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Ritchie Brothers announces the launch of three new permanent U.S. auction sites. |
April 10, 2007 • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is expanding its presence in the United States by opening three new offices this month in the Kansas City, Mo., Denver, Colo., and Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan areas. The three new locations bring the number of U.S. sites operated by the Vancouver, British Columbia-based construction and industrial equipment auctioneer to 19.
In South Vienna, Ohio, the company unveils a new 140-acre facility with its first unreserved truck and industrial equipment auction this week. Holding 30 unreserved auctions at temporary locations in Ohio during the past 15 years, the company stands to serve thousands of customers within the state at the permanent site, according to Scott McGregor, area manager.
Ritchie Bros. plans to replace a 37-acre location in Brighton, Colo., with a new 160-acre permanent site in Mead, outside of Denver. Scott Forke, Ritchie Bros. vice president, said the company has held 85 unreserved auctions in Denver since the early 1980s, attracting more than 48,000 bidders. A grand opening reception and an unreserved truck and equipment auction were held last week at the new facility.
In Odessa, Mo., outside of Kansas City, the company broke ground earlier this week at its newest permanent auction site. Construction is set to begin on the 140-acre property in the next few weeks. Jesse Cantin, area manager, says the auction facility, sitting on some 40 acres, will include a 28,000-square-foot auction theater and administrative offices; a 36,000-square-foot refurbishing building; and a 2,100-square-foot equipment check-in building.
The permanent site, which is expected to open in spring 2008, will replace an existing leased facility in Kansas City. Auctions will be held on the site in a temporary facility until then. Cantin said the company plans to hold approximately four unreserved industrial auctions per year at the site.
