Amsterdam’s TBAuctions acquires German firm Surplex: Know more

Amsterdam-based TBAuctions, a multi-brand online B2B marketplace for used industrial goods, announced on Wednesday, August 7, that it has acquired Surplex, a Düsseldorf-based e-commerce company specialising in the digital auction trade of used machinery.

Surplex is an industrial auction house specialising in trading used machines and factory equipment globally. Its auction platform, Surplex.com, is available in 18 languages. It has over 125,000 registered customers and hosts around 1,000 online auctions annually, selling over 400,000 industrial products. 

The company operates offices in 16 European countries, with a team of over 220 employees.

Aim of the acquisition

This strategic acquisition expands TBAuctions into new markets, including Spain, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia while strengthening its presence in Germany, France, and Italy. 

The merger enhances TBAuctions’ expertise in the metal and woodworking industries. Together, the combined brands attract nearly 200 million annual site visits, source sellers from over 20 countries, sell over 1.6 million assets receive bids from 750K bidders, and generate over €1.6B in sales, employing nearly 1,200 people.

Tom Christenson, CEO of TBAuctions, says, “Surplex has a great team of people, excellent customers, and a strong brand across Europe. Together with TBAuctions’ best-in-class tech platform and leading brands, we see great opportunities through our complementary services, values, and people to drive exponential growth.”

“This marks a major milestone for us to serve customers in all countries of Europe on our journey to revolutionise digital auctioning and promote sustainable trade.”

An industrial auction house

According to a statement from TBAuctions, the European market for used business equipment sales surpasses €250B annually, with digital auctioning emerging as a key channel for trading these assets, driven by technological advances, digital adoption, and a growing focus on sustainability.

TBAuctions enhances transparency and efficiency in this space with its auctioning platform, leveraging a connected bidder base, automation, AI, and scalability.

Manufacturing new vehicles, farm, and construction equipment generates over a billion tons of CO2e each year. By purchasing secondhand machinery and extending the lifespan of existing equipment, companies can reduce their carbon footprint and global emissions.

Founded in 1999 in Düsseldorf, Germany, Surplex has established a presence across Continental Europe, specialising in industrial machinery for metal and woodworking. This complements TBAuctions’ focus on mobile equipment in the Nordics and Benelux regions.

TBAuctions is a multi-brand digital auction platform for B2B used goods, operating brands including Troostwijk Auctions, Klaravik, Auksjonen, PS Auction, British Medical Auctions, Vavato, and Auktionshuset dab.

TBAuctions has over 1,000 team members across the Nordics, Benelux, UK, and Continental Europe. Its platform unifies bidders across multiple storefronts, promoting sustainable trade by sourcing locally and selling globally. 

Michael Werker, Managing Owner of Surplex, says, “It makes a lot of sense for Surplex to come together with TBAuctions. We share similar values, commitment to excellent customer service, and a passion to drive the circular economy.” 

Uli Stalter, Managing Owner of Surplex, adds, “The combination of skills and geographic footprint between Surplex and the family of TBAuctions brands creates a comprehensive digital auction experience across Europe.”