Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers sold more than CA$104 million (US$102+ million) of trucks and heavy equipment during a record breaking three-day unreserved public auction at its permanent auction site in Edmonton, Alberta last week, from April 24 - 26, 2013.
Edmonton internet site records for most online bidders, online buyers and total gross auction proceeds from online bidders were all broken at the auction.
The auction featured a large selection of late-model heavy construction equipment, including more than 225 truck tractors, 190 pickup trucks, 135 hydraulic excavators, 115 crawler tractors, 85 dump trucks, 75 flatbed trucks, 60 skid steer loaders, 50 wheel loaders, 45 articulated dump trucks, 40 motor graders, 25 motor scrapers and more. More than 5,100 equipment items and trucks were sold to the highest bidders regardless of price—without minimum bids or reserve prices. Bids were made in person at the Edmonton auction site, online in real time at www.rbauction.com or by proxy.
"This April Edmonton auction was the largest Canadian auction so far this year—and our second largest auction globally in 2013. We had a great turn-out and bidding was strong throughout all three days of the auction," said Jim Rotlisberger, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "It's rare—outside of a Ritchie Bros. auction—to find such a wide range of quality equipment under one roof; it's that diverse selection that regularly attracts buyers from near and far to our auctions. And, with four more Edmonton auctions remaining in 2013, heavy equipment owners here in the Edmonton area will have plenty more opportunities to buy and sell equipment at strong, competitive market values."
More than 8,200 bidders from more than 40 countries, including 38 US states and all Canadian provinces and territories, registered to bid in person or online for the auction. More than CA$71 million (US$70+ million) of trucks and equipment was purchased by Alberta buyers while participants from outside Alberta purchased more than CA$33 million (US$32+ million) of trucks and equipment or 32 percent of total gross auction proceeds. More than 3,900 of the bidders participated online and purchased more than CA$36 million (US$36+ million) of equipment online.
Last week's unreserved public auction in Edmonton featured equipment for more than 765 sellers, including more than 170 heavy construction and transportation equipment items in a complete dispersal for Dawn Lynn Construction Ltd.—an oilfield construction company that has been selling with Ritchie Bros. since 1999.
"We saw very good activity levels from the bidding crowds during the auction," said Brian Ellis, president of Dawn Lynn Construction Ltd. "I couldn't be more pleased. Ritchie Bros. went above and beyond to ensure that I received the best results and best value for my equipment and, in doing so, provided me with much appreciated assurance as I head into retirement."