About Us

Smart, Creative People in Your Corner

Challenges drive us. Building on our rich history in rugged design and engineering, RIX is responsive and nimble, partnering effectively to deliver technology insight. We invest in customer relationships just as we invest in developing a culture of inspired design and ambitious engineering – delivering benefits not just products. From design to delivery to lifetime support, we offer unmatched versatility and real-world expertise that taps our unique engineering talent and proud heritage.

Our Achievements

1878

E.A. Rix forms Rix and Firth to focus on his inventions and building a range of products including locomotives and major steel and iron structures


1906

Company Headquarters in downtown San Francisco is destroyed in the earthquake. Rix reestablishes and forms the Rix Compressed Air and Drill Company.

1913

RIX manufactures portable rock drilling equipment for the Department of Interior for use in Yosemite National Park. 

1922

First RIX submarine compressor on U.S H-Class submarine

1952

RIX provides compressors for missile capping to Douglas Aircraft

1972

First low-pressure air compressors are installed on surface combat ships

1985

4V4 Oxygen and Nitrogen high-pressure compressors are developed for the U.S. Navy

1990

5R5 and STAR products go to market

1995

2PS, 2TX and 4VX compressors go to market

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1997

RIX moves from Emeryville to Benicia, CA

2001

First contract received for MARC 350 compressors to be installed on aircraft carriers

2005

ROTEC and SABRE products go to market. First Aerospace contract awarded

2010

Development of ground vehicle systems for combat

2016

Cryogenic technology goes to market

2019

MQ-25 contract awarded

2020

RIX licenses e1’s hydrogen reforming technology

Learn More About Our History
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