RICE Hydro was established in 1976 by Allen Rice who, by our standards, was a very wise and intuitive man. A Harvard University graduate, retired from a career in the water municipality industry, Allen was desirous of staying busy and took a position with a local rental yard in San Diego California. During this period, Allen recognized contractor’s need for a hydrostatic test pump, versus an adapted pressure washer to test pressurized lines. Armed with this knowledge, Allen was driven to design the first hydrostatic test system, one that allowed for ease of operation; precision, reliability and rapid results. From humble beginnings out of his garage in El Cajon California, the first RICE hydrostatic test pump was constructed. Enter the ST-1, a 5 HP roller pump, with a flow rate of 5 GPM, and an output pressure of 300 PSI. Due to Allen’s dedication, the RP Series, in constant production, was the beginning of great things to come. Sadly, some years later, Allen passed on. Along with our staff, Allen would have been proud to know that RICE products withstand the test of time.
