Britannia AuctionsPrivate treaty sales in Derby
Much of the plant in Derby was bought to serve one customer. A five axis machining centre tooled for a family of aerospace parts, a wheel lathe from a rail depot, a coordinate measuring machine bought for one inspection contract, a test rig built around one engine programme. When the contract ends the machine still has value, but the buyers who understand it are few and they take their time. A public auction with a week to bid is a blunt instrument for it.
Private treaty means we sell it by negotiation. We inspect, describe, approach buyers who deal in that type of machine and take offers in writing. You see every one with our recommendation. The supply chain around Osmaston Park, Ascot Drive, Sinfin and Raynesway produces this kind of asset whenever a programme changes, and we take on negotiated sales for firms of every size, any job big or small.
Late model machines with a careful buyer pool
The aerospace and rail firms here run relatively recent plant. Five axis machining centres, large grinders, coordinate measuring machines, vacuum furnaces and rail specific kit such as wheel lathes and bogie test rigs. Much of it is under ten years old, still supported by the maker, and bought on finance that has yet to run out.
The likely buyers are other suppliers in the same industries and the machine tool dealers who trade in late model stock, with rail equipment going to depots and contractors. Expect them to want the machine under power, the maintenance contract, the hours and the tooling, and to take their time over it. A negotiated sale allows for that, and the price is settled on the machine rather than against a closing time.
A machine on finance, hire purchase or lease is the funder's until the agreement is settled, so we ask for their written agreement and a settlement figure before marketing. Where they agree, the settlement is usually paid from the proceeds.
Selling a complete cell rather than the parts
There is a case for selling a production cell whole. A machining centre with its robot loader, pallet pool, probing and fixtures was specified together and works together. Sold as one to a subcontractor in Burton upon Trent or Long Eaton, it is a working system rather than a list of parts, and it can be described and priced as one.
That only works by private treaty, because the buyer needs to understand the cell, see it run, check the tooling and plan the move. We write it up as a system, with cycle times, the tooling list, the layout and part drawings where you can release them. Removal is the buyer's to organise and pay for under a written plan, and the route out is checked on site, with the southern estates near the A50 and A38 close to the main roads.
If no buyer wants the whole cell we split it and sell the main machine by negotiation and the rest at auction.
What these sales can include
- CNC machining centres and lathes
- Printing presses
- Injection moulding machines
- Packaging lines
- Large generators and switchgear
- Cranes and heavy lifting equipment
- Specialist process plant
- Laboratory and test equipment
- Complete production cells
- Late model plant and vehicles
- Marine and rail equipment
- High value catering and bakery lines
How we market the asset
We inspect the asset, or have it inspected, and prepare a description with photographs, specification, condition and any service history. We then approach buyers directly: dealers who trade in that type of machine, and end users the asset suits. The asset can be advertised openly or offered only to selected parties. How open we are depends on how much confidentiality you need.
Interested buyers inspect by appointment. We attend or arrange access, answer questions and take offers. You are kept informed at each stage but do not have to deal with the buyers yourself.
There is no fixed end date. A private treaty sale takes as long as it takes to find the right buyer at the right price, which is one of its advantages and one of its costs.
The private treaty sales page covers when private treaty beats auction, how offers are handled, fees and what you receive, what to prepare.
Questions about selling in Derby
- The machine is tooled for parts my customer owns. What can be sold?
The machine, and any tooling and fixtures you own outright. Customer owned fixtures, gauges and drawings stay with the customer and go back to them, and we check that with you at the start so the description is right. This is a common position in aerospace and rail work. A bare five axis machine with its standard holders and probing still has a market, and we describe exactly what is included so nobody is surprised.
- Can a rail depot sell a wheel lathe or a bogie rig by private treaty?
Yes, and it is usually the sensible route. Rail specific plant has a very small buyer pool, mostly other depots, contractors, rolling stock owners and refurbishers, and purchases of this kind are often planned well ahead. We describe the machine with its gauge, capacity, hours and service history, approach that group directly, and allow a longer marketing period than we would for a general machine tool. Removal from a depot is planned around possessions and the buyer's rigger works to that.
More questions about private treaty
Related services
Guides
- Auction or private treaty: which route to choose
Auction gives you a fixed date and an open market. Private treaty gives you a negotiated price and privacy. This guide sets out when each route suits, what you give up with each, and why many sales use both.
- What happens to unsold lots
Not every lot sells, but the site still has to be cleared. This guide covers why lots go unsold, private treaty after the sale, lowering or removing the reserve, a later sale, scrap and WEEE recycling, and what disposal costs.