Corning kit goes under the hammer

09 Aug 2002

Photonics test and manufacturing equipment owned by Corning is being sold in a series of online auctions.

Optoelectronic equipment from Corning OTI's facility in Italy and Samsung Corning's site in South Korea is being sold via two online auctions. The events, which are currently open to bids, are being hosted by the asset disposal specialist Henry Butcher and close on August 14.

Eighty pieces of kit ranging from optical spectrum analyzers to laser power meters, microscope systems and power supplies are available in the Italian auction. Approximately 200 similar items are up for grabs in the Korean auction.

In order to make a bid, buyers have to register with the website and confirm their details via e-mail. Clicking on the title of the lot you are interested in then brings up details on the specific piece of equipment. From here, you can view the bid history, the next bid increment and place a bid.

After placing a bid, the buyer gets e-mail confirmation that the offer has been successfully submitted. Buyers also get notification if a higher bid has been entered. The site can also submit bids automatically on a buyers behalf, up to a predetermined amount.

On the August 14 deadline, the product will be sold to the highest bidder provided the so-called "reserve" price has been met. This is a price is set by the seller as a minimum the lot can be sold for. When this price is met, the bid is highlighted yellow on the website. If this is exceeded, the lot is sold to the highest bid above the asking price.

The auctions are likely to attract bargain hunters. For example, a EURO 1900 bid for a benchtop optical spectrum analyser is currently enough to pass the reserve price mark.

Optical communication giants Nortel, JDS Uniphase and Alcatel have all used Henry Butcher in the past 12 months to auction manufacturing and test and measurement equipment that is surplus to requirements.

Author
Jacqueline Hewett is news reporter on Optics.org and Opto & Laser Europe magazine.