Surplex

About Surplex

Surplex GmbH, established in 1999 by brothers Bruno and Florian Schick, operates as a prominent industrial auction house in Europe, specializing in the trade of used machinery and factory equipment. The company's foundation was rooted in the founders' vision to create a more dynamic and transparent online marketplace for used industrial assets, a departure from the traditional, opaque methods prevalent at the time. Initially conceived as a pure dot-com startup during the internet boom, Surplex adapted its strategy following the market correction to integrate online services with traditional machinery trading, a hybrid model that proved successful.

The firm serves a diverse client base, ranging from small workshops to large manufacturing corporations, across various sectors such as metalworking, woodworking, and construction. Its business model revolves around facilitating the entire transaction process for both buyers and sellers. Surplex generates revenue by charging commissions on the sale of equipment conducted through its platform. This full-service approach includes everything from initial expert valuation and inventory of the machines to marketing, invoicing, and post-sale logistics like customs clearance and transportation.

The core of Surplex's operation is its online auction platform, Surplex.com, which is available in over 15 languages and caters to a global audience. This digital platform lists thousands of items, providing detailed descriptions, photos, and videos to enable informed bidding. A key feature is the combination of online accessibility with the ability for potential buyers to inspect machinery on-site, blending the convenience of digital auctions with the assurance of physical verification. Surplex's services are particularly valuable for insolvency administrators and companies undergoing restructuring, providing an efficient channel for liquidating assets. In a significant milestone, Surplex was acquired by TBAuctions in August 2024, joining a leading European multi-brand digital auction group.