Celebrating the silver anniversary of its famous second-hand machinery auction, JCB are to offer a gold-plated birthday bonus to bidders at the next sale.

The company is giving a 5% discount off every lot that goes under the hammer at the event on Tuesday, April 8 at JCB's World Headquarters. And unlike many auctions of its kind, the JCB Great Auction Sale also has no buyer's premium – saving up to a further 10% for customers.

Auction organiser Phil Pepper said: "Since I989, the JCB Great Auction Sale has grown from a small regional event to one that attracts buyers from all over the world, who take part in person and also on line.


"The event has grown enormously over the years and we have a wide range of extremely loyal customers. One of the huge advantages of the sale is that there is no buyer's premium. Now we are rewarding our customers' loyalty further by announcing the special 5% discount."

Around 350 lots are expected to go under the hammer at the auction at the JCB Arena and it is expected to net more than £2m. The auction is also expected to attract on-line bidders from the Middle East, Australia, North America, Africa and Russia in addition to several hundred bidders who attend in person. The success of the Great Auction Sale means it is now staged biannually and in total 38 sales have been staged in the past 25 years.

The Sale is conducted by AMS Auctions, who are experts in the disposal of construction plant and machinery and the company has successfully conducted 18 JCB Great Auction Sales to date.

Among the lots this year are JCB 1CX, 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, JCB wheeled loading shovels, JCB wheeled and tracked excavators, Fastrac tractors, JCB skid steer loaders, compaction equipment as well as cars.

Bidders can view the full catalogue on line prior to the sale by visiting www.amsauctions.co.uk.