Ritchie Bros. brings global equipment buyers to Iowa 

When Concrete Technologies decided to sell their fleet of specialty concrete paving equipment, they weren’t just hoping for a good local turnout. They were looking for the kind of results only a global buyer network can deliver. 

On April 28, 2026, Ritchie Bros. made that happen. 

A regional consignment that performed like a flagship auction 

Held as an offsite auction in Waterloo, Iowa, the Concrete Technologies sale brought 294 lots to market with a carefully curated mix of slipform pavers, motor graders, dump trucks, telehandlers, pickups, and a wide range of construction support assets. What happened next is the kind of story that makes the case for partnering with Ritchie Bros. 

The auction drew 1,325 bidders from more than 20 countries across six continents. That’s not a typo. Buyers showed up from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia, all competing for equipment sitting in a field in Iowa. When the dust settled, 150 buyers from eight countries had secured equipment, with placements stretching from Thailand and Germany to Guatemala, Nigeria and beyond. 

Specialty equipment found specialty buyers 

One of the most impressive aspects of this sale was how well the niche equipment performed. Slipform pavers, trimmer/placers, and texture cure machines — gear that requires a very specific kind of buyer — accounted for over $1.74 million in gross transaction value across just 21 lots. 

The star of the show was a 2023 Guntert & Zimmerman S850 Slipform Paver that sold for $755,000. A 2018 Caterpillar 140M3 Motor Grader followed at $340,000, and a 2019 CAT D6T LGP Dozer brought $232,500. These strong numbers were the result of an international audience competing hard for equipment they genuinely wanted to put to work. 

Why end-user demand matters 

Here’s a detail that really stands out: 88% of buyers were end users — owner-operators, contractors and working equipment buyers — rather than resellers. That matters because end users aren’t buying for margin. They’re buying because they need the machine, and they’ll pay what it takes to get it. That kind of competitive pressure is what drives pricing up, and it’s what our buyer network is built to attract. 

Cross-border placements tell the story 

Some of the most memorable moments from this auction came from equipment crossing international borders: 

• A CAT 140H Motor Grader found its new home in Thailand for $73,000 

• A CAT 140H VHP Motor Grader headed to Germany for $66,000 

• A John Deere 644K Wheel Loader went to Alberta, Canada for $62,000 

These aren’t just cool facts to brag about. They’re proof that tapping into our global reach turns local consignments into international competitions. 

Partner local. Reach global. Real results. 

The Concrete Technologies auction is a great reminder that where your equipment sits doesn’t have to limit who buys it. With the right partner, a specialty fleet in Waterloo, Iowa, can attract serious buyers from six continents. Strong presentation, smart marketing and a buyer network built over decades is what the Ritchie Bros. difference is all about. 

If you’re thinking about selling your equipment, let’s talk about what a global audience could mean for your results. 

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