Sandhills Publishing announced it has acquired Equipmentfacts, a New Jersey-based online bidding platform specializing in global solutions for equipment and truck auctions. The acquisition expands the portfolio of the Nebraska-based tech company, whose brands include AuctionTime, BidCaller, Auction Flex, HiBid.com, Machinery Trader, TractorHouse, Truck Paper and RentalYard, as well as international resources and a suite of cloud-hosted business management solutions.

Equipmentfacts was established by Larry Garafola in 2001 under the premise that local live auctions should be able to accept bids from buyers anywhere in the world. In the nearly two decades since its founding, the company has grown to offer live-stream auction broadcasts, online bidding, advertising, and auction and bidder management solutions—all with the backing of tech support and multilingual customer service. In addition to providing secure, reliable solutions, the Equipmentfacts team has decades of combined industry experience.

"We know auctions, the equipment we're selling, and what it should sell for when administering an online auction," Garafola said. With the backing of Sandhills, Equipmentfacts will offer a more comprehensive suite of products and services to auctioneers, including tools that simplify financing, shipping, insurance, and other services, as well as asset valuations, cloud-based inventory management solutions, and industry-specific print and online marketing—a key value.

With the acquisition, Equipmentfacts will integrate into Sandhills' trade websites, enabling sellers who utilize it to take advantage of the market exposure provided by each industry-specific website. Sandhills also will establish an additional office (its eighth domestic location) in Flemington, N.J.

"The acquisition both complements and grows the auction solutions Sandhills provides auctioneers," said Sandhills' Director of New Products Evan Welch. "At the same time, it provides opportunities for Equipmentfacts customers to more effectively market equipment and trucks to buyers in these markets."