RECORDS were smashed during Euro Auctions’ three-day sale of used plant equipment, construction machinery and agricultural equipment in Leeds, when more than £31.5m changed hands.
The sale, at the firm’s Leeds site, saw 4645 lots go under the hammer, making it the largest single used plant and equipment auction held anywhere in Europe in recent years.
“We recorded an excellent turnout with more than 1000 bidders attending from more than 63 countries from around the globe. What’s more, 42% of all sales were placed via the internet, another all time record,” stated Jonnie Keys, general manager of Euro Auctions.
“In general, we find that buyers prefer a mix of onsite and online channels with many coming for the first day to physically view and inspect equipment before purchasing online. We’re happy to accommodate our customers however they wish to buy – onsite, online or both.”
Consignments of low hours, well maintained equipment, came from a broad cross section of sources and noticeable from many of the UK’s leading plant hire companies as they make way for new additions to their inventories, particularly with favourable ‘new equipment’ discounts being offered by manufacturers and as they look to increase overall utilisation figures.
The aggressively acquisitive Ardent Company (which recently took over OneCall and ForkRent) consigned more than 200, 2013-15 machines to the sale.
A-Plant also had forward in excess of 300 ex-rental machines and more than 200 machines were collectively offered by CW Plant Hire, Select, WH Bond and Keyway.
“The farming industry has been having a tough time over the last 18 months but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel with the softening of sterling leading to an increase in milk, beef and pork prices,” said Mr Keys.
“Sales of new agri equipment have been slow, with demand filtering down to the second hand market.
“This strong demand for quality low hour machines can be seen from the batch of McCormick tractors that were seen in the auction, including a 2004 MX135 with Quickie Q65 loader, bucket and forks with 1800 hours making £31,500 and a 2005 CX85 with Quickie Q940 loader, bucket and forks with 1850 hours selling for £15,000.
“We have been inundated with enquiries for these tractors and this is reflected in the prices achieved, which were above expectations,” he added.
Consignments included 50-plus tractors (including John Deere, New Holland, JCB, Massey Ferguson, McCormick and Claas), 30 agricultural trailers, 50 telehandlers, 20 flat bed trailers, plus a good consignment of back hoe loaders, spreaders and skid steer loaders.
Other noteworthy items sold included a good choice of JCB 540 170s and 535 140s, an array of loaders, graders, excavators, rollers, plus various size dumpers, forklifts, man lifts and trailers, augmented by a fleet of other vehicles ranging from quad buggies, executive cars and low mileage prestige 4x4s, including a number of Land Rover Defenders.
In addition to strong attendance by UK and Republic of Ireland based bidders and buyers, there was also strong representation from Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Finland, Spain and Belgium with quality equipment and favourable exchange rates leading to increased participation.
Mr Keys continued: “We see very strong demand from across Europe with Dutch, Polish and Spanish buyers available in abundance.
“Indeed, we have specifically seen increased Spanish involvement at our Leeds site which, again, shows the demand for good quality used equipment is picking up which is of course a good indicator for the overall economy.”
More than 6% of total sales are destined for delivery to the Middle East, with around 1% being exported to each Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America, added Mr Keys.