Apex Auctions

Apex Auctions Limited is a Brighton-based auctioneer of used machinery and surplus industrial equipment, trading since 2002 (UK company number 04376357), with offices in France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Canada, the US, China and South Africa. Lots listed on the UK site sit across Europe and North America, with occasional sales further afield. Stock comes mostly from corporate sellers: plant closures, relocations, retirements, machines displaced by new investment, assets recovered for finance companies, and some bankruptcy estates. Named vendors on live sales include Baker Hughes, GE Vernova, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and voestalpine.

What you can buy

• Metal-cutting CNC: DMG MORI NHX 5000 machining centres, Hermle C50 5-axis mills, Doosan Puma and Lynx lathes, Wickman multi-spindle automatics, Starrag blisk centres.
• Fabrication and welding: Prima Power Platino fibre lasers, Ajan plasma cutters, Kingsland steelworkers, automatic bandsaws, Fanuc, ABB and Staubli robot cells.
• Process plant: Tederic and JSW injection moulding machines, Colosio die casting lines, Hindenlang furnaces, ALD Holcroft vacuum heat treatment lines, an 11 MW CHP plant.
• Metrology and additive: Zeiss CONTURA and DEA Global CMMs, Zoller tool presetters, 3D Systems sPro 140 printers, Optomec aerosol jet printers.
• Handling and ancillaries: forklifts, stock pickers, balers, Vestergaard aircraft de-icers, tooling, certified titanium stock, industrial sewing machines.

How the bidding works

Sales run as timed online auctions, alongside a marketplace and private treaty deals. You create one account, then register for each sale separately; registrations are checked by hand during office hours, so leave time. The terms state the site is for businesses only and not suitable for consumers, ruling out private buyers. An entrance fee may be required at registration, held in a client account and refundable or drawn down against purchases. You bid by increment or leave a maximum. Nearly every sale notes that the vendor approves closing bids before invoicing, so winning is an offer rather than a completed sale. Payment falls due immediately by bank transfer or UK debit card, with no credit cards or cheques; collection runs Monday to Friday, 09:00-16:00, and ends on the final clearance day once funds clear.

What to check before you bid

Buyer's premium is 18% plus VAT unless the sale information states otherwise. UK VAT applies to the hammer price, the premium and extra charges; EU VAT-registered buyers are zero-rated only after supplying an EC VAT number on company headed paper, and export refunds need a bill of lading or CMR note within three months. Everything sells EXW, so decommissioning, rigging, loading and transport are your cost and risk; some sites impose an exclusive rigger, and Kettering lots often carry a fixed loading charge of GBP 50-200 plus VAT. Lots go "as-is-where-is" with all faults, descriptions count as opinion only, and some machines are openly advertised as spares or repairs; inspect by appointment where possible. The terms also permit Apex, its affiliates and the seller to bid. Late payment attracts a minimum handling charge of 1% plus VAT per month from day seven, and several sales set hard removal deadlines.