Surplex: Small Locations with a Big Impact

Anyone who closes their factory wants to liquidate their economic capital quickly and in a way that maximises profits. For more than 20 years, the online auction house for used machinery Surplex has been successfully carrying out site liquidations - with more than 200 experts also internationally at 15 European branches. The success story from the site in Belgium and one of the largest Surplex projects to date ...

Founded in Germany in 1999, Surplex has grown from a digital start-up to a successful company with over 200 employees. More than 55,000 industrial goods change hands at over 550 auctions a year. Since 2011, Surplex has been opening locations in Europe. This international network gives customers direct access to the most interesting markets in Europe. In this way, buyers benefit from the large supply and sellers from the enormous demand. By 2022, there are already Surplex representations in 15 European countries. One of them is the one in Belgium, which was founded in 2015.

Small, but with backing

Nieuwpoort, a seaside resort on the Belgian coast in West Flanders. The municipality has just under 12,000 inhabitants. Two of them are Alexandra and Bart Devrouw, the Acquisition Manager and the Country Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg. Not exactly the office one imagines for commissioning the site closure of the world's largest manufacturer of construction machinery.

When the construction machinery manufacturer closed its plant in Gosselies, Belgium, in autumn 2017, the task was to make the best possible use of the extensive equipment and to clear the factory site quickly to hand it over to the new investor. Surplex GmbH from Düsseldorf was commissioned with this task. The company was able to prevail over well-known competitors in a lengthy tendering process.

Thousands of items were cleaned, photographed, catalogued, and described in 16 languages - from hand tools to overhead cranes to heavy vertical lathes. Through Surplex.com, nearly 2,000 assets changed hands in various auctions and direct sales from October 2019 to today. Of course, Bart and Alexandra Devrouw did not do it alone. They were supported by Senior Project Manager Huy Trinh and his team, who have now managed and completed countless major international projects on behalf of Surplex.

Devrouw sums up the project: "Of course there are other service providers in the used machinery market, but we set the standard for more complex challenges, such as the timely execution of factory closures. Surplex's experienced team of specialists can organise an online auction and hand over a factory or workshop empty in no time. Afterwards, the premises are cleaned and are once again available for new entrepreneurial ideas. "The clearance of the halls in Gosselies will be completed in July 2022. At the moment, a fourth auction is being prepared. But the site is not lying idle: for example, the big Easter fair of the Charleroi region, the Foire de Paques, raged on the car park until 08 May.

The difference in service

"When we met with the Surplex directors in 2015 and founded Surplex Benelux together, success was not a given regarding the platforms for online auctions that existed at the time", Devrouw explains the beginnings. But what sets Surplex apart is its full service, which is unique in Europe. Buyers and sellers are completely relieved in all phases of the sales process. Devrouw: "We relieve our clients of many operational and administrative tasks, such as handling customs matters."

Buyers acquire immediately available used machinery in a large selection at favourable prices on Surplex.com. And sellers receive the fastest possible liquidity for machines and operating equipment that are no longer needed in the course of restructuring or closures. The full-service concept also works in Belgium and Luxembourg. "Soon we were able to stand out from the rest by making a difference in service for sellers and buyers."

Surplex in line with Belgian economic development

The Belgian economy is primarily characterised by particularly energy-intensive sectors such as refining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles and heavy industry. The top exports in 2020 were pharmaceutical and chemical products, technical products as well as plastics and goods made from them. In addition, investments in the construction sector are on the rise. Of course, the Country Manager knows this too. Thus, Surplex Belgium will increasingly focus on new areas such as construction and agricultural machinery, which have a large market share in Belgium. This is what distinguishes Surplex: Each branch is headed by experienced Country Managers who know the specifics of the national machinery markets inside out. And they are experts themselves; Bart Devrouw is a mechanical engineer.

In addition, Corona has a major impact on the Belgian economy. For the second-hand machinery market the pandemic means an upswing. Because anyone who wants to get through the pandemic successfully as an industrialist or tradesperson has put their money on restructuring. At Surplex this is evident from the fact that buyers prefer to invest in second-hand machines rather than in new machinery. And entrepreneurs as potential sellers are also taking a more critical look at surplus machines for a possible sale.

Bankruptcies will probably play a big role in the future of Surplex Belgium. "Remarkably, we don't see the bankruptcy wave growing at the moment. But we do expect an increase. Many Belgian companies are currently able to hold on thanks to state support. If this disappears soon, many companies will unfortunately run into difficulties," analyses the Belgian Country Manager. At the same time, companies can continue to rely on Surplex Belgium. Devrouw promises, "We will remain true to the service we already offer today to satisfy both sellers and buyers and continue to differentiate ourselves from the other players in the used machinery market."

The future of the site means expansion while maintaining quality

Surplex Belgium has set itself the goal of growing steadily. In anticipation of upcoming developments, an Acquisition Manager Insolvency is currently being sought. "A varied job!", according to Devrouw. "The nice thing about trading in used machinery is that we come into contact with different industries. Every project, every machine is unique."

Over the years, Surplex Belgium has successfully sold thousands of machines and installations. Customer service is always at the heart of the company. "Our dedicated team ensures that you get exactly what you are looking for. Our customer service is always available before and after closing a deal. Our team has many years of experience and is always ready to help you in any way they can."