Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world’s largest industrial and construction equipment auction company, conducted a CA$43 million (about U.S. $42.7 million) two-day unreserved public equipment auction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Dec. 9 and 10. On the 9^th, Ritchie also conducted four other auctions — Atlanta, Chicago, Olympia, Wash., and St. Aubin sur Gaillon, France, giving the company more than U.S. $27 million in auction sales online in a single day.

“December 9 was a huge day for both online and on-site participation with five auctions in three countries,” said Bob Armstrong, Ritchie’s chief operating officer.

The two-day Edmonton auction attracted more than 4,400 registered bidders from 27 countries, including 34 U.S. states and all 10 Canadian provinces and three territories. More than 2,000 online bidders competed with the onsite bidders, purchasing more than CA$14 million (U.S. $13.9 million) or 32 percent of equipment.

The Edmonton auction was the company’s sixth and final Edmonton auction of the year, generating more than CA$284 million (about U.S. $280 million) in gross auction proceeds in 2010.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is based in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and can be accessed online at www.rbauction.com.