Driving west from Pendergrass, Georgia, the rolling hills slowly flatten into the red clay landscapes of Alabama. It’s just a short trip to Birmingham, but the change in scenery feels like stepping into another rhythm of the South—where industry and history meet, and where heavy equipment has helped shape skylines, highways and communities for nearly a century.
That’s where we found ourselves recently, visiting Cowin Equipment Company, our reigning Takeuchi Dealer of the Year for 2024. Their Birmingham headquarters hums with activity—service bays full, trucks loading and unloading and machines waiting to head out to jobsites across the Southeast. It’s a fitting backdrop for a company that has spent 87 years supplying contractors, builders and utility crews with the equipment they depend on daily.
A Legacy in the Southeast
With nine locations across Alabama, Georgia, Northwest Florida and Coastal Mississippi, Cowin serves a wide range of industries: general contractors, utility, mining, forestry and more. Their rental fleet is among the largest and most diverse in the Southeast, consistently ranking them among the top rental companies in North America.
What began in the 1930s with compressors and blasting services has grown into a full-service equipment powerhouse, offering sales, rentals and 24/7 support. Through the decades, Cowin has carried some of the world’s most recognized brands—today they represent global leaders like Volvo, Hitachi and, of course, Takeuchi.
Out on the Jobsite
While the history is impressive, what struck us most during our visit was seeing Cowin’s customers put Takeuchi machines to work. We sat down with the owners of Willoughby Contracting Co., who rely on Takeuchi compact equipment daily for utility projects across Alabama. For them, productivity and dependability aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re imperative for keeping projects on schedule.
Later, we visited a residential jobsite where the builder was using Takeuchi machines to dig footers for a new home. “Out here, dependability matters,” he told us, gesturing to the red dirt stretched out behind the foundation. “When you’re on a remote site, you need machines that start every day and keep going. Takeuchi gives us that confidence.”
A Culture of Dependability
From its early beginnings, Cowin has built its reputation on being there for its customers—whether through flexible rental options, around-the-clock service or simply making sure the right machine is ready when the job calls for it.
It’s no wonder they’ve been recognized as an elite Takeuchi dealer through the Dealer 360° Award and were named the 2024 Takeuchi Dealer of the Year. Their commitment to customers, coupled with nearly nine decades of growth and innovation, makes them a dealer that doesn’t just move equipment—they move projects forward.
As we drove back toward Georgia, the Birmingham skyline fading in the rearview mirror, one thing was clear: Cowin Equipment isn’t just a dealer. They’re a trusted partner, powering the Southeast one jobsite at a time.
