Euro Auctions to host UK Coal clearance sale

Entire plant manifests from Butterwell and Potland Burn surface mines to go under the hammer

EURO Auctions have been exclusively instructed to put under the hammer the entire plant manifests of two UK Coal operations in Northumberland in an ‘everything to be sold’ sale on Thursday 18 August.

UK Coal, the largest producers of coal in the UK, are in the process of closing down operations at both Butterwell and Potland Burn surface mines, near Morpeth, in Northumberland, as they have reached the end of their productive lives.

However, much of the plant and equipment from both sites is still highly desirable, which is why Euro Auctions have been instructed to manage the disposal of every item in this one-day, full site clearance auction.

Included in the sale will be a wide selection of large Cat 777 mining trucks and O&K RH120C face shovels, down to a number of water gulpers, fuel bowsers, overland conveyors, site facilities and a host of other related items and vehicles.

‘A high level of care and attention went into maintaining each piece of equipment and despite some items being more than 20 years old they are all still very productive and in full working order,’ commented Jonnie Keys, general manager of Euro Auctions.

‘With an upsurge in demand for equipment from across Europe and with softer Sterling exchange rates, this is proving to be a popular event, particularly as so much highly desirable equipment is being offered with no reserve, which means that buyers could pick up some real quality bargains.’

Other equipment included in the auction includes: a fleet of Land Rovers, including 90 and 110LWB variants; vehicle-mounted cranes; a variety of trucks in different configurations; tractors; graders; dozers and rippers; fork-lift trucks; compressors; steel-frame workshops; and container-based offices, catering units, washrooms and storage facilities.

The sale also includes 880m of belt conveyor (installed by Continental Conveyors Ltd) in three sections – 375m, 227m and 278m – which are said to be in excellent working condition and have transported more than 2.5 million tonnes of coal at a rate of 250 tonnes/h over the six-year life of the mine.

Both sites are situated some 20 miles north of Newcastle International Airport. The Butterwell site sale is due to commence at 8.30am on the day, with the first lot at the Potland Burn site due to go under the hammer at 1.30pm. A full Internet bidding service will also be in operation for these sales.

For further information, catalogues, details of how to bid etc, visit: www.euroauctions.com