IronPlanet (www.ironplanet.com) auction bidders bought more than $42.6 million in equipment in the first quarter 2007, a growth of more than 30% over the same period last year. The company reports that it averaged more than 6,700 viewers per auction and more than 41 bidders per item. Auction items also averaged bidders from more than 16 countries per auction in the first quarter. First-time buyers and sellers accounted for an average of more than 25% of auction participants.

“Online auctions, when combined with detailed, guaranteed inspection reports, are completely changing the way professionals buy and sell equipment,” said Robert Alleger, CEO of IronPlanet. “IronPlanet auctions create a more competitive marketplace for sellers and enable bidders to purchase with confidence.  We have taken the ‘caveat emptor’, buyer beware, out of auctions.”

First-quarter auctions combined to sell more than 1,700 pieces of equipment. March marked the seventh anniversary of the IronPlanet Web site launch.  It has since become the third-largest heavy-equipment auction company, it claims. IronPlanet also claims to be “the world’s leading online auction company for used heavy equipment. IronPlanet facilitates the sale of a broad range of heavy equipment and trucks by providing an easy-to-use interface and detailed, guaranteed inspection reports enabling customers to buy and sell with confidence.”

Among the new executives joining at the moment, Larry Goff joins IronPlanet as the full-time national accounts manager for mine, quarry and aggregate equipment. Prior to joining IronPlanet, Goff was the owner and president of Goff Machinery Co in Atlanta, Georgia for 12 years. Also, John Paschack joins IronPlanet as the national accounts manager for trucks.