RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C. -

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers recently made another step forward in its plans for a new facility in North Carolina, located just outside the Raleigh-Durham area.

The auction company closed on 107 acres of property 24 miles north of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and plans to break ground on an auction site there in June.

The facility, located in Butner, N.C., will take the place of the company’s existing facility in Statesville, N.C., not far from the Charlotte area. Ritchie Bros. expects to have construction on the new auction wrapped up by the middle of next year.

“Ritchie Bros. is very excited about the future opening of our new Raleigh-Durham auction site, and we look forward to officially breaking ground this June,” stated Ritchie Bros. senior vice president Curt Hinkelman.

“The new facility, centrally located within the state of North Carolina, will provide even greater ease of access to the large number of customers throughout the region, as well as expand the services we will be able to provide them, allowing for a more comfortable and convenient auction experience,” he added.

Describing the new site in more detail, officials noted that it will have 60 acres devoted to equipment display. The remaining 47 acres will be saved for growth plans.

The auction facility will be 33,000 square feet and will be able to seat 575 people in its theater. There will also be a second auction theater with room for 300 people and a virtual ramp.

Additionally, the auction will have 10 timed auction lot kiosks. Customers can utilize these to bid on smaller items, like attachments and consumer goods.

Moving along, there will also be a 16,000-square-foot refurbishing facility that includes an equipment wash area as well as booths for painting and blasting.

The auction will also feature a 2,400-square-foot equipment check-in building and has plans for an on-site catering facility that provides food services. Free wireless Internet and a 10-plus-acre parking lot are also in the works.

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 10. Local dignitaries and Richie Bros. representatives are slated to be on-hand.

Meanwhile, there will be Ritchie Bros. sales at the Statesville auction until the Raleigh-Durham location opens. The company. is “exploring different options” regarding what to do with the Statesville site. These choices include potentially hearing offers from parties wanting to lease or buy the site.

“We look forward to welcoming Ritchie Bros. to the town of Butner as well as the sales tax and property tax Ritchie Bros. is expected to generate for Granville County and the state of North Carolina,” stated Jay Tilley, who serves as director of the Granville County Department of Economic Development.

“Our excitement is now focused on working with Ritchie Bros. through the construction phase of the project and with the opportunity to welcome people from around the world to the region once the new facility is complete,” Tilley added.