It can be challenging to decide between purchasing and renting heavy construction equipment. Renting equipment has benefits, but it also has downsides. You won’t gain an asset to go along with your expenditure. Renting can have fewer advantages from a tax perspective as well. 

With that said, renting can save money in the short term. Should you rent the equipment, or would it be more beneficial to go ahead and purchase? Are there other benefits to renting? There are! And Cowin offers flexibility with our rental purchase option. Let’s take a look at the advantages of renting construction equipment. 

Flexibility

If you’re struggling to choose between renting and purchasing, you can choose both! With the rental/purchase option, you can rent to start with, and then decide to purchase six to ten months down the line. One of the benefits is that rental payments will apply to the purchase price. This provides a lot of flexibility, so you don’t have to immediately feel pressure to make a purchase decision.

Well Maintained and Serviced Machines 

When purchasing our rental equipment, you can trust that it’s been well-taken care of and maintained. We service all of the equipment at the proper manufacturer-recommended service intervals. And we offer a wide array of new and used attachments to meet the needs of virtually every job. You don’t have to be concerned that you’re not getting quality equipment just because it’s used. 

Warranty Coverage

When purchasing from our rental fleet, you have the option to add an extended warranty. Most of our units have remaining Manufacturer Standard Warranty and/or remaining Extended Warranty terms. If no remaining warranty coverage, we can add any range of extended warranty needed. 

Choose Cowin for your Equipment Needs!

Whether you choose to rent our equipment or purchase from our rental fleet, you are in good hands! At Cowin, we want what’s best for you. We offer a variety of equipment and services. We have something for everyone! Check out our equipment specials for more information and our fleet hitlist.

If it has been a while since you visited the Cowin’s Service Department in Birmingham, you are in for a treat. We recently opened a completely remodeled office, including an updated parts counter, customer areas, and conference rooms. We were accustomed to the “vintage” look in our old service department, but we decided it is time our customer-facing areas offered the same red carpet treatment we have always provided for your equipment. We are thrilled that our Service Department now reflects the comfort and care you have grown accustomed to when interacting with our team. 

Our Heavy Equipment Service Team

Cowin’s heavy equipment Service Department in Birmingham serves as home base for 8 shop technicians and 17 field technicians. We have a state of the art shop set up to service equipment we sell and equipment sold by our competitors. 

Our service department is having one of its busiest years in recent history. During the pandemic, our facilities enabled us to fill the gap when some of our competitors struggled with staffing issues. We’ve taken extensive safety precautions to protect our staff and serve our clients. Our team has been very fortunate. 

Cowin’s Service Manager for Birmingham Phillip Standridge said, “We have worked hard to support each team member and keep everyone’s morale up. In that effort we’ve supported our community by bringing in lunch from local businesses once a week. Our team has worked hard to take care of each other, and that’s the same way we treat our customers. I’ve worked at different places over the years, and I have never seen a company go this far to help customers.”

“We were split up in the old setup,” said Product Support Manager Joe Degrado. “Now the managers, clerks, and the whole team are working together so they can communicate. This helps us offer the personalized service that Cowin is known for. When you talk to a product support rep, that same rep calls you when the parts come in. You always end up working with someone who knows your situation and understands what you need. They have easy access to any information they need to answer questions and solve problems.”

If excellent service was easy, then it wouldn’t be so rare. We are grateful to have folks like Phillip, Joe, and everyone who works with them leading this effort. The Cowin team gives 100% every day to serving our customers. 

As Phillips says, “It’s the Cowin Equipment motto, and we say it every day, ‘Expect Extra Effort.’”

Customers can find our new location on the Northern Bypass and it can be more easily accessed due to its close proximity to Interstate 65 and Interstate 85. The building is twice the size of our previous Montgomery location and includes more than 8,000 square feet for warehousing parts. Everything here is bigger and better, including the rental department, office space, conference rooms, breakroom, and a locker room. This new facility even uses an oil heating system which dramatically improves heating and efficiency compared to other fuel systems. In addition to all of the other expansions, we gained 2.5 acres that will be used for equipment storage and a wash rack system. We are also working on a 10-acre training and demo area where customers can test out equipment.

“We’re very excited and proud to announce the grand opening of this new facility,” said Vice President Matt McGowan. “The improvements and new location will allow us to better serve our customers with more efficient service, additional parts capacity, and centrally located equipment allowing for faster delivery. We plan to host an official grand opening event sometime later this year with food and fun for our customers. Stay tuned!”

The new Montgomery location is looking promising. Our brand new 22,500 square foot facility is one of a kind and serves as an authorized sales-service-parts and rental outlet for Volvo Construction equipment, Takeuchi, Grove Cranes, Kobelco Cranes, Kobelco Excavators, Gomaco, Doosan Portable Power, Gorman-Rupp, Indeco Hammers, CASE, Genie lifts, and many other name brands.  We look forward to serving you at 4325 Northern Blvd. for all of your construction equipment needs.

Versatility, Customization, and Performance with Terramac

As part of the Terramac dealer network, we’ve added crawler carriers to our existing equipment offerings which complement our current inventory very well.  There is great value in the extreme versatility, customization, and performance capabilities that Terramac carriers deliver.

Cowin now offers Terramac’s line of straight frame and 360-degree rotating crawler carriers to serve the general construction industry. Terramac’s three standard options – conversion beds, rock dump beds, and flatbeds – are a part of the lineup.  Cowin also offers customization with support attachments such as hydroseeding units, personnel carriers, and cranes.  

An added benefit of incorporating Terramac crawler carriers into our product line is the ability to expand into other markets. We look forward to serving the utility industry as well as pipeline and landfill management.

Full line of Terramac Crawler Carriers Available

As a Terramac dealer, the product line will be available across eight branch locations. We are offering the full line of crawler carriers to purchase or rent as well as full-service maintenance and parts. You can view all of the Terramac equipment available on our website.

We will continue to provide professional sales, rental, and aftermarket support. Our dependable representatives are committed to delivering timely service. And, our highly qualified technicians are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure Terramac machines are maintained at the highest standard.

Contact our sales team today to learn more about innovative Terramac features and customizations to suit your particular needs.

Email:  Contact@Cowin.com
Phone: 1-800-239-2694

The COVID-19 crisis is devastating in the communities that we serve. From the individuals who have contracted the virus to healthcare workers, caregivers, service-industry employees, the homeless, displaced children, and everyone who is sheltering in place, we have all been affected. 

Cowin Equipment wants to do all that we can to support the communities that have supported us for more than 80 years, so today, we are making $20,000 in contributions to charitable organizations serving those who are most affected by the current crises.  We will be donating to several local charities that serve our communities surrounding each of our branch locations.

We don’t know when life will start to return to normal. Like you, we watch the news for some sign that our efforts to “bend the curve” are paying off. In the meantime, Cowin Equipment will continue to serve our clients working on critical projects while going to great lengths to keep our employees and customers safe from the spread of this disease. We will also continue to work individually and as a team to support our communities so that when better times return, we can all emerge from this crisis stronger and more unified than we were before.

Why DEF?

DEF was created as a nontoxic, nonflammable, and cost-effective solution to reduce emissions while retaining the power of a diesel engine. Urea, an organic compound, gives the fluid its safe and emission-reducing capabilities. DEF is injected into the exhaust system and reduces emissions by converting harmful gases into environmentally friendly gas and water vapor.

Storage Guidelines for DEF

While DEF is relatively easy to use, storing it and maintaining purity requires close attention. 

How to properly store DEF:

• Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight, preferably in a climate-controlled environment to extend its shelf life.
• Optimum storage temperature is between 12°F and 77°F. When stored below 65°F shelf life is extended to 2 years. Temporary exposure to higher temperatures has little impact on the quality of DEF. 
• Ideally, DEF should remain in a closed loop from the supply to machinery in the field. Do not reuse or refill open containers and avoid using incorrect dispensing materials such as metal funnels, steel transfer containers, incorrect pumps, seals, and fittings.
• The easiest way to spot bad DEF is to look at it. The fluid is naturally clear, so if it appears cloudy or colored, it’s likely contaminated or old. Contaminates, including small particles or larger rocks or dirt will also be easy to see. If DEF has gone bad, do not attempt to use it.
  

Benefits of DEF

The simple chemical nature of DEF is important to maintaining a functioning performance system. By using it, a driver optimizes diesel performance while avoiding harm to the environment.

Benefits include:

• Optimized combustion
• Better fuel efficiency
• Increased power
• Reduced maintenance
• Fewer regenerations
• Less wear on the engine
• Safer emissions
• Better reliability
  

DEF & Your Health

In January 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brought in new emissions standards requiring medium and heavy-duty vehicles to significantly reduce engine emissions, particularly NOx and particulate matter (PM). NOx and PM emissions are associated with a wide range of health problems including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, aggravation of asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function. The EPA estimates the emission standards will prevent 8,300 premature deaths, more than 9,500 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million workdays lost due to illness saving approximately $70.3 billion by 2030.

Bottom Line

DEF is a positive addition to the world of diesel engines. The practical benefits, as well as the health benefits, have been well worth the change. Properly storing DEF is important and will pay off in the long run. Cowin Equipment Company wants to support you by providing the best equipment with all required aspects that will empower you to complete a job successfully. 

Please contact a Cowin representative today to find out about rental, sales, and our unique rental purchase option.

Sources:

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We are excited to announce that Peter Cowin was inducted into the Alabama Road Builders Association Hall of Fame (ARBA). The annual ceremony was held on October 24, 2019, at the Wynlakes Country Club, in Montgomery, Alabama. This year’s inductees included Randall Jack Billingsley, Perry A. Hand, H. Ben Mathews, and our former President and Chairman, Peter G. Cowin.

The Alabama Road Builders Hall of Fame, “honors, preserves, and perpetuates the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals and companies/institutions that have brought and continue to bring significant recognition to the State of Alabama in the field of transportation construction.”

Each year, the ARBA membership nominates industry leaders past and present who inspire others to “pursue rewarding and challenging careers in all transportation construction fields.” The Hall of Fame board of directors, which is representative of most geographic areas in Alabama, then designates those nominees who are to be inducted in a given year.

Birmingham native, Peter G. Cowin (1931- 2004) was the former President and Chairman of Cowin Equipment Company, Inc., and an Associate member of ARBA for many decades. Peter entered the family business in Birmingham in 1953 and formed a strong management and sales team. Those “great co-workers might have joked that he knew a whole lot more about a balance sheet than a backhoe” because of his degree in economics earned at Oberlin College in Ohio. Peter greatly “appreciated the company’s customers and felt a profound obligation to earn their business by supporting them as well as possible.”

Peter was a champion and supporter of civil liberties at a time in Alabama when that wasn’t always a popular cause. He was also a generous donor, which led to him creating a charitable foundation to best support a variety of local charities.

As the Cowin Equipment Company, Inc. legacy in the machinery distribution business continues in its 81st year, we celebrate Peter Cowin’s induction into the ARBA Hall of Fame and his example of excellence and charity.

Cowin is being recognized for our hard work in 2018!

Volvo’s Construction Equipment held its annual Dealer Awards Dinner and Association of Equipment Distributors (AED) meeting on February 5, 2019, in Orlando, Florida. The Awards Dinner celebrates top performing dealers for sales and customer support.

Cowin Equipment Company was honored with the following awards for 2018:

• Overall Market Share Leader for Large Markets
• Highest Retail Finance Penetration Growth
• Mark of Excellence President’s Club for both Road Machinery and GPE

These awards build on the honor that we received last year as the “2017 Dealer of the Year” at the Volvo Construction Equipment North America Dealer Summit. We also previously received Volvo’s “Top Market Share” dealer in North America in both 2014 and 2016.

Increasing construction demand is only part of Cowin’s success story. We are leading the industry with innovation in sales, rental, and customer support.  We are honored and encouraged by these awards and will strive to do our very best in 2019.

Patience and hard work pay off. KaMin, a global leader in mining and refining kaolin clay, began their search for a new, well-matched loader that could handle the wet, slick terrain they work in every day as they mine for kaolin. KaMin contacted Cowin Equipment Company and a partnership began taking shape.

KaMin came to us for assistance in matching their specific application of mining with a machine that was best fitted for the task. They painted a clear picture of the obstacles their equipment faces while mining for kaolin. Their work requires extreme traction control and aggressive break-out force. They needed a monster of a machine. KaMin definitely did their due diligence in research. They formed a cross-functional group of maintenance, purchasing, and operations personnel and included input from mechanics and operators. After 6 months of researching and testing different loaders, KaMin chose the Hitachi ZW150-6 for the job. But it wasn’t just the efficiency and power of the machine that won them over. They tested the comfort and functionality of the cab. Its roomy comfort, spaciousness, and quiet were all qualities that factored into the decision process. Cowin added a rear-view camera for an additional measure of convenience and safety while Hitachi had already improved rear visibility by changing the hood design and repositioning and aligning the muffler and air intake.

How do we know KaMin hit gold (or kaolin) with our ZW150-6? They have been using it since May 2018 and according to KaMin Operators, the ZW150-6 has the ability to move aggressively without tire slippage which is attributed to the machine’s traction control plus a rimpull control system that balances rimpull with front digging force to optimize performance. The 3.1 cubic yard standard bucket is perfect for KaMin’s processing facility and has provided a dramatic improvement in efficiency.  In other words, it’s getting the job done!

Hitachi commissioned artist Gary Wright to paint “Hitachi – Coming to America.” To commemorate their purchase of the first Hitachi wheel loader sold in North America. KaMin was presented with a limited-edition lithograph of that painting. Cowin’s very own Todd Bennett was there alongside KaMin’s Freddy Davis, Kyle Downs, and Johnathan Newsome to accept the gift.

Patience and hard work pay off…and at Cowin we are here for our customers and ready to put forth the extra effort to best meet the requirements and needs for any specific application.