Awrey Bakeries - Another Success Story

Awrey Bakeries, once one of the largest privately owned bakeries in the country, was a struggling 100-year old business that was going to be auctioned off in February of 2013.  As one of the few remaining Detroit-area brands still operating, it avoided permanent closure in a down-to-the-wire deal.   

As leading experts with this type of closure, Rabin had been brought in to assist with the sale of the factory and all of the equipment. The bakery was originally scheduled to close in January and lay off all 200 workers as it was prepared to go to auction, but instead the plant continued to operate until late February.

We sent the Rabin set-up team to respectfully work around the employees in the plant to get the enormous facility prepared for the auction.  The team accomplished this in less than three weeks.  While this was going on, we were aggressively marketing the property and equipment to buyers from all over the world including Mexico, Macedonia, Canada, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Central America and a large national interest in the equipment.  The next part of the story takes quite a twist. 

Just one week before the auction, a prospective user approached us and we negotiated a turnkey sale.  The new owner not only reopened the factory the next week but ended up rehiring almost half of the Awrey workers.  It turned out to be a winning situations for all parties as it kept a sorely needed industry in Livonia, Michigan as well as doubled the projected expectations of our client. 

At Rabin we provide turnkey sales and solutions throughout North America.  We actively market and sell companies in their entirety, including equipment, inventory, intellectual property, customers, and often the attached real estate.   Contact us to learn more. 

Rabin is an international company that specializes in creating liquidity for complex manufacturing facilities with idle or marginally productive assets.  Past auctions include names such as Hostess, Braniff Airlines, Montgomery Ward, and the Railway Express Agency.  Rabin is headquartered in San Francisco with a European subsidiary office in Manchester, United Kingdom. 

Capital Equipment Purchases

Regardless of whether your company is large or small, making capital equipment purchases require careful consideration.  Identifying your needs for replacing, upgrading or adding to your current inventory of capital equipment and machinery needs to be reviewed and analyzed for all available options. 

By recognizing the significance of capital purchases for equipment and machinery, a business needs to determine if the new pieces will add value and perform well over their expected life span and beyond.  This is where a lifecycle analysis can help.  It is used to chart out the full cost of ownership and compare the costs between different models and the price difference if bought new, used, or leased.
 

The process of a lifecycle analysis takes into account the full price of the leasing agreement and the purchase price of buying the equipment new or used.  Factors should include: delivery charges, installation fees, any training costs, maintenance, and depreciation.  Other things to figure in would be the cost of disposing of your existing equipment and any plant layout changes the new equipment or machinery will require.  If financing the equipment or machinery, be sure to include any interest charges as well. 
 

Used equipment may be your best bet for equipment or machinery that is not technologically dependent and is not likely to become obsolete in a short period of time.   Also new or used equipment allows you as the owner to make modifications, whereas with rental equipment, you generally are locked into that piece of equipment for a set period of time and cannot make any alterations to it.  
 

We encourage you to check out our current and upcoming auctions and liquidation sales at Rabin.  As leading industrial and commercial liquidators, Rabin has sold equipment assets in every trade sector and on almost every continent. We purchase complete factories, including real estate, and conduct auctions of any size on behalf of our clients.
 

In business for over 60 years, Rabin Worldwide is an industrial auction and real estate investment company, with a focus on the acquisition and sale of industrial equipment and facilities around the world. In addition to being specialists in providing companies with expert asset valuation and asset recovery services, we also run an in-house commercial real estate investment and management company.  Rabin Worldwide is headquartered in San Francisco with a European subsidiary office in Manchester, United Kingdom.

 

Better to Buy Used Equipment or to Lease?

If you are wondering if it may be a better idea to buy at auction or to lease the equipment you need, there are several things you should consider before you make your decision.  To start with you probably want to evaluate how much and for how long you will use the equipment as well as your company’s financial situation.  In many cases, purchasing good used equipment can be cheaper over the long run, and when you are done with it, you still own something of value to sell.

Leasing makes sense for equipment needs that are short term or if it is the type of equipment that requires frequent replacement as it wears out quickly or becomes obsolete.  Another advantage is you typically put up less money upfront, as most leasing agreements do not require a large down payment.  You can also take rentals as leasing expenses on your taxes, but you need to figure out if it outweighs the convenience and long term benefits of buying your own equipment.  And your own equipment can be depreciated over time on your taxes. 

Buying at auction is a perfect solution for heavy industrial or farm equipment and machinery as it typically has a long life span and does not become technologically outdated in a short period of time.  The best deals come down to condition, and the newer the equipment and the better the condition it is in, the more valuable it will be.  And keep in mind, even if you buy at auction, you generally can still finance it. 

If you are thinking of buying at auction, you may want to take part in some online auctions or attend a couple of live ones to get an idea of prices on the equipment and machinery you are interested in.   Keep in mind if you do plan to buy used that you will want to do your homework and find out everything you can about that equipment.

Rabin is an international company that specializes in creating liquidity for complex manufacturing facilities with idle or marginally productive assets.  Rabin’s operations include selling entire plants, multiple plant locations, or surplus individual items by auction or liquidation and much more.  Check out our reviews here.

 

The Importance of a Good Appraisal

 

At Rabin we understand that there is no room for error when getting a professional appraisal as an accurate valuation is the essential starting point for any lending or disposition process.  Companies have a lot riding on the fact that the appraisals they receive from Rabin or any other appraisal firm is as accurate as possible. 

This is why we are pleased to offer our clients services from our professional machinery and equipment appraisal team that has worked together for more than 25 years.  They bring extensive experience in nearly every facet of industrial equipment and provide our clients with real-world obtainable value conclusions.  Whether you want to sell or buy, we offer a superior experience with the most accurate product descriptions, high-quality photos and unmatched customer service.

Every year we assist dozens of companies in obtaining working capital by valuing assets promised as collateral to asset-based lenders and investors.  And our valuation and appraisal services are independent.  With Rabin’s extensive background in the industry and our size, it allows us to provide clients with appraisals that are based on our vast experience and actual sales’ history in the market.  Our clients receive appraisal that they can take to the bank; and commercial lenders and banks know that they can trust our expertise and reply on our valuations. 

Contact us to learn more about our excellent wide range of services that include helping companies maximize the value of their idle or surplus assets by obtaining capital that can be placed back into the business. In addition we have the expertise to assist companies through bankruptcy, insolvency and corporate restructuring.  We are specialist in delivering personal service and attention that makes a real difference.

In business for over 60 years, Rabin Worldwide is an industrial auction and real estate investment company, with a focus on the acquisition and sale of industrial equipment and facilities around the world. In addition to being specialists in providing companies with expert asset valuation and asset recovery services, we also run an in-house commercial real estate investment and management company.  Rabin Worldwide is headquartered in San Francisco with a European subsidiary office in Manchester, United Kingdom.

 

Extensive Professional Services from Rabin

We are a family business that was started by four Rabin brothers in the early 1950’s selling war surplus through liquidations that grew into a professional liquidation company by the late 50’s.  Today while still a family business, we offer so much more.   As a well-respected international company, we have an unmatched track record of successfully doing business throughout the world. 

In addition to our expert auction and liquidation services as well as professional appraisals, Rabin offers a selection of other high-quality services.  One of these is our machinery and equipment financing program that can assist businesses with the process of obtaining needed working capital.  What makes our program unique is our ability to accurately evaluate your company’s assets that will be secured or collateralized.  Most other asset-based lenders or investors must use a third party appraisal to value the supporting assets as they do not have the in-house expertise as Rabin does to do the job themselves. 

Another service we offer is turnkey opportunities throughout North America.  At Rabin we actively market and sell a company in its entirety, including equipment, inventory, intellectual property, customers, and often the attached real estate.  Our proven ability to navigate through all the aspects of complex sales processes offers our clients a compelling one-stop-shop value proposition.

 

An additional opportunity Rabin offers is our partnership and financing program.  We will partner with companies all over the world to finance and purchase large equipment inventories, plants and real estate.  Our network of partners across the world gives us validation in international markets and extends our buyer network for added value for our clients.

Please contact us to learn about all of Rabin’s exceptional services and programs.  We have a long history of expertly helping companies. See what our customers are saying about  us.

For over 60 years, Rabin Worldwide has been assisting companies with creating liquidity through innovative solutions. We specialize in complex manufacturing facilities with idle or marginally productive assets. When you need to sell assets, realize your maximum value by using the services of highly experienced commercial liquidators.

 

Rabin’s Wide Range of Services

At Rabin we are specialists in providing a wide range of services that offer personalized care that makes a difference.  Our broad experience and expertise give us an edge, and our people and systems deliver it.  With a network of nearly 100 partners around the world, we are more than equipped to solve complex asset valuation, asset sale, and liquidation problems quickly and efficiently.  In addition we are proud of the fact that over 50% of our buyers are repeat customers who have recognized the value of the services that we offer. 

An important part of the Rabin Company is our auction and liquidation services. As industry leaders, we have spent years developing relationships with the people who buy industrial machinery and equipment around the world.  Auction buyers respect our knowledge and respect the fact that our auctioneers, appraisers and project managers are all seasoned experts.

Another vital service we provide for our clients is highly trusted appraisals.  Rabin’s expert valuation and asset appraisal services assist companies with obtaining working capital by valuing assets promised as collateral to asset-based lenders and investors. We give our companies the most accurate valuations in the industry and base those valuations on our actual sales in the market.  Banks and corporations have come to rely on our asset values.

The range of industries we have worked with include chemical procession, pharmaceutical, food processing, snack food, agriculture, construction, audio and video, building equipment, heavy equipment, trucking and distribution, mining, packaging, real estate and much more.  If fact our over 60 years in the business have given us experience with most industries.

Please contact us to learn more about these and the all of the other professional services that Rabin offers.  We are headquartered in San Francisco with a European subsidiary office in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Rabin is an international company that specializes in creating liquidity for complex manufacturing facilities with idle or marginally productive assets.  Rabin’s operations include selling entire plants, multiple plant locations, or surplus individual items by auction or liquidation and much more. Past auctions include names such as Hostess, Braniff Airlines, Montgomery Ward, and the Railway Express Agency.