Sunstate expands trenching rentals with acquisition

US rental company Sunstate Equipment Co is to acquire sister companies Trench Shore Rentals and Trebor Shoring Rentals, which operate in Arizona, California and Texas.

Trench Shore rents from Phoenix, Tucson and El Paso, while Trebor Shoring has sites in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernadino. The companies were established 20 years ago.

“The combination of two family-founded, Phoenix-based rental industry pioneers is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for both teams,” said Chris Watts, President and CEO of Sunstate Equipment.

“Our companies share a long history of mutual respect, friendship, and shared values. By blending Sunstate’s deep knowledge of the general rental business with TSR’s expertise in underground shoring, we create new growth opportunities while developing more robust ways to serve our customers that work above and below ground.”

TSR will expand Sunstate’s existing shoring rental division, which was established in 2018 and has thirteen dedicated locations in the Gulf, Southeast and Northwest. Sunstate operates across 16 US states coast to coast.

Watts, who is the son of Sunstate founder Mike Watts, said there was no overlap between Sunstate’s trench division and TSR’s network; “This expansion is a perfect fit, both to accelerate our national growth plan for our Trench Division, as well as our existing general equipment rental operations in these areas.”

Chris Watts, CEO, Sunstate Equipment.

Dana Woudenberg, CEO of Trench Shore Rentals and Trebor Shoring Rentals, who is also a founding member of the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA), added; “We are excited for the opportunities that will be available to our employees… Sunstate and TSR share values that will make the combined company a force in the trench shoring industry.”

Sunstate, which is wholly owned by Sumitomo Corp, said TSR teams and locations will continue with normal operations following the acquisition.