From tractors to excavators: when people hear the term ‘industrial auction’, many still think of building sites and farms. But restaurants can also find their new kitchen equipment there, and hotels are just as likely to stock up on furniture or sanitary ware. Industrial auctions therefore serve far more sectors and buyers than is often realised, whilst at the same time helping businesses to keep their equipment in use for longer. Troostwijk Auctions, the European market leader in online auctions of industrial assets with buyers in over 175 countries, highlights three facts that many companies are not yet aware of regarding industrial auctions.

1. Auctions support smarter management of business assets for companies

Industrial auctions offer companies a practical way to sell equipment that no longer fits their business operations. Rather than leaving machinery unused or allowing it to depreciate over time, businesses can quickly bring these assets to market and reach a large pool of potential buyers. Auctions also create a competitive environment in which buyers bid against one another, which can increase the final sale price.

At the same time, the process is generally faster than through traditional sales channels, where sellers often have to deal with multiple enquiries, negotiations or site visits. Online platforms streamline this process, allowing buyers to participate remotely whilst specialists handle the listing, inspection and presentation of the assets. This not only saves time but also ensures greater transparency and reduces the risk of fraud. These benefits are reflected in the growing uptake: the number of auctions held via Troostwijk Auctions rose by almost 3 per cent in 2025, from 7,167 to 7,374.

2. The range of goods on offer is wider than most people realise

Many people still associate industrial auctions with excavators, tractors or other heavy construction machinery. In reality, however, auctions include items from all sorts of sectors, from hospitality and retail to logistics and manufacturing. Buyers can find professional kitchen equipment, hotel furniture, bathroom fittings, garden furniture, barbecues or even swimming pools.

Sometimes, more unexpected or unique lots also turn up, such as office furniture, food trucks or complete restaurant interiors, like a replica of Freddy’s Heineken Bar from Hotel De L’Europe in Amsterdam. Or, more recently, one of Europe’s last remaining paddle steamers, ‘De Majesteit’. This diversity shows that industrial auctions encompass much more than just heavy machinery.

3. Auctions extend the lifespan of equipment and contribute to sustainability

Industrial auctions are playing an increasingly important role in the transition to a more circular economy. By reselling equipment rather than discarding it, businesses can keep assets in use for longer and prevent unnecessary waste. In this way, procurement and disposal strategies align more closely with sustainability goals, whilst at the same time retaining value. Instead of replacing machinery prematurely, companies can extend its lifespan by transferring it to a new owner.

This also has a measurable impact on the environment. The production of new machinery requires significant amounts of energy and raw materials, whilst reuse reduces the need for new production. In 2025, TBAuctions, the industrial auction group behind Troostwijk Auctions, gave 1.2 million lots a new lease of life. By opting for existing equipment rather than new alternatives, buyers helped to avoid an estimated 3 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. In other words: the annual carbon absorption of around 136 million trees, roughly equivalent to a forest six times the size of Amsterdam.*

“Many people still think that industrial auctions are only for heavy machinery. But these days, we’re seeing everyone from hospitality businesses to logistics companies using our platform,” says Ward van den Boorn, Country Director for the Netherlands at Troostwijk Auctions. “Online auctions have become a highly strategic tool for modern asset management. They enable companies to sell idle assets more quickly, free up working capital and create space on site, whilst reaching both national and international buyers through a single sales channel.”