It’s been an action-packed year in the used quarrying and construction equipment market – with multi-million euro acquisitions of online and onsite auctioneers, and huge sums being generated at auctions all over the world. So, what next for this industry sector? Guy Woodford reports
Jonnie Keys, general manager of
Keys says wheeled loaders, generators, backhoes and dumpers are all in constant demand, with OEMs engaged in hotly-contested competition for sales in many of the key world regions.
“Most significantly, China, with its comprehensive range of machinery from ‘conventional’ dozers, wheeled loaders and back hoes, through to aerial work platforms and crawler cranes is also looking beyond its traditional markets,” says Keys. “Companies like
Keys also predicts the next 12-18 months is likely to see a successful Chinese takeover of a major international construction equipment name, particularly given Zoomlion’s recent failed attempt to acquire US-headquartered
“The over-riding market impression is that while times remain tough, the trend is towards recovery, and the outlook is generally optimistic and buoyant,” summarises Keys. “Demand for quality second-hand equipment remains high, with certain models including quality telehandlers, mid and mini excavators and other utility machines such as versatile agricultural equipment, trading at a premium. Buyers are always going to be seeking a bargain, but they are also more discerning. They are increasingly prioritising machinery that incorporates safety features and environmentally compliant engines. From a sellers’ perspective, it’s therefore even more important to present used plant and machinery in the best possible condition, and be prepared to see it shipped to the parts of the globe that most need it.”
Euro Auctions saw higher turnouts, brisk trading and strong prices achieved at its three-day October auction in Leeds, England where 3,559 lots realised a total hammer price of over £28 million (€31 million).
A winning combination of some of the highest quality used equipment to be consigned to an auction to date, a strong Euro and a record-breaking 1800+ bidders registering (7% of whom were first time buyers with a large proportion of the total coming from overseas), resulted in a bumper sale. A high proportion of the lots sold went to mainland Europe and North America, with the Middle East also proving a popular destination. Around 5% of all purchases were destined to be shipped to the Middle East, meeting ongoing construction needs within the buoyant sales region.
“Average prices achieved per lot were over 16.5% higher [than the previous Leeds auction], with a high quality field of equipment in the auction supplied by some of the best known operators in the business, including M O’Brien, Ardent, Charles Wilson and
“We recorded an excellent turnout across all three days. Demand for used construction equipment is exceptionally high at the moment and good quality, well presented plant will always command a premium.”
The standout lot of the latest Leeds auction was a 2012 CAT 825H Compactor which caught the eye of a number of both international bidders online and those present at the event. It ultimately achieved £235,000 (€260,000) under the hammer.
Euro Auctions’ 26 acre Leeds auction site was expanded earlier in the year with the acquisition of an adjacent 80 acre plot of land. All the necessary infrastructure including the administrative offices, visitor parking, ancillary buildings and the main auction stages were already in place, but as increasing volumes of used equipment for the October Leeds auction was being assigned, 40 acres of the adjacent plot were immediately cleared and used to better display the equipment. During the auction, Euro Auctions said the hammer went down on a piece of equipment at the rate of one lot per minute in the main auction stage, with two additional rings for smaller equipment being required.
As this event closed, pre-registrations for the next three-day auction in Leeds (23-25 November 2016) were already said to be flooding in.
The first Euro Auctions’ sales in 2017 are at Leeds (25-27 January), in Dormagen, Germany (8-9 February), and in Brisbane, Australia (23 February).
Used equipment auction giant Ritchie Bros, has released details of its five biggest aggregates used equipment sector-related auction sales and its three biggest construction used equipment auction sales in 2016.
Topping the aggregate sales’ chart is a 2015
A 2012
“With the new allEquip, sellers who may have waited to market their equipment through online and onsite auctions now have a clear option to set their own prices, as well as the flexibility to see what offers might come,” said Matt Ackley, IronPlanet chief marketing officer. “Additionally, IronPlanet enables parallel listing so that sellers can market on their own website and on IronPlanet, reaching a seller’s local audience as well as our 1.5 million registered users. For buyers, the new allEquip is a great set and negotiated pricing format option to auction bidding, which also enables us to bring more quality equipment to market, faster.”
Hitachi medium and large excavators with less than 5,000 hours or less than five years old, and mini excavators with less than 3,500 hours, are eligible for the new programme. Hitachi Premium Used also applies to all ZW-series wheeled loaders above 93kW. They will be covered by Hitachi’s six-month/1,500-hour powertrain and hydraulics warranty.
Each Hitachi Premium Used machine is said to undergo a rigorous inspection and refurbishment process. This is carried out by an authorised Hitachi dealer using only Hitachi Genuine parts and lubricants, according to Hitachi specifications. Scheduled oil sampling is completed and maintenance records are available via Global e-Service, Hitachi’s remote machine monitoring website. The machines are painted, if required, to provide an immaculate appearance, and the undercarriage and tyres are guaranteed to have less than 50% wear.
Tom van Wijlandt, Manager Service Business Support at HCME, said: “Customers travelling to, or working in, different countries can benefit from the same Premium Used conditions and will be supported by the local authorised Hitachi dealer, irrespective of where they are on the continent.”
Hitachi Premium Used machines can be viewed on the new HCME website at
