INDIANAPOLIS -

Auction Broadcasting Co. president Jason Hockett highlighted the company is expanding seven of its eight locations in anticipation of upcoming volumes.

Hockett indicated construction started earlier this year at those facilities as management based its decision on the anticipation of off-lease returns and an uptick in repossessions.

At ABC Baton Rouge, the company just celebrated its first anniversary in business in the Louisiana capital. Now, ABC is developing eight additional acres with a new reconditioning center.

“It will allow us to expand our mechanical and post-sale inspection areas as well,” Hockett said.

At ABC Birmingham, the company purchased and developed 13.5 additional acres. “It is allowing us to build a new reconditioning center and body shop, plus install our new state of the art photo booth,” Hockett said.

Moving north to ABC Lancaster, the company is developing 12 additional acres. 

“It’s been exciting to see a need for more asphalt in the Pennsylvania market,” Hockett said of the eight-lane auction that has reconditioning center and body shop to go with three full lanes dedicated for vehicle inspections.

“It was Jason Brinkley and Greg Gehman’s goal to have pictures and a condition report listed online for every vehicle in the sale,” Hockett added.

Shifting west to ABC St. Louis, the company is developing 15 additional acres and installing its first drive-thru photo booth. 

“I am truly excited to share with the industry our finished product from the photo booth,” Hockett said. “It’s going to be a game-changer.”

Elsewhere in the Midwest, at ABC Detroit/ Toledo the company plans to develop 10 additional acres and renovate its check-in area and reconditioning center as Hockett predicted to be “inundated” with off-lease volume in Detroit.

“As the supply increases, we hope to create more of a demand by moving the vehicles 45 minutes southeast,” he said.

The company recently completed the remodeling of the auction arena and front office at ABC Bowling Green.

“Our dealers have really appreciated the improvements,” Hockett said.

Finally at ABC Cincinnati, the company purchased an adjoining property with three acres. The property was formerly a dealership with a service department and body shop. 

“We really needed the service department and body shop to allow us to offer the proper services for our bank and fleet customers,” Hockett said.

Hockett mentioned ABC have seen 15 to 20 percent growth year-over-year for the past four years, making the improvement plans all the more necessary.

“I think that all auction owners are excited in anticipation of volume increases,” Hockett said. “At ABC, we are grateful for our customers who have been so good to us and it’s nice to be able to give back to them by improving our facilities with additional parking and making key improvements for ancillary services.”