Global On-Line Marketplace Adds Printing Vertical

Staff -- graphic arts online, 1/1/2001

The Online Asset Exchange (www.onlineassetexchange.com), already the world's largest business-to-business marketplace for buying and selling industrial equipment over the Internet, now offers a 24/7 worldwide store for used and surplus printing equipment, including sheetfed and web presses as well as prepress, converting, and finishing equipment.

The printing e-marketplace will be joining the San Diego-based procurement service's other markets, including metalworking and production equipment, agriculture and construction equipment, medical, plastics, and transportation.

Founded in 1999, the exchange features more than 200,000 assets valued at more than $14 billion, and currently lists 1,200 printing items, including more than 400 presses.

"In the old days, a printer looking for a piece of used equipment would probably contact the dealer or look in one of the trade journals, but that limited the search to only the people who could afford to advertise," explains Bill Ewaskiw, general manager of the printing vertical and a former district sales manager for Bobst Group.

Broadened scope

Ewaskiw adds, "Now, someone who wants to sell a piece of equipment gets worldwide exposure on the Internet. Anybody from Albania to Zambia can shop for the equipment. We've actually had numerous requests from places like India, Pakistan, and Nigeria."

He says that because the site offers a wider range of machines from which to choose, buyers can shop for higher-quality, newer machinery. "Also, we don't just sell equipment, but provide value-added services such as shipping, rigging, finance, appraisal, and refurbishment, as well as provide customers with supplies and other operating needs."