Ritchie sells 61 cranes at Chicago auction

Industrial auctioneer Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, sold more than US$20 million of heavy equipment and trucks, including 61 cranes, at its unreserved public auction in Chicago, US on 16 and 17 July.

More than 2,200 people from 27 countries registered to bid on more than 2,700 pieces of used equipment, including more than 140 truck tractors and 160 trailers.

"We saw even greater international participation than usual in Chicago, largely due to the number of cranes in the auction," said Richard Evans, Ritchie Bros. regional manager. Crane buyers went from the US, Canada and the Middle East.

Imperial Crane Services from Illinois sold 22 units from its 200-strong rental fleet. "As a rental house it's important to keep our fleet up to date for the market," said Dave Dobson, Imperial Crane chief financial officer. "We decided to sell a large number of cranes in response to the current market conditions and our need to make room for the 30 new cranes we have on order for delivery this year, which is why we turned to Ritchie Bros."

There was also especially strong demand for trucks at the Chicago auction. "We've never sold so much transportation equipment in Chicago", Richard Evans said.