in 2019, which has trained nearly 4,000 students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oilgear (now part of Daman Products): Manufacturer of hydraulic pumps, valves, and cylinders including ISO 7368 cartridge valves that BOC explicitly services and competes against via its OCV line. Closely comparable product portfolio in fluid power components.
• Salem Valve: Regional/specialty hydraulic valve manufacturer based in the same Salem, Ohio area. BOC explicitly services Salem Valve OEM products, indicating overlapping product families and customer base.
• Elwood Corporation: Manufacturer of hydraulic and electronic components for industrial and military applications. BOC services Elwood OEM products, signaling direct product-line overlap in fluid power and motion control.
• Hunt Valve Corporation: Long-standing U.S. manufacturer of hydraulic valves, cylinders, and accumulators serving steel, marine, and defense; BOC's founder Don Olson was formerly EVP at Hunt Valve. Direct overlap in water-hydraulic valve product lines and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Rexroth: World-leading manufacturer of hydraulic and pneumatic components including valves, cylinders, and pumps. Overlaps with BOC in directional control and mill-duty valves and represents the dominant scale competitor in industrial hydraulics.
• Bucher Hydraulics: European manufacturer of hydraulic pumps, valves, and power units for mobile and industrial machinery; comparable in fluid-power component scope and steel/marine customer overlap.
• Parker Hannifin: Diversified motion and control technologies leader with extensive hydraulic valve, cylinder, and pump lines. Competes broadly with BOC's fluid-power portfolio and brings much larger global distribution and engineering resources.
• Eaton (Vickers) Hydraulics: Global fluid-power incumbent offering hydraulic valves, pumps, and cylinders (Vickers legacy). Competes with BOC's directional control and cartridge valves while serving overlapping steel, mining, and industrial customers at scale.
• Moog Inc. Industrial motion-control specialist with hydraulic and electrohydraulic valve lines for steel, power generation, and industrial machinery. Comparable in serving demanding high-pressure fluid-power applications.

Regional players

• Hawe Hydraulik: Germany-based specialist in hydraulic valves, pumps, and compact power units for industrial and mobile applications. Comparable in fluid-power valve and cylinder scope with strong European footprint versus BOC's North American base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bocwaterhydraulics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 BOC Water Hydraulics