Internet trading specialist AssetLine has completed what it believes is the first ever on-line auction of rough terrain cranes.
The 12 June event attracted bids for a range of used Tadano RTs from the Middle East, Europe and Japan, ensuring that units were sold for up to $45,000.
To alleviate fears that crane buyers would not commit without actually seeing the iron, each unit was accompanied by a detailed assessment report performed by Tadano’s own engineers and backed-up with more than 30 photographs.
AssetLine says that internet sales of used construction equipment are growing rapidly. It claims to have sold 78 units between March and June for a total value of $2.9m. Almost 2,700 participants – representing dealers, contractors and construction companies from 19 different countries – watched the auctions live over the internet. Successful bidders were from the UAE, Holland, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Though equipment sold to date was mostly excavators and other mainstream earthmoving equipment, the Tadano rough terrain crane auction was the first of its kind, it is claimed. AssetLine’s CEO Marc Edelstein stated: “We’ve already proved we can sell earth-moving equipment over the internet in large volumes, but AssetLine had never tried rough terrain cranes before. This auction, though small, sets a precedent. We now hope to have crane auctions every month to build on this success” Daryl Kwok, AssetLine’s Sales Director added: “We are delighted with this result. Buyers are naturally nervous buying cranes over the Internet, but comprehensive Tadano inspections provide all the information and quality assurance they require. We hope that this initial success will reassure buyers that AssetLine’s service is secure and reliable”.
Yo Kakinuma, general manager of AssetLine Japan, said: “The success of our first on-line Japanese equipment for Kanamoto Co. Ltd. in March attracted Tadano to try AssetLine’s service with an initial batch of cranes for auction. With this auction’s success, not only will Tadano use AssetLine again, other major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are also very interested to provide used equipment for sale in our future on-line auctions” AssetLine says that it is increasing the number of auctions it holds every month. With auctions for Kanamoto, Japan’s largest construction equipment rental company, and Tadano, the crane manufacturer; AssetLine is building upon its initial success. Another Tadano crane auction is scheduled to be held in July, with up to 20 rough terrain and truck cranes included.
AssetLine (www.AssetLine.com) is an online exchange and auction site for construction, mining and transportation equipment. AssetLine has offices in Singapore, Rotterdam and Massachusetts. Strategic partnerships have been established with large contractors and established equipment dealers in several countries, which form part of a Global Partners’ Network providing ground services.
AssetLine is aiming to capture at least 1% of the $100bn worldwide construction and heavy machinery equipment market.
