Sunstate Equipment Co.

Sunstate Equipment Co. is an American equipment rental company that provides construction, industrial, and special event companies with construction rental equipment and tools. Founded in 1977 by Mike Watts in Phoenix, Arizona, the company has grown into one of the largest construction equipment rental firms in North America, describing itself as the sixth largest construction equipment rental company in North America and serving customers coast to coast. Its rental fleet covers a broad range of categories, including aerial equipment, air compressors and tools, compaction and paving, concrete and masonry, earth moving equipment, electrical equipment and tools, general construction tools, heating, A/C and ventilation, lawn and homeowner equipment, material handling, pumps and pump accessories, trucks and trailers, and trench safety. Beyond equipment rental, Sunstate offers used equipment sales, an Industrial Solutions Division providing tailored services and 24/7 support for petrochemical, oil and gas, manufacturing, and utilities projects, custom trench shoring rental solutions, and operator safety training for forklifts and aerial work platforms in accordance with OSHA regulations and ANSI standards. The company also offers Navigator™, a proprietary rental fleet management platform that gives customers real-time visibility into equipment utilization, jobsite management, delivery and pickup scheduling, and online invoice payment. Sunstate positions itself around customer service, safety, and integrity, with a culture that emphasizes treating employees, customers, and vendors with fairness and respect. The company operates a network of locations across the United States and continues to expand its rental solutions and digital tools for construction and industrial customers.

Sunstate Equipment Co. was founded in 1977 by Mike Watts, a rental equipment salesman who left his previous employer over a disagreement in principles. Citing his employer's belief in "profit at any cost," Watts quit and bootstrapped the purchase of a small mom-and-pop equipment rental company in Phoenix, Arizona. From those humble beginnings, Sunstate cultivated a company culture focused on integrity, honesty, and treating employees, customers, and vendors with fairness and respect. A notable fun fact from the company's history is that Sunstate eventually bought out the company Mike Watts left, and those team members went on to enjoy many years of success with him at Sunstate. Over the decades, Sunstate grew from a small local rental operation into a major regional and then national player. By the 2020s, the company described itself as the sixth largest construction equipment rental company in North America, providing rental solutions from coast to coast. Its growth was driven by a broad equipment fleet, a focus on customer service, and expansion into specialized segments such as industrial solutions, trench safety, and safety training. In the digital era, Sunstate developed Navigator™, a proprietary fleet management platform that gives customers real-time data on equipment utilization, jobsite management, and rental logistics. The company also expanded its service offerings to include used equipment sales and OSHA-compliant operator safety training for forklifts and aerial work platforms. As of the mid-2020s, Sunstate continues to operate as a private company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with a network of locations across the United States.

• 1977

  Mike Watts founds Sunstate Equipment Co. by purchasing a small equipment rental company in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Sunstate grows into a leading North American construction equipment rental company, eventually describing itself as the sixth largest in North America.

• Sunstate launches Navigator™, a proprietary rental fleet management platform.

• Sunstate expands service offerings to include Industrial Solutions, Trench Safety, Used Equipment Sales, and Safety Training.

Sunstate Equipment positions itself as a customer-focused, safety-driven equipment rental partner for construction, industrial, and special event companies, emphasizing integrity, reliability, and comprehensive rental solutions from coast to coast.

• Aerial Equipment

  Lifts and aerial work platforms for accessing hard-to-reach areas.

• Earth Moving Equipment

  Backhoes, excavators, loaders, trenchers, and accessories for excavation, grading, and trenching.

• Trench Safety Equipment

  Custom trench shoring rental solutions including boxes, shoring, and shielding.

• Navigator™

  Rental fleet management platform for real-time utilization metrics, jobsite management, and online invoice payment.

1. 1Construction Equipment Rentals - Sunstate Equipmentsunstateequip.com
2. 2About Sunstate Equipment - Sunstate Equipmentsunstateequip.com
3. 3Navigator by Sunstate Equipment - Sunstate Equipmentsunstateequip.com
4. 4Safety Training - Sunstate Equipmentsunstateequip.com
5. 5Sunstate Equipment Co. - Wikidatawikidata.org