A telescopic forklift being sold at the 19-23 February auction.

Nearly 500 forklifts were sold to bidders from around the world during Ritchie Bros Auctioneers' largest auction in its 50-year history last month.

From 19 to 23 February, about 6,200 lots were sold for total gross auction proceeds exceeding USD190 million at Ritchie Bros' permanent auction site in Orlando, Florida. The auction surpassed the company's previous record - a USD172 million auction at the same site in February 2007.

Gary Seybold, Ritchie Bros' regional manager, says the company achieved "strong results" on the forklifts and telehandlers sold in the auction.

"In my 30 years' experience, the bigger the sale, and the more bidders you attract, the better the prices you are able to achieve."

Ring Power Corp sold several late-model telescopic forklifts, mostly from the company's rental fleet at the auction.

Paul Twigg, Ring Power's CAT Rental Store used equipment manager, says the dealer is pleased with the prices it got for its telehandlers.

"At this point, it is very much a global market and Ritchie Bros has taken a lead role in achieving that. The bidding audience they bring to their auctions is second to none. The internet bidding service is excellent. We use it ourselves to buy equipment at auctions all around the world."

Jacksonville, Florida-based Ring Power Corp, one of the largest Caterpillar equipment dealers in southeastern USA, consigned over 140 items in the auction. It is historically the primary consignor at Ritchie Bros' February Orlando auctions, having sent over USD270 million of equipment to the auctions for the past 20 years.

An aerial photo of the Orlando auction site.

The forklifts were sold to people from all over the world who bidded on site and online. There were over 550 consignors at the auction including dozens selling forklifts. Forklift consignors were a mixture of dealers and end-users.

Equipment sold in the five-day auction included 290 telescopic forklifts, 180 forklifts, over 70 cranes, 230 boom lifts, 90 scissor lifts, 180 articulated dump trucks, 340 hydraulic excavators and 290 wheel loaders.

Over 6,000 people from 71 countries including all US states and Canadian provinces and territories, registered to bid in the auction on site or online. Nearly USD159 million of equipment was sold to buyers from outside Florida state while over USD68 million of equipment was sold to overseas bidders.

Internet bidders using Ritchie Bros' internet bidding service, rbauctionBid-Live, were winner or runner up on 30% of the lots available online, purchasing nearly USD30 million of equipment. Over 2,000 people registered to bid over the internet.