Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Five big ticket agriculture equipment items: April 2013

2013-05-21T20:16:18Z

Ritchie Bros. held 62 unreserved public equipment auctions in Canada, the U.S., Panama, the U.K., France, Germany and China in April 2013. Take a look at five of the biggest ticket agriculture equipment items we sold that month.

1. 2012 John Deere 9560R 4WD tractor – CA$315,000

This 2012 John Deere 9560R 4WD tractor sold for CA$315,000 (approx. US$310,000) at our Grenfell, SK, Canada auction on April 4, 2013.

The 9560R is powered by a 560hp engine and weighs in at more than 37,700lbs. This one had 225 hours on the meter.

2. 2010 John Deere 9870STS combine – CA$270,000

This 2010 John Deere 9870STS combine sold for CA$270,000 (approx. US$266,400) at our Churchbridge, SK, Canada auction on April 6, 2013.

This 9870STS came with a 615 header, an auger extension, grain tank extension and had 588 hours on the meter.

Read more about combine harvesters in this equipment spotlight on combines.

3. 2011 Case IH 4420 sprayer – CA$252,500

This 2011 Case IH 4420 120 ft high clearance sprayer sold for CA$252,500 (approx. US$248,000) at our Duval, SK, Canada auction on April 3, 2013.

This 4420 featured a 1200 gallon stainless steel tank, triple nozzle bodies and had 597 hours on the meter.

4. 2011 John Deere 9530T track tractor – CA$250,000

This 2011 John Deere 9530T track tractor sold for CA$250,000 (approx. US$246,000) at our Regina, SK, Canada auction on April 2, 2013.

The 9530T has 36in tracks, HID lighting, and is powered by a 491hp engine. This one had 909 hours on the meter.

If you’re in the market, read some useful tips on what to inspect when buying a used farm tractor.

5. 2012 John Deere 1870 56 ft air drill – CA$227,500

This unused 2012 John Deere 1870 56 ft air drill sold for CA$227,500 (approx. US$224,000) at our Provost, AB, Canada auction on April 8, 2013.

This 1870 air drill came with a 1910 tow-between tank, a 10in load auger and it had 0 hours on the meter.

Equipment spotlight: all terrain cranes

2013-05-16T18:18:02Z

A massive 700-ton Demag all terrain crane—the largest all terrain crane ever sold at a Ritchie Bros. auction—will be sold in Spain in June 2013. Which made us think: when were all terrain cranes first built–and when did they get so big?

Construction cranes were first used in Greece during the late 6th century. Early cranes consisted of a rope and pulley system powered by either men or animals. These early cranes conducted vertical lifts. Later versions, such as the slewing crane used in the in the construction of Germany’s Cologne Cathedral during the late 1300s to the mid 1800s, were powered by treadwheels—essentially hamster wheels for humans—and conducted horizontal lifts.¹

The first mobile cranes

Where early cranes were powered by humans, animals or nature, it wasn’t until the introduction of the locomotive crane in the early 1900s that cranes became self-propelled and mobile. Cumbersome, powered by steam and limited to travel on railways, these early locomotive cranes were not as mobile and versatile as today’s modern mobile cranes.

Mobile cranes come in all shapes and sizes—from tracked crawler cranes with telescopic or lattice booms, to wheeled hydraulic trucks, rough terrains and all terrain cranes.²

Hydraulic truck vs. rough terrain vs. all terrain cranes

Like crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes are designed to work on the job site—they have high wheel bases and are sometimes called off-road cranes. Hydraulic truck cranes are street legal and well-suited to travel between job sites.

All terrain cranes combine the best of both worlds. They are designed to travel on roadways, but they can also traverse the rougher terrain found on construction sites, reaching speeds of up to 40mph. All terrain cranes bring together the convenience and mobility of a truck mounted crane with the agility and function of a pick-and-carry rough terrain crane.³

All terrain crane uses

All terrain cranes have up to nine axles; for stability when lifting heavy loads, all terrain cranes use outriggers for support. With lifting capacities ranging from 30 tons to over 1,000 metric tons3, reach heights of up to 500 feet and crab steering, all terrain cranes are commonly used for the installation of oil and gas pipelines, the erection of wind turbines, the lifting of heavy pre-cast concrete building segments and other construction and heavy haulage applications.

All terrain crane makers

US-based Terex, a division of GM, was first on the mobile all terrain crane scene when it introduced an all terrain crane with a lifting capacity of 12 tons in 1956.⁴ In the years that followed, all terrain cranes grew larger and more powerful. By 1993 the 50-ton all terrain crane was introduced by competitor Demag. In 2002, Terex acquired the Demag crane plant in Zweibrucken as part of downsizing at the start of the recession, but it wasn’t until 2011 that Terex had controlling shares in Demag Cranes.⁵

The 2008 Demag AC700 700-ton 18x8x16 all terrain crane featured in the video below will be sold at our unreserved auction in Ocana/Moncofa, Spain on June 6 & 7, 2013—along with more than 25 other cranes.

In 2012 XCMG, a leading manufacturer of construction machinery in China, launched the QAY 1600, the world’s largest all-terrain crane chassis.⁶ The QAY 1600 features a total of nine axles, a hydro-pneumatic suspension system and all-wheel multi-mode electric-hydraulic steering.

Switzerland-based Liebherr Group is another well-known all terrain crane manufacturer. Liebherr’s all terrain mobile cranes account for 44% of sales worldwide.⁶ Months before XCMG’s launch of the nine-axle QAY 1600, Liebherr launched the LTM 1750-9, a nine-axle all terrain crane with a 750-ton lift capacity and telescopic boom designed for roadway travel and work on industrial and petrochemical sites. ⁷ The LTM 1750-9.1 is shadowed by Liebherr’s LTM 11200-9.1, the world’s largest all terrain crane at the time of its launch in 2011.

The LTM 11200-9.1 has a lifting capacity of 1,200 tons and an eight-part telescopic boom that reaches 328 feet. As most all terrain cranes, the LTM 11200-9.1 has two engines: a 680 HP engine to power the carrier and a 6-cylinder 326 HP engine to power the boom. Because of its weight, the boom ships separately from the roadable 65-foot carrier.⁸

In March 2012, the 2008 Liebherr LTM1400-7.1 400-ton 14X8X14 all terrain crane shown in the video below was purchased for 1,625,000 EUR (approx. US$2,145,000) at a Ritchie Bros. auction in France. (Sign up for a free account to see more all terrain crane prices from recent auctions.)

Find all terrain cranes for your heavy lifting and hauling project at an upcoming Ritchie Bros. unreserved public auction.

Sources:

¹	http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/03/history-of-human-powered-cranes.html
²	http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/The-Mobile-Crane-Through-the-First-50-Years-in-America/16833/
³	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_(machine)
⁴	http://www.terex.com/cranes/en/aboutus/LegacyBrands/Demag/index.htm
⁵	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demag
⁶	http://www.cmbol.com/news/detail/2012/10/2012101917110563.shtm
⁷	http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-20439-the-big-interview-liebherrs-christoph-kleine/#.UZFfiqJweHs
⁸	http://gizmodo.com/5821030/worlds-tallest-mobile-crane-is-also-worlds-strongest
⁹	http://www.bigge.com/crane-sales/crane-facts/

Five big ticket construction equipment items: April 2013

2013-05-14T17:26:21Z

1. 2009 Caterpillar D11T crawler tractor – CA$630,000

This 2009 Caterpillar D11T crawler tractor sold for CA$630,000 (approx. US$614,000) at our Edmonton, AB, Canada auction in April 2013.

Weighing in at more than 23,000lbs, the massive D11T is powered by a 12 cylinder, 935hp turbocharged engine. This one had 16,038 hours on the meter. See full Caterpillar D11T specs on RitchieSpecs.

2. 2008 Caterpillar 631G motor scraper – CA$495,000

This 2008 Caterpillar 631G motor scraper sold for CA$495,000 (approx. US$482,000) at our Edmonton auction in April 2013.

The 47.8 foot long 631G can achieve an 11.5ft cut to a maximum depth of 17.2in and is powered by a 515hp Cat 3408E engine. This one had 3,026 hours on the meter. Get the full Caterpillar 631G specs on RitchieSpecs.

3. 2007 Kobelco 100 ton crawler crane – US$455,000

This 2007 Kobelco CK1000III 100-ton crawler crane sold for US$455,000 at our Houston, TX, USA auction in April 2013.

This 75 ton capacity CK1000III came with a Johnson 3920lb 4 sheave block, a 160ft tubular boom and has a 13 ton ball load capacity. It had 6,787 hours on the meter. See more cranes for sale in upcoming auctions.

4. 2009 Liebherr demolition excavator - €290,000

This 2009 Liebherr R954CV-HDW demolition excavator sold for €290,000 (approx. US$381,000) at our Munich, Germany auction on April 18, 2013 (during bauma 2013).

This R954CV-HDW came with a 28m, 3 piece demolition attachment with a water sprinkling system and an additional earthmoving attachment with rock bucket. It had 3,975 hours on the meter.

5. 2002 American HC150 crawler crane – US$355,000

This 2002 American HC150 150-ton self-erecting crawler crane sold for US$355,000 at our Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA auction on April 9, 2013.

The HC150 came with a 150ft tubular boom and is powered by a Cummins 6CTA 6 cylinder, 240hp engine. It had 3,565 hours on the meter.

From job site to auction to job site! How Ritchie Bros. sells equipment

2013-05-10T19:00:16Z

Every excavator, every truck, every dozer – all of the equipment we sell has a story behind it, and probably plenty more ahead of it. Passing through our unreserved auctions is just one short chapter in the life of a piece of equipment. If you’ve ever wondered what happens in that chapter, here’s a look at the path equipment takes from being consigned by a seller to being put to work by a new owner.

It’s time to sell

At some point you make the decision to sell equipment rather than have it sit idle not making you money. Perhaps you’ve finished a big job, started a different type of project, or maybe you’re planning to retire and wind down your business. Whatever your reasons, after weighing your options for selling equipment, you decide that a full-service Ritchie Bros. unreserved auction is the best solution.

Discuss your options for selling.

Your Ritchie Bros. representative will meet with you to discuss what you’re selling and when you want to sell it. They’re experienced people who have a unique knowledge and perspective of both your business and the global equipment market. They’ll assess the value of your assets, discuss your various options and make recommendations that meet your specific needs and situation. Once you’ve got an agreement in place, you’re off to the races.

Marketing to the world.

We’re a full-service auction company – that means we take care of everything for you: storing your equipment and trucks, marketing, handling all buyer inquiries and inspections, getting your equipment sold on auction day and collecting the proceeds for you.

Marketing begins immediately, and quickly kicks into high gear. Equipment being sold is posted on our 21-language website, which received more than 5 million unique visitors in 2012. Print ads, direct mail, email and other media expose your equipment to potential buyers around the world, and focus on where your equipment is in demand.

Getting your equipment ready to sell.

The sooner you get your equipment to our secure auction sites, the sooner you’ve got a lot less to worry about. Equipment is checked in at the yard office. If you’ve decided to have any cleaning, repair work or painting completed before auction day, it’s off to our professional on-site refurbishing facilities.

We then collect high resolution photos and detailed equipment information like make, model, year, meter hours, mileage, attachments – any detail that will help potential buyers – and upload that information to our website (usually within 24-48 hours). Knowing that equipment comes with clear title is important to most buyers, so we also search each item for liens—and if we can’t deliver clear title, we offer the buyer a refund.

Equipment inspections begin.

The equipment is then moved to the “ready line” in the main yard, where you’ll see similar equipment neatly lined up and grouped together by category. That makes it easy for potential buyers to test, inspect and compare similar items in one convenient location.

Most people choose to test the equipment before they bid (or have a mechanic do it for them)—especially on high-value items. Allowing that kind of open, transparent access benefits both parties – it gives buyers confidence in what they’re bidding on, and sellers benefit from more interest and demand for their items.

Auction day.

Our auctions are big, exciting events that attract hundreds, even thousands of people from around the world. We have the equipment people need—and we sell it all by unreserved public auction, with no minimum bids or reserve prices. That commitment makes all the difference on auction day, as you can see in this video:

Our auctions are also conducted live, with both on-site and online bidding. It’s a highly-organized operation, and our dedicated team of customer service staff, auctioneers, bid catchers, internet services and support staff has one goal in mind – helping people buy and sell the gear they need as easily and efficiently as possible.

Mobile equipment is driven across a ramp in front of the crowd of bidders; stationary equipment is sold outside in the yard or using our virtual ramp screens to display the equipment inside. Either way, the goal is to make sure the buyers are comfortable and able to see exactly what they’re bidding on—whether they are bidding on-site or online.

Sold!

Bidders compete by offering higher and higher bids for each item. When the highest bid has been placed, the auctioneer announces “Sold!” and your equipment officially has a new owner. The buyer’s bidder number and sold price are recorded and matched up with the lot number so accounts can be settled after the auction, and it’s onto the next item.

Onto a new chapter.

After the auction, buyers pay for their purchases and arrange to collect or have their new equipment shipped out of our yard and off to where they need it, and sellers receive the proceeds from sale within three weeks of the auction. Where does equipment end up? We’ve sold excavators in Italy to buyers in Australia, and dozers in Texas to buyers in Dubai. Equipment can end up one town over, or half way around the world.

If you need to sell equipment or trucks, contact your local Ritchie Bros. representative and find out how we can help you.

Equipment spotlight: combine harvesters

2013-05-09T16:49:25Z

Combine harvesters – more commonly referred to as simply “combines” – are able to perform the incredibly delicate task of harvesting and separating grain from the plant stalk, while covering hundreds of acres of farmland in a single day. Combines are used to harvest a variety of crops like wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, soybeans and flax. Although their basic functionality hasn’t changed much since they were invented by Hiram Moore in 1834¹, combines have evolved into highly-adaptable, computer-controlled machines. They save farmers hundreds of hours of back-breaking manual labor, once completed with hand-held tools like scythes and sickles. Watch the video below—hand harvesting wheat at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm in the U.K.—for a sense of the amount of work involved.

Combine harvesters—what’s in a name?

The name “combine harvester” comes from the three functions it performs: reaping (cutting and gathering), threshing (loosening the grain from the chaff – the protective casings of the seeds), and winnowing (separating the grain from the chaff). John Deere is the world’s largest manufacturer of combines. Other common manufacturers include Case IH, New Holland and Massey Ferguson.

The John Deere S690 combine is one of the world’s largest combines, with a 400 bu (14,100 liter) grain tank. A 2012 John Deere S690 was sold for CA$405,000 (approx. US$404,000) at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Grande Prairie, Alberta in August 2012, making it the highest-priced combine at our auctions in 2012. See two years of combine prices with a free account on our website.

In 2011, another one of the world’s biggest combine harvesters, the Claas Lexion 770 TT, established a new world record for harvesting wheat. The machine harvested 675.84 tonnes of wheat over an eight hour period, maintaining an average harvesting rate of 85.5 tonnes/hour.²

How combines work

Even if you don’t work in farming, you’ve probably seen video of combines rolling across the prairie, with their long, horizontal reels spinning at the front as though they’re propelling the big machines through endless waves of wheat. Think of the combine as a conveyor system on wheels that gathers and cuts the crop, removes the edible grain, off-loads it onto trucks or trailers, and then expels the waste straw out the rear (which can be baled for feed or bedding).

As the combine moves forward, the header – which is interchangeable depending on the type of crop – pushes the stalk of the crop into the pickup reel. The crop is cut by the cutter bar, which runs the width of the machine, and then pushed into an auger.

The auger (or conveyor) carries the cut crop inside the combine to a rotating threshing drum that essentially beats the stalks to release the grain. The separated grain is then fed through a series of sieves and collected in a tank, while the waste straw is carried through the machine by a conveyor known as a “straw walker”. Depending on what type of grain is being harvested, the threshing drum can be configured to optimize the separation and output.³

From horse-drawn to all mod cons

Early combines were pulled by horses or mules; for a brief time, combines were even steam-powered.⁴ With the advent of the gasoline engine, combines evolved to be either tractor-drawn, PTO-powered (power takeoff) or self-propelled. Today’s modern combines rely on powerful, highly-efficient diesel engines (often turbo-charged) that can produce upwards of 300hp.
Computer controls allow operators to monitor and adjust the combine’s performance on the fly. Other mod cons include pressurized cabs (to keep out dust and dirt) and GPS systems that can guide a combine to follow straight and curved lines through fields within inches of accuracy.⁵
Hillside combines use a hydraulic leveling mechanism and can work on slopes of up to 40 degrees. The leveler provides the combine with an adjusted center of gravity, diminishing its chances of falling over and keeping grain from sliding to one side while it’s being processed.⁶

Combines for sale

Technologically-advanced and powerful – modern combines are highly valuable pieces of agricultural equipment. Find combines for sale at upcoming Ritchie Bros. auctions.

Sources:

¹	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combine_harvester
²	http://www.claas.com/cl-pw/en/press/mitteilungen/2011/start,cid=838884,bpSite=51524,lang=en_UK.html
³	http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4897020_combine-harvester-work.html
⁴	http://www.ehow.com/facts_5006941_history-combine-harvester.html
⁵	http://www.ehow.com/list_7474567_combine-harvester-specifications.html
⁶	http://www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/combine
	http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/products/equipment/grain_harvesting/combines/combines.page

Equipment inspection tips: motor graders

2013-05-03T23:07:25Z

A wide variety of motor graders are bought and sold at unreserved Ritchie Bros. auctions each year. You can see selling prices for thousands of motor graders under auction results, or search our current inventory for motor graders selling soon.

If you are planning to buy a motor grader at one of our upcoming equipment auctions, make sure your inspection list includes a thorough look at these five motor grader components:

1. Frame

Walk around the motor grader, paying attention to the frame of the machine. Make note of any fishplates (metal reinforcements placed over or even behind a repaired crack). Fishplates help distribute loads away from the repair. If possible, confirm that the entire repair was carried out by a qualified and experienced welder.

2. Circle

Moldboards are mounted to the motor grader’s circle. By manipulating the position or angle of the circle, a motor grader operator can manipulate the angle and tilt of the moldboard. Without a properly maintained and operating circle, an operator will find it extremely difficult to carry out fine grading tasks. Check the circle’s surface for any signs of uneven wear. An improperly aligned circle will result in uneven wear on pinion gear teeth. In a properly aligned circle, uneven wear and the resulting vertical play are prevented through the use of shims. If the circle has been shimmed, start up the motor grader, put the circle through its full range of motions and check for any play.

3. Moldboard

The moldboard’s cutting edge, bolted along the bottom of the moldboard and along the sides, should be straight or true. Rock and soil will eventually wear down the center of a cutting edge causing it to cup. It’s inevitable: eventually a cutting edge will need to be replaced. How often depends on the type of work in which the motor grader was used. Cutting edges used to remove snow from smooth roads will last considerably longer than those used to maintain rocky, unfinished logging roads. Check to see how much cutting edge remains on the moldboard. The cutting edge (along with the bolts holding it in place) should be replaced when it’s half an inch or less. You want to avoid having the moldboard do the work of the cutting edge. It’s more economical to replace a motor grader’s cutting edge than its moldboard.

4. Articulation point and linkage system

Depending on the motor grader manufacturer, the articulation point could be in the front of the cab—John Deere motor graders, for example—or directly behind the cab, as is the case with Champion motor graders. Look for signs of wear in the articulation point. The amount of wear will depend on the type of environment in which the motor grader was operated. Rough, uneven, rocky ground is much harsher on a motor grader’s articulation point than smooth soil.

Also look for any repairs and whether the front and back half of the motor grader are in line. Any difference in level—for instance, if the cab is sitting higher than the engine compartment— could mean that the articulation point is bent or loose. Move to the front of the motor grader and check the linkage system. When the tires are turned and leaned, strain and stress can cause damage to the frame and the linkage system. Any evidence of wear or damage will show on the inside of the frame and on the front axle. If there is evidence of damage, check the steering components and make sure everything is straight.

5. Hydraulics – cylinders, lines and hoses

Start your visual inspection of the hydraulics by looking at the ground beneath the machine, not at the actual components. If there are any fluid leaks present, there is a good chance you will find evidence here. Once you’ve checked under and around the motor grader, look closely at all cylinders, lines and hoses within the engine compartment, circle drive housing, etc. Make note of any signs of leaks or other damage that will require repair.

If you’re interested in buying motor graders being sold in upcoming Ritchie Bros. auctions, visit the auction site to test, inspect and compare different models before you bid. Every item will be sold “as is, where is” on auction day.

Like motor graders? Share this article with your colleagues on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook, or read about the history of the motor grader—and see some original models—in our recent equipment spotlight on motor graders.

Construction equipment highlights at bauma 2013

2013-05-02T22:03:39Z

The global construction industry is still facing significant challenges—but that didn’t stop the world from showing up at bauma 2013, the world’s largest construction equipment trade show, which took place in Munich, Germany from April 15 – 21. This year’s show set records for attendance and participation:

530,000 visitors from 200+ countries
200,000 visitors from outside Germany
3,420 exhibitors from 57 countries

"This is very good for our industry in these turbulent times and it will certainly give it a boost," said Johann Sailer, Chairman of the Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association of VDMA and President of the Committee for the European Construction Equipment Industry (CECE).¹

Chinese manufacturers on the rise

Germany had the most exhibitors at bauma 2013, followed by Italy, then China. More than 340 Chinese equipment manufacturers took part this year (about 10% of the total number), compared to only eight in 2004. Klaus Dittrith, chairman and CEO of Messe München International Group, the tradeshow’s organizers, commented: “It indicates that Chinese companies now have great strength and confidence to compete with global giants in the sector." ²

Aerial view of bauma 2013

Watch this video to get a sense of the size of bauma 2013—555,000m² of exhibition space to be exact—and just how much heavy construction equipment was on display:

New construction equipment models

The world’s top construction equipment makers all put on impressive displays for visitors to bauma 2013. Many chose the event to launch new construction equipment and trucks:

Volvo revealed the long-awaited Volvo FMX—according to Volvo, “probably the best and toughest construction truck in the world” ³

Caterpillar introduced its 6020B mining shovel, 988K wheel loader and 336E hybrid excavator (pictured below), which it described as a “game changer”—the hybrid 336E is said to use 25% less fuel than the standard 336E hydraulic excavator, significantly reducing operating costs⁴
The massive Liebherr HS 8300 HD hybrid duty cycle crawler crane was also launched at bauma—weighing in at over 350 tonnes, the crane has a 68m boom and an operating weight of 771,618 Ibs⁵

Big machines on display

The latest equipment models attracted interest at bauma—and orders—but, as usual, the biggest machines on display got the most attention. Some of the highlights at the show: the Hitachi EX5600 mining excavator; the Caterpillar 777G rock truck, 992K wheel loader and 6020B excavator sitting side-by-side; and Liebherr’s impressive outdoor display featuring the massive 9400 excavator, T 264 mining truck and LR1100 crane.

Construction equipment auction in Munich

Ritchie Bros. welcomed visitors from all over the world to our booth at bauma 2013, dressed up to look like a German beer hall. On April 18, we gave our customers the option to use computers in our booth to bid online at our Munich auction. We recently signed a multi-year agreement with Messe München International, so we’ll be conducting construction equipment auctions in Munich right on the bauma show grounds, starting in July 2013.

Want more big equipment action? Mark your calendars: the next European bauma will take place in Munich from April 11 to 17, 2016. And if you can’t wait that long, visit bauma Africa in September 2013 or bauma China in November 2014.

Sources

¹	http://www.bauma.de/en/fuer_die_presse/presseinformationen/nr__24.php
²	http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/shandong/e/2013-04/19/content_16423697.htm
³	http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/UAE-market/en-ae/newsmedia/pressreleases/Pages/pressreleases.aspx?pubID=15505
⁴	http://www.worldhighways.com/event-news/bauma-2013/news/earthmoving-and-excavation/cat-launches-336e-h-hybrid-excavator-at-bauma/
⁵	http://www.liebherr.ca/CH/en-GB/products_ca-ch.wfw/id-20847-0/print-True/measure-nonMetric

Tier 4 - better for the environment, but what about the used equipment market?

2013-04-29T20:45:38Z

Whether you’re a business owner, a heavy equipment operator, or both – if your work involves using big machinery in the U.S., you’ve probably been paying pretty close attention to the introduction of the Tier 4 emissions standards by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).1 North of the border, Environment Canada is essentially mirroring the new regulations with emission standards and testing that will align with those being put in place by the EPA. In fact, countries all around the world are starting to introduce more stringent emission standards for heavy equipment.

Tier 4: the facts
The mandate of Tier 4 emission standards is simple: significantly reduce the amount of NOx (nitrogen oxide), HC (hydro carbons) and PM (particulate matter) produced and released into the atmosphere as a result of running heavy equipment and other types of non-road engines.

The “tiered” series of emissions regulations have been phased in since 1996, and will be fully in place by 2015
Older Tier 0 engines have no modern emissions controls; in comparison, new Tier 4 engines have close to zero emissions
Tier 4 requirements apply only to new engines; there is no federal U.S. mandate to upgrade existing engines to the new Tier 4 standards
New Tier 4 generation engines and equipment must use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD), used only in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan
States can set additional emissions regulations (as California is doing with regulations to upgrade and modernize in-use off-road equipment2)
After the deadlines manufacturers can only produce equipment with Tier 4 engines; however, dealers can continue selling Tier 3 machines
There are no constraints on buying or selling non-Tier 4 equipment

Long-term benefits
The long-term benefits of Tier 4 regulations are considered significant. According to DieselNet: “When the full inventory of older non-road engines are replaced by Tier 4 engines, annual emission reductions are estimated at 738,000 tons of NOx and 129,000 tons of PM. By 2030, 12,000 premature deaths would be prevented annually due to the implementation of the proposed standards.”3

Impact on used equipment values
So what does this all mean on the used equipment market? A few factors will come into play:

Newer, high tier equipment is more expensive to produce, which could reduce demand; however, emissions-compliant equipment may be required on certain contracts, especially public projects, increasing demand
Until ULSD becomes available, Tier 4 engines will need to be de-tiered to be usable in most markets outside the U.S.—as a result, according to Ritchie Bros. President Rob Mackay, “the value of this Tier 4 equipment is a significant unknown.”
Diesel equipment is known for its durability, so Tier 4 equipment will represent only a fraction of in-use equipment for some time—which may result in further changes to state or federal regulations, with unknown impacts (read about the impact of California regulations in this testimonial)

Ritchie Bros. CEO Peter Blake discusses Tier 4 impacts in this short video clip:

There’s no doubt that Tier 4 regulations will affect the used equipment market—exactly how remains to be seen. Whether you’re buying or selling equipment, the most important thing is to stay informed. And if you’re looking for some advice, talk to your Ritchie Bros. rep before you buy or sell.

For more in-depth details about clean diesel engines and diesel emissions, read the excellent summary of different countries’ emissions standards on DieselNet.

Resources and sources:

¹	http://www.aem.org/PDF/DTF_Tier4WP_FIN.pdf
²	www.arb.ca.gov/diesel
³	http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/us/nonroad.php#tier4
⁴	http://www.equipmentworld.com/ritchie-bros-president-sees-turnaround-for-construction-unsure-on-value-of-tier-4 http://www.equipmentworld.com/tier-4-will-tough-regulations-make-construction-equipment-resale-a-quarantine-market/

What’s Happening in Construction: April 2013 Edition

2013-04-26T19:32:06Z

Caterpillar revises 2013 outlook, announces Q1 results

With Q1 sales down from US$16 to US$13.2 billion year-on-year, Caterpillar amended its 2013 sales forecast downward to US$57-$61 billion (from US$60-$68 billion). The company cited the mining sector as a key reason for the decrease in expectations.

“Our revised 2013 outlook reflects a sales decline of about 50 percent from 2012 for traditional Cat machines used in mining and a decline of about 15 percent for sales of machines from our Bucyrus acquisition,” said Doug Oberhelman, chairman/CEO.

The economies of the U.S. and China were mentioned as performing within company expectations.

To read the full news release, go to www.caterpillar.com.¹

JCB announces record profits for 2012

Despite what JCB said was a 10% contraction in the global machine market in 2012, the company announced its best earnings results over its 67-year history.

Machine sales increased slightly to 69,250 units in 2012 (from 69,100 in 2011). Profits rose by £10 million to £365 million. Total turnover remained unchanged at £2.7 billion.

According to COO Graeme Macdonald during bauma 2013 in Munich: the company maintained its position as the number one construction equipment manufacturer in the UK, Europe and India, as well as the number one manufacturer of loader backhoes and telescopic handlers.²

Marginal growth for global construction equipment heavy weights

According to KHL’s Yellow Table, the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturers increased sales by +2.6% in 2012 to US$186 billion. While a record for the industry, the low rate of growth reflected weak conditions in 2012.

Top 10 equipment manufacturers ranked by revenues on construction equipment sales (2012):

Caterpillar
Komatsu
Hitachi Construction Machinery
Volvo Construction Equipment
Sany
Zoomlion
Liebherr
Terex
Deere
Doosan³

Read more about the world’s top construction equipment manufacturers on our blog.

Chinese construction machinery sales beat North America and Eurozone results

Figures from Off-Highway-Research indicate that China’s total share of global sales of mobile construction machinery in 2012 was 30%, compared to 22% in North America and 12% Europe.

The high percentage of sales in China last year was achieved despite a 30% decline in the domestic market. A decline in orders and timely payments from state-owned companies as well as allegations of improper accounting by domestic companies hampered the Chinese construction machinery industry in 2012.

Large volumes of unsold inventory are predicted to affect the market for 2013.

Despite these recent struggles, China remains the leading market for construction equipment, as the world’s most populous country continues to urbanize and its economic growth maintains a robust momentum.⁴

Read the complete story on designbuildsource.com.au.

Gold takes largest one-day plunge in 30 years

The price of gold dropped $140.40 to $1,360.60 (9.4%) per ounce on Monday, April 15th –the largest one-day drop since February 1983.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the drop in gold prices coincides with weakness in the prices of other commodities. Some see this as an indication the global economy may be slowing.

Pricing of energy, metals and other commodities are intricately sensitive to changes in demand, and consequently, are an indicator of the pace of industrial activity around the world.

"We continue to see a slide in global commodity prices," economists at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. told clients. "To the extent that the move reflects weakening demand, the signal is of decelerating global factory output."⁵

Read the full story at online.wsj.com.

Sources:

¹	Caterpillar revises 2013 outlook, announces Q1 results
²	JCB announces record profits for 2012
³	Marginal growth for global construction equipment heavy weights
⁴	Chinese construction machinery sales beat North America and Eurozone results
⁵	Gold takes largest one-day plunge in 30 years

Ritchie Bros.' first equipment auction in China: similar but different

2013-05-10T23:42:33Z

Ritchie Bros. got started in 1958, and we now conduct hundreds of unreserved public equipment auctions around the world each year. In 2012, we held auctions in 13 countries. So what made Ritchie Bros.’ first auction in China—held in Beijing on April 18, 2013—different than all the other auctions, and in what ways was it the same? Let’s take a look.

#1 – the auction

Take a look at the video below and you’ll notice that the first equipment auction at our Beijing site was a lot like every Ritchie Bros. auction—unreserved and open to the public; a yard full of equipment and trucks, lined up neatly and ready to inspect; equipment being driven over a ramp in front of a crowd of people; and buyers participating in person and online.

# 2 – the equipment

The same types of equipment are used the world over, but there are regional differences—including popular brands. Like every Ritchie Bros. auction, our first China auction featured a wide selection of equipment—hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, compactors, cranes and more. And along with the globally-recognized brands Caterpillar, Komatsu and John Deere, we also sold equipment made by XCMG, SEM, Jaingong and others.

The highest priced item on auction day: an unused 2010 Kato HD820V hydraulic excavator, which sold for 545000 CNY (approx. US$88,000). (See all the equipment prices under auction results, free with an online account.)

#3 – the people

More than 1,000 people came to our Beijing auction site to experience the first Ritchie Bros. auction in China. Many people are unfamiliar with auctions in China—or they associate them with the sale of fine art and wine—so they seized the opportunity to see a fair, professional equipment auction with their own eyes.

Another 150 people used our online bidding service—now available in seven languages, including Chinese—to bid online. In total, the auction attracted more than 500 registered bidders from over 30 countries.

#4 – the Canadian flag

You’ll see the Canadian flag at every Ritchie Bros. auction. We conducted our first auctions in Canada, and our global headquarters are still located in British Columbia. In late 2012 Ritchie Bros. became the first auction company to be granted wholly owned foreign enterprise status in China, paving the way for this first equipment auction in Beijing.

#5 – the lion dance

At Ritchie Bros., we’re proud of our Canadian roots—and we’re also proud to be part of communities all over the world. We celebrated our first equipment auction in China with a traditional Chinese lion dance, which is thought to bring good luck—possibly the first lion dance ever performed at an equipment auction. In Mexico we celebrated our grand opening with a mariachi band; in Kansas City with BBQ; in North Carolina with BBQ and bluegrass.

See our calendar of upcoming equipment auctions for the date of our next auction in China and at more than 40 other Ritchie Bros. auction sites around the world.

And subscribe to our YouTube channel to see new auction and equipment videos in future.

Equipment spotlight: motor graders

2013-04-24T21:07:40Z

From fine grading to pushing material

Motor graders are used for a variety of construction, mining and road building applications, in particular for applications requiring precision to within a fraction of an inch. Removing a surface layer of asphalt or snow from a roadway or angling a road base to a precise degree of slope to create a path for water drainage are all fine grading tasks best left to motor graders and their experienced operators. If heavy equipment were knives, a motor grader would be a carving knife used by a skilled craftsman with years of experience.

Motor graders resemble long malnourished bulldozers, except the blade (also referred to as the moldboard) attaches to the frame from a circle-mount in the middle of the machine and the engine sits behind the cab. The engine was originally placed in front of the cab until it was discovered to block too much of the operator’s view of the blade. ¹

A motor grader blade has a greater range of motion than a bulldozer. An operator can move the blade up, down or sideways to move material outside of the wheel tracks (extremely useful for pulling ditches) and also can change the blade’s pitch.

What really differentiates the motor grader from the bulldozer is that the wheel lean is not used so much for turning the machine, but to keep the machine pulling straight during fine grading work.³ But much like a bulldozer, motor graders are used for less precise ground levelling and material removal operations.

The first motor grader: Adams’ “Little Wonder”

The first grader was developed by J.D. Adams in 1885. But Adams only started producing motor graders for road construction and maintenance in 1890, when he established J.D. Adams & Company.² Adams’ original grader was a horse-drawn, fixed-angle blade set on two wooden wheels called the “Little Wonder.” Adams effectively retired his original grader design in 1896 when production of the Road King, an all-steel four-wheeled grader with an 8-foot blade, began. The blade unit still needed a tractor unit to pull it—just like the Caterpillar D2 pulling a Road King in this video:

First self-propelled grader

It wasn’t until 1919 that Russell Grader Manufacturing Company modified an Allis Chalmers tractor and developed the first self-propelled grader.⁴ Caterpillar bought Russell Grader Manufacturing Company in 1928 after experiencing initial success with marrying its crawler tractors with Russell Grader Manufacturing’s Patrol No. 4 and Patrol No. 6 graders.⁴ Check out a 1929 Russell motor grader in operation in this video:

In 1931 Caterpillar created the first rubber-wheeled grader in which the drive train and grader were designed as one unit.⁵ These new Caterpillar motor graders officially ended the days of two-men grader operation: one operator for the tractor unit and one operator for the grader unit.

Other grader manufacturers

John Deere introduced the world’s first articulated-frame motor grader in 1967.⁶ By the time Volvo motor graders entered the market in 2001, John Deere motor graders had been in production for over 30 years. Like Caterpillar, Volvo bought and built upon an early pioneer in the motor grader industry: Champion Road Machinery, formerly known as American Road Machinery Co. from 1889 to 1915 and the Dominion Road Machinery Co. from 1915 to 1977.⁷

Mammoth motor graders

The largest grader ever built was by Acco, an Italian company, in the 1980s. The machine was powered by a rear 1,000 hp engine and a front 700 hp engine. ⁸ It was built in preparation for a project in Libya that ended before it ever began.9 The 33-foot blade was kept on track by the grader’s 12 tires. ⁸

Caterpillar’s 24M motor grader, designed for maintaining mining roads for heavy haul dump trucks, holds the title for the largest motor grader in production. Its blade measures 24 feet across.¹⁰

With integrated cross slope functions, joystick controls for up to two moldboards and motor grader attachments, one-touch-button-articulation-return-to-center control, cameras and tapered cabs, modern motor graders seem to take their cues from a fighter jet’s cockpit rather than its Indianapolis, IN rural beginnings.

Find late model and used motor graders from Caterpillar, John Deere, Champion, Volvo and more in upcoming Ritchie Bros. unreserved auctions.

Sources:

¹	The Earthmover Encyclopedia: The Complete Guide to Heavy Equipment of the World, by Keith Haddock.
²	http://www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Motor_grader
³	http://www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Champion_Road_Machinery_Ltd.
⁴	Caterpillar Chronicle: The History of the World’s Greatest Earthmovers, by Erick Orlemann
⁵	https://mining.cat.com/cda/files/3268259/7/
⁶	http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/industry/construction/john_deere_construction_forestry_division/milestones/milestones.page
⁷	http://www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Champion_Road_Machinery_Ltd.#ixzz2Q0XhSYB9
⁸	http://www.constructionequipment.com/machines-made-grade%E2%80%94bigtime
⁹	http://tractors.wikia.com/wiki/ACCO
¹⁰	http://www.ritchiespecs.com/specification?type=&category=Motor+Grader&make=Caterpillar&model=24M&modelid=91718

Heavy hitters in heavy equipment—the world’s largest equipment makers

2013-04-15T22:30:44Z

Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu. We see these common brand names on equipment used all around the world every day. But the massive, multi-national, multi-billion dollar success stories these names represent are anything but common, and International Construction magazine's annual Yellow Table – now in its tenth year – shows how these companies stack up against each other in a highly competitive market.

So how successful are these construction equipment makers? Reflecting a still sluggish global economy, the 2013 Yellow Table revealed that sales of new construction equipment by the world's 50 largest manufacturers increased by just 2.6% in 2012, up to a record high of US$182 billion—beating the previous record of US$168 billion, set in 2008 (prior to the global financial crisis).¹ Two-thirds of that business is done by the top 10 manufacturers.²

“While there was some growth in the market last year, things were relatively subdued,” International Construction editor Chris Sleight said in a video preview of the 2013 Yellow Table. “The key factor that depressed growth last year was the weak market in China.”²

Ironically, although the top positions are still held by industry titans like Caterpillar and Komatsu, Chinese companies like Sany and Zoomlion continue to grow as major players in the heavy equipment market, with Sany edging into the top five in 2013. According to KHL: “In 2003, the first year the yellow table was published, China's manufacturers had a share of just 1.6%, worth just US$841 million. Today their 16% share is worth US$30.6 billion.”¹

Here’s a look at the world’s top five equipment manufacturers from the recently published 2013 Yellow Table.³

1. Caterpillar (U.S.) – 2012 rank: #1

Caterpillar, the 85 year old U.S.-based company, enjoys a commanding 21.8% of global construction equipment sales revenue and has held the #1 spot on the Yellow Table since it was first published. In 2012, Caterpillar reported revenues of US$16.445 billion.⁴

2. Komatsu (Japan) – 2012 rank: #2

In business since 1917, Japan-based Komatsu reported net sales of ¥1.982 trillion in 2012 (approx. US$24,168 million).⁵ Komatsu makes the largest bulldozer in the world, the D575 Super Dozer (read our blog post about the D575 dozer).

3. Hitachi (Japan) – 2012 rank: #4

The global construction equipment giant Hitachi started out as a humble electric motor repair shop in 1910.⁶ In 2012, the world’s third largest construction equipment manufacturer reported a 6% increase in net sales, up to ¥817,143 million (approx. US$8.2 billion).⁷

4. Volvo (Sweden) – 2012 rank: #3

Volvo CE (Construction Equipment), which is just one part of the massive Volvo Group, is the world's largest manufacturer of articulated haulers and wheel loaders.⁸ In 2012, Volvo CE reported sales of SEK 63,558 million (approx. US$9.9 billion at current exchange rates) selling more than 78,000 machines.⁹

5. SANY (China) – 2012 rank: #6

The comparatively youthful SANY Group, which only got its start in 1989, now employs 50,000 people in more than 150 countries. In 2011, they reported sales revenues of 80.2 billion RMB.¹⁰ (approx. US$12.9 billion at current exchange rates) Sany bumped crane giant Liebherr from the top five, into 7th position.

If you’re looking for heavy equipment, you can search our auction inventory by brand, equipment type, and industry.

To find out what used equipment is selling for, create a free account on our website and access two years of Ritchie Bros. auction results.

Sources:

¹	http://www.khl.com/magazines/international-construction/detail/item72286
²	http://www.khl.com/videozone/item84217/
³	http://www.khl.com/magazines/construction-europe/detail/item84192/VIDEO:The-2013-Yellow-Table
⁴	http://www.caterpillar.com/cda/files/2530632/7/Caterpillar%20facts%20sheet_3Q2012_with%20governmental%20affairs.pdf
⁵	http://www.komatsu.com/CompanyInfo/profile/outline/
⁶	http://hitachiconstruction.com/history.html
⁷	http://www.hitachi-c-m.com/global/ir/individual/financial.html
⁸	http://www.volvoce.com/constructionequipment/corporate/en-gb/AboutUs/quick_facts/Pages/quick_facts.aspx
⁹	http://www.volvoce.com/constructionequipment/corporate/en-gb/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=138520&News.Language=en-gb
¹⁰	http://www.sanygroup.com/group/en-us/about/group.htmHeavy hitters in heavy equipment—the world’s largest equipment makers

Five big ticket agriculture items of the month: March 2013

2013-04-12T19:59:13Z

Ritchie Bros. held 34 unreserved public equipment auctions in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, and Dubai in March.

March means the start of farming season in North America—and our spring farm auction run. Take a look at five of the biggest ticket agriculture equipment items we sold in March 2013.

1. 2011 Challenger MT865C track tractor – CA$330,000

We sold three 2011 Challenger MT865C track tractors at our Saskatoon, SK, Canada auction on March 19, 2013. The one pictured above had the lowest number of hours on the meter (892 hours) and sold for the highest price: CA$330,000 (approx. US$323,800).

Read some tips on inspecting used farm tractors on our blog.

2. 2012 John Deere 9560R 4WD tractor – CA$330,000

This 2012 John Deere 9560R 4WD tractor sold for CA$330,000 (approx. US$ 323,000) at our Montreal, QC, Canada auction on March 20, 2013. It came with a GS3 2630 display, a Starfire 3000 receiver, HID lighting and had 302 hours on the meter.

We sold four other 2012 John Deere 9560R 4WD tractors in Canada in early April 2013. Sign in or create a free account and find out what they sold for.

3. 2012 John Deere S690 combine – CA$325,000

This 2012 John Deere S690 combine sold for CA$325,000 (approx. US$320,700) at our Saskatoon, SK, Canada auction on March 19, 2013. It had 218 hours on the meter and came with a variable stream rotor, long auger, and grain tank extensions.

4. 2011 Case IH FLX4520 Titan applicator – CA$300,000

This 2011 Case IH FLX4520 Titan 70ft floater fertilizer/granular applicator sold for CA$300,000 (approx. US$295,100) at out Lethbridge, AB, Canada auction on March 28, 2013. It came with a 70ft boom, markers, an FLX810 flex air applicator and it had 331 hours on the meter.

5. 2012 Case IH 550S track tractor – US$270,000

We sold five 2012 Case IH 550S Quadtrac track tractors at our Minneapolis, MN, USA auction on March 26, 2013. All came with 16 speed powershift and A/C cab. Prices ranged from US$210,000 to US$270,000. The track tractor pictured above had 1,149 hours on the meter and sold for US$270,000.

Create a free account to access two years of Ritchie Bros. auction results.

Five big ticket construction items of the month: March 2013

2013-04-11T19:35:44Z

Ritchie Bros. held 34 unreserved public equipment auctions in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, and Dubai in March.

Take a look at five of the biggest ticket construction equipment items we sold in March 2013.

1. 2012 Caterpillar D8T crawler tractor – AU$570,000

We sold more than a dozen Caterpillar D8T crawler tractors in March 2013, including this unused 2012 D8T that sold for AU$570,000 (approx. US$590,600) at our Brisbane, QLD, Australia auction on March 21.

The 87,733lb D8T is powered by a 347hp C15 ACERT engine. This one had 32 hours on the meter. See full D8T specs on RitchieSpecs.

Read how crawler tractors have evolved in this blog post about the history of the Caterpillar crawler tractor.

2. 2008 Caterpillar D10T crawler tractor – US$580,000

This 2008 Caterpillar D10T crawler tractor sold for US$580,000 at our Chehalis, WA, USA auction on March 5, 2013. This D10T was part of a large selection of mining equipment located in Alaska and sold by Virtual Ramp at the Chehalis auction. Photos of the items were displayed on a large theater screen at the auction site for bidders to see during the auction.

The 146,500lb D10T is powered by a 646hp C27 ACERT engine. This one had 19,228 hours on the meter. Get full D10T specs on RitchieSpecs.

3. 2007 Link-Belt 150 ton truck crane – US$575,000

This 2007 Link-Belt HC238H II 150 ton 10X4X4 conventional truck crane sold for US$575,000 at our Denver, CO, USA auction on March 26, 2013.

This HC238H came with a 15 ton ball and had a 50ft - 120ft, five-section tubular boom and had 8,556 hours on the meter.

4. 2013 Kobelco CKL-1000I crawler crane – US$575,000

This unused 2013 Kobelco CKL-1000I 100-ton crawler crane sold for US$575,000 at our Dubai, ARE auction on March 5, 2013.

This CKL-1000I came with an 11 ton ball, a 61m tubular boom and it had 13 hours on the meter.

5. 2008 Caterpillar 777F rock truck - US$575,000

We sold 10 Caterpillar 777F rock trucks at our Chehalis, WA auction on March 5, 2013—all part of the selection of equipment located in Alaska. This 2008 Cat 777F sold for US$575,000

The 777F is capable of carrying 200000lbs of material. This one had 16,421 hours on the meter. See full Caterpillar 777F specs on RitchieSpecs.

Learn more in this equipment spotlight on rock trucks on our blog.

Create a free account to access two years of Ritchie Bros. auction results.

Introducing Ritchie Bros. EquipmentOne: a secure online marketplace

2013-04-11T07:36:09Z

Today, Ritchie Bros. is proud to introduce another great solution for equipment owners—Ritchie Bros. EquipmentOne, a secure online marketplace for people who prefer to buy and sell equipment privately. EquipmentOne is designed for materials as well as equipment and trucks, and even hard-to-move industrial assets.

We conducted our first unreserved public auction in 1958, introducing fairness and transparency into the world of equipment auctions. Ritchie Bros. unreserved auctions will always be the first choice for people who want all-inclusive service, certainty of sale and global market value.

With EquipmentOne, we’re providing an innovative solution for people who want the hands-on control of private sale—and need a fair, easy and safe place to do business.

EquipmentOne provides access to 2.5+ million listings, including equipment, trucks and related materials from EquipmentOne sellers, Ritchie Bros. auctions and hundreds of other sites, but it’s so much more than a listing service.

Making private sale fair, easy and safe

Like rbauction.com, EquipmentOne is designed for equipment, with photos and specs that other online marketplaces don’t provide. Both negotiations and transactions are completed on the secure EquipmentOne site, and we provide an escrow service for the protection of both buyers and sellers.

EquipmentOne is the only online marketplace that offers:

Access to more equipment listings than any other website—from EquipmentOne sellers, Ritchie Bros. unreserved auctions and hundreds of other sites
Open, transparent negotiations—nothing is hidden, including the seller’s price expectations
EquipmentOne Total Buyer Protection
Built-in Ritchie Bros. Orange Book^TM pricing guidance—compare against similar items listed and sold worldwide
Self-serve convenience

Unlike full-service Ritchie Bros. auctions, EquipmentOne is a do-it-yourself website: members list equipment for sale, set their price expectations, make purchase offers, negotiate and complete transactions. If the seller’s price expectations aren’t met during the listing period, they have the choice to accept the highest offer made, or to not sell.

The process is similar to an offline negotiation—with the added security only Ritchie Bros. can provide.

Continuing a history of innovation

Ritchie Bros. is no stranger to innovation. Ever since our first auction in 1958 we’ve been looking for new ways to meet the needs of the world’s equipment buyers and sellers—like our real-time online bidding service, which we introduced in 2002, and our 21-language website, launched in 2009. We’re excited to add EquipmentOne to the list.

Want to know more? Visit EquipmentOne today. And let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Five things to look for at bauma 2013 in Munich

2013-04-17T00:47:27Z

Every three years, Germany hosts the world’s largest construction equipment trade fair, a week-long show that attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. Bauma 2013 takes place from April 15-21 at the Messestadt Riem fairgrounds in Munich—and it promises to be just as impressive as the past 29 bauma shows.

Bauma is short for Baumaschinen, the German word for construction equipment. The first bauma was held in Munich in 1954, with 58 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors.¹ The 29th bauma, back in 2010, attracted more than 3,150 exhibitors and 415,000 visitors from close to 200 countries—even though it took place right after the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which disrupted travel throughout Europe.²

Bauma 2013 boasts 555,000 m^² of exhibition space—equal to 58 FIFA-approved soccer/football fields—and more than 3,200 exhibitors, including Ritchie Bros. Here are five things to look for if you’re going:

#1. Fuel-efficient, eco-friendly machines

Right now, equipment design is hugely influenced by two factors: the need to reduce costs and comply with tougher environmental regulations. Caterpillar will showcase more than 70 machines at bauma, including its first hybrid excavator (the 336H) and the more fuel-efficient 988K wheel loader. Komatsu will also have new hybrid excavators on display, while Liebherr will showcase a 350-tonne hybrid crawler crane and JCB will be introducing its new Ecomax engines.³

#2. A focus on Indonesia

Since 2001, bauma has selected a partner country for each show. This year it’s Indonesia, the largest country in southeast Asia, with a population of 238 million, a robust economy and a national GDP of US$847 billion (2011). Indonesia’s GDP has grown by an average of 5.7 per cent a year over the past decade, and its construction and civil engineering sectors are following suit, with planned investments of US$465 billion over the next 12 years. While demand for construction equipment is down in some parts of the world, it’s definitely up in Indonesia: equipment sales tripled between 2007 and 2012.⁴

#3. Eye candy

Manufacturers use shows like bauma to put their best gear on display, and all the big names will be there. Keep your eyes open for some of the biggest and most impressive equipment the world has to offer—and more product launches than you can count. Liebherr started building their booth six months ago, and they’ll be filling it with everything from cranes to massive mining equipment.⁵ Alongside a range of high tech and fuel-efficient equipment, Komatsu will show off a 56 tonne /29m³ mining bucket.⁶ Imagine Disneyland for equipment-lovers:

#4. The Ritchie Bros. booth

Visit Ritchie bros. in hall C4 (booth 508) for a taste of Bavaria (literally). You can meet some of our European staff, learn more about our auctions and discuss your options for buying and selling equipment this year.

#5. A construction equipment auction

This year bauma coincides with another exciting event on the Ritchie Bros. calendar: an unreserved public construction equipment auction on Thursday, April 18 in Munich, about an hour away from the show. You can bid on hundreds of items in person at our Munich auction site, online at rbauction.com—and even in our booth at bauma. We’ll have computers set up, and staff available to assist.

We look forward to seeing you at bauma in Munich this April. And if Germany is too far away, you can now visit bauma China (the next one will take place in Shanghai in 2014) or bauma Africa (the first one will be held in September 2013). Or check out some highlights from bauma China 2012 on our blog.

References

¹	http://bauma.peri.com/en/2/bauma_history.cfm
²	http://www.bauma.de/en/bauma_2010/bauma_1.php
³	http://www.bauma.de/en/fuer_die_presse/presseinformationen/nr__15.php
⁴	http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f696c94-6f50-11e2-956b-00144feab49a.html#axzz2PMtfLZOR
	http://tunneltalk.com/BAUMA-2013-27Feb13-Preview-and-Introduction.php
	http://enr.construction.com/products/equipment/2013/0304-Five-Trends-To-Watch-At-Bauma-2013.asp?page=3
⁵	http://www.liebherr-bauma.com/en-GB/140330.wfw
⁶	http://www.komatsu.eu/bauma2013_info.asp

Collectible antique tractors featured in Williamsport, PA auction

2013-04-04T21:20:51Z

If you ever wondered what stepping into a tractor time machine would be like, take a look at the inventory for our upcoming Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA auction on April 10, 2013. Antique tractors from the estate of well-known collector George Logue¹ make up the bulk of the inventory for this auction—and they will all be sold to the highest bidders on auction day.

If you’re a collector of antique machinery or someone who wants to preserve a piece of history, this auction is where you will find well-maintained vintage 1923-1972 crawler tractors (bulldozers) from Best, Holt, Caterpillar and Farmall. Each tractor from the collection captures part of the crawler tractor’s evolution during the 1900s, starting with the 1923 Holt 5-ton crawler tractor (pictured below), the predecessor to the Caterpillar 5-ton crawler tractor.

The naming of the first crawler tractor—and the creation of Caterpillar

The first crawler-type tractor for agricultural purposes was invented in 1904 by Benjamin Holt of The Holt Manufacturing Company. Holt’s family farm was located on the soft, muddy soils of the San Joaquin River Delta in California. To prevent a tractor from sinking into the soil, he replaced traditional wheels with 9 foot long and 2 foot wide wooden tracks driven by sprockets—the world’s first crawler tracks.

When an employee remarked that the new machine moved like a caterpillar, Holt gave his crawler tractor the name we now know so well: the Caterpillar.² This early steam engine powered crawler tractor was replaced with a gas engine powered version by 1908.³

In 1925, Holt Manufacturing Company merged with the C. L. Best Tractor Company of San Francisco and formed the Caterpillar Tractor Co. The merger provided Caterpillar with two manufacturing plants: Holt’s Peoria, Illinois plant and Best’s San Leandro, California plant. At first, the product line included five types of tractors: the Holt-based 2-ton, 5-ton and 10-ton crawler tractors as well as the Best-based Thirty and Sixty crawler tractors.⁴

Caterpillar’s first crawler tractor: the Twenty

The first crawler tractor designed by the new Caterpillar team was the Caterpillar Twenty. The new design included an enclosed four-cylinder engine and a grey finish with “Twenty” emblazoned in red on both sides of the radiator. Tractors produced in Peoria bear a serial number starting with “PL” while tractors produced in San Leandro bear a serial number beginning with “L”. The 1929 Caterpillar Twenty pictured below was produced in Peoria.⁴

The Caterpillar Thirty and the Caterpillar Sixty crawler tractors were the most popular tractors of their time. Production of both ended in 1932. All Caterpillar Thirty crawler tractors produced at the San Leandro plant have a serial number beginning with an “S”. A serial number that begins with “PS”, such as the serial number for this 1928 Caterpillar Thirty crawler tractor, signifies a tractor from the Peoria, Illinois plant.⁴

The Sixty’s chassis was used for Caterpillar’s first diesel engine, the D9900.⁵ The chassis was made stronger to support the heavier engine and the transmission was changed. When the Sixty was first manufactured by Best it was finished in black and gold. When Caterpillar took over production, its colors were changed to grey and red. Red was used as an accent and for the raised “Sixty” running vertically on both sides of the tractor’s radiator. The Diesel Sixty went on the market in 1931. Only 157 of the Caterpillar Diesel Sixty crawler tractors were ever produced⁵—and one of them (see picture below) will be sold on April 10 in Williamsport.

From grey and red to Caterpillar yellow

By 1932, the Sixty became the Sixty-Five and Caterpillar had moved away from the grey and red finish and opted for today’s widely recognized Caterpillar yellow. The 1932 Caterpillar Sixty-Five crawler tractor being sold on April 10th in Williamsport, PA was the 29th diesel tractor produced by the Caterpillar Tractor Co.⁶

If you would like to learn more about the history of the Caterpillar Crawler Tractor, Keith Haddock and Eric C. Orelmann’s book Classic Caterpillar Crawlers is a good resource for in depth information and photos. Plan on attending the Williamsport, PA auction to view or purchase a piece of crawler tractor history that will be on display among other work-ready equipment. Or view and bid on antique collectible tractors for sale at the Williamsport, PA auction online.

Sources:

¹	http://gasengine.farmcollector.com/Farm-Shows/George-Logues-Collection-of-Antique-Caterpillar-Tractors.aspx#ixzz2OrvXU8aW
²	http://www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Benjamin_Holt http://www.farmcollector.com/steam-engines/company-history/invention-of-the-crawler-tractor.aspx
³	http://www.acmoc.org/about-caterpillar?start=7
⁴	Keith Haddock, Eric C. Orelmann (2001). Classic Caterpillar Crawlers. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Company.
⁵	http://www.acmoc.org/about-caterpillar?showall=1
⁶	http://www.caterpillar.com/cda/layout?m=393446&x=7&id=3108507

Where did it go? Five items sold around the world in March

2013-04-03T15:44:18Z

People come from all over the world to buy equipment at Ritchie Bros. auctions. In 2012, we conducted 328 unreserved public auctions in 13 countries and registered bidders from more than 150 countries. That’s because we sell a huge selection of equipment, there are no minimum bids or reserve prices, most of our sites are located close to international airports and shipping ports—and we offer a convenient online bidding service.

So a lot of people ask us: where did the equipment go to? Here are five answers to that question.

From Italy to Australia

A buyer from Australia purchased this 2006 Hitachi ZX670LCH-3 hydraulic excavator at our Caorso, Italy auction on March 7, 2013. Sold for: 127,500 EUR (approx. US$165,000).

From Dubai to Turkey

This 1992 American 9320 250-ton crawler crane sold for US$250,000 at our Dubai, ARE auction on March 5, 2013—to a buyer from Turkey.

From the USA to Australia

A buyer from Australia purchased two 2008 Caterpillar 825H soil compactors at our Fort Worth, TX, USA auction on March 5, 2013. Sold for: US$405,000 each.

From California to Mexico

This 1997 Caterpillar D8R crawler tractor sold for US$135,000 at our Los Angeles, CA, USA auction on March 20, 2013—to a buyer from Mexico.

From Canada to the Middle East

A buyer from the Middle East purchased this 1991 Caterpillar 14G motor grader for CA$115,000 (approx. US$112,000) at our Edmonton, AB, Canada auction on March 7, 2013.

And those are just five recent examples. To see how active the bidding can be at a Ritchie Bros. auction, check out this video—and see bids coming in from online bidders around the world:

Have you ever purchased equipment from another country? Let us know in the comments.

New to Ritchie Bros.? Buy equipment with confidence in five easy steps

2013-04-24T16:27:36Z

Every year, thousands of people all around the world find, inspect and buy heavy equipment and trucks at our unreserved public auctions. We offer a huge selection of equipment—and the knowledge that every item will be sold to the highest bidder on auction day, with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

With hundreds of auctions every year, and thousands of pieces of equipment to choose from, knowing where to start might seem like an overwhelming task. But we make it as easy as possible for people everywhere to confidently find and buy the equipment they need. Just follow these five simple steps:

1. Find equipment on our website

Browse equipment by industry or category, then drill down further into equipment makes and models. You can also filter your browsing by region and auctions near you.
OR
Use the advanced search to find something specific—for example, a certain late-model excavator being sold in your state, or all of the transport trucks being sold in a particular auction.

If you sign up for a free account on our website, you can also save your searches and create new item alerts and we’ll let you know by email when similar items are added to upcoming auctions (i.e. items of the same make, model, age range and region). (Learn more about item alerts in a recent blog post.)

2. Inspect, test and compare equipment

When you find a piece of equipment that you’re interested in, do a virtual inspection by checking the detailed equipment information and high resolution photos. We post everything from specs, odometer readings and included attachments to the condition of drivetrains, tires and more on our website.

You can also visit the auction site where the equipment is stored to inspect, test and compare different items in person—or have your mechanic or a trusted professional do the inspection for you. We welcome and encourage bidders to check items thoroughly, as all equipment is sold as-is, where-is.

3. Mark your calendar and register to bid

Make note of when and where your items will be selling—the auction date, location and start time. You can attend the auction and bid in person, or you can bid online in real time (where you hear the auctioneer live, track the asking price and place and watch bids as they come in)

Before you can buy, you must register as a bidder in the auction you want to take part in. If you’re bidding online, create a free account and register to bid on our website.

If you’re attending in person, register at the auction site. You’ll be given an auction catalog with your unique bidder number on it. You’ll use your catalog to bid and identify yourself as a buyer in our auction theater.

4. Arrange financing

Pay for your equipment in low monthly payments, and save your cash to run your business. Ritchie Bros. Financial Services can arrange up to 100% equipment purchase financing in Canada, the U.S., Australia, Mexico and select European countries. They offer a fast, simple online application process that can get you pre-approved quickly—and your pre-approval lasts for up to 90 days at any Ritchie Bros. auction. Once approved you’re ready to bid.

5. Take part in the auction

If you’re bidding in person at one of our auction sites, register at the registration counter when you arrive, check the auction schedule to find out where and when items will be selling, and head to where you’ll be bidding: the auction theater, the yard or the Virtual Ramp room for the live auction, or at a Timed Auction kiosk. See how it all works in this video:

If you’re bidding online, sign in to your account on our website on auction day, find the auction you’ve registered for, and click on ‘Enter to bid’. You can find more details on how online bidding works here.

Every item sells to the highest bidder on auction day. Sold to you? Congratulations! Now all you have to do is pay, arrange transportation and pick-up, and put your equipment to work.

Whether you bid in person or online, help is always close by—just call our customer service team, or look for someone in orange at the auction site. We’re here to help.

A look at our Geelong, Australia Grand Opening auction

2013-03-26T18:43:52Z

We officially opened our new facility in Geelong, Australia on March 19, 2013 with a multi-million dollar Grand Opening auction. So what exactly happens at one of our Grand Opening auctions? There’s a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a charity auction (we helped raise more than AU$26,000 for the Kids Plus Foundation to help children with cerebral palsy) and—after all the hard work our teams put into organizing the event—a little bit of well-deserved celebrating with our customers and members of the local community.

But mostly, there’s lots of equipment, trucks and exciting auction action.

And Geelong was no exception. We celebrated the opening of this 40-acre site with its 26,790 square foot building, 670-seat auction theatre and 500-seat Virtual Ramp theatre by selling more than 950 heavy equipment and transportation items from more than 115 sellers.

More than 1,440 bidders from all across Australia and countries as far away as the United Kingdom, Singapore and the Netherlands registered to bid in the auction. By day’s end, millions of dollars of equipment and trucks had changed hands. Here’s just a few of the bigger ticket items we sold:

2011 Caterpillar D8T crawler tractor - AU$380,000

This 2011 Caterpillar D8T crawler tractor (lot #212) sold for AU$380,000 (approx. US$395,000). It had 4,462 hours on the meter. Check the full D8T specs on RitchieSpecs.

2008 Kenworth T658 prime mover - AU$150,000

This 2008 Kenworth T658 6X4 prime mover (lot #103) sold for AU$150,000 (approx. US$156,000). It was equipped with a Cummins Signature 550hp engine, Eaton Fuller 18 speed transmission and had 409,089km on the meter.

Unused 2012 Komatsu PC450LC-8 hydraulic excavator - AU$400,000

The unused 2012 Komatsu PC450LC-8 hydraulic excavator (lot #265, at the front of this row) sold for AU$400,000 (approx. US$416,000). It had 16 hours on the meter.

Unused 2012 Sandvik crawler jaw crusher - AU$410,000

This unused 2012 Sandvik QJ341 750mm x 1.2m crawler jaw crusher (lot #244) sold for AU$410,000 (approx. US$427,000). It had 18 hours on the meter.

Many thanks to all our customers who joined in the celebrations and helped make our Geelong Grand Opening such a big success—and so much fun.

Check our calendar for upcoming auctions near you, and create a free account to access two years of Ritchie Bros. auction results.