Manheim Auctions launches Europe’s first 4-lane auction centre

Manheim Auctions today announced that the eagerly awaited new 4-lane auction facility will be officially opened at its Colchester auction centre on Tuesday 6th November 2007. It is the first of its kind in Europe and will enable Manheim Auctions to offer twice as many vehicles to buyers during prime selling times. The Colchester auction centre is already the largest in Europe at 52 acres, and the addition of the new 4-lane sale facility will increase its throughput capacity to over 170,000 vehicles per year.

Throughout the week of 5th November a series of auctions will take place to launch the facility, with 3,000 vehicles being offered in this week alone. These organised sales will include the World’s largest ever commercial vehicle auction on Wednesday 7th November which will see over 700 light commercial vehicles on sale, direct from some of the UK’s leading fleets, leasing companies and motor manufacturers.

John Bailey, CEO, Manheim, UK and Europe, commented: “We are committed to providing the highest levels of customer service for both the vendors and buyers who attend our auctions, and the new Colchester 4-lane development is no exception. We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to do business. As for Colchester, there isn’t another auction centre like it in Europe, and we’ve streamlined the auction process to ensure that the customer experience is second to none.”

The new auction facility is part of a multi-million pound investment by Manheim Auctions at the Colchester site and is expected to bring huge benefits to sellers and buyers alike. Not only will vendors be able to sell their vehicles in a shorter space of time, but improved facilities for buyers will mean a more efficient auction process. PCs positioned on every rostrum will enable buyer’s questions to be answered without them needing to leave the auction hall and buyer reports will be created and invoices printed instantly.

Chris Cush, General Manager of Manheim Colchester, is excited about the additional opportunities the new facilities will bring and said, “Colchester has long been Europe’s most prominent auction centre and we know that the new 4-lane sale room will introduce a totally unique and dynamic atmosphere for our customers. We’re really looking forward to launching this state-of-the-art facility and are confident that it will more than satisfy the demand from our buyers to have more vehicles and more choice in one place at one time.”