BUTNER, N.C. -

Earlier this week, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers broke ground on a new North Carolina facility located near the Raleigh-Durham area that will serve as a replacement for the company’s existing auction in Statesville, N.C.

The site of new auction, located in Butner, is on 107 acres, about 24 miles north of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Ritchie Bros. expects the construction at the Raleigh-Durham auction to be finished in the middle of next year and is planning on having four or more unreserved public equipment auctions annually at the new location.

Until that facility is complete, the company will continue to host sales at its Statesville location. The next one is being held on Sept. 28.

At Tuesday’s groundbreaking, Butner Mayor Tom Lane, Ritchie Bros. representatives and Granville County dignitaries, as well as other guests, were on hand.

“We are excited to have a company with the reputation of Ritchie Bros. as part of our community. Their presence here will add much to our community and potentially draw other businesses to the area as well as support existing businesses already based here,” Lane said during a speech at the event.

“The potential we see with Ritchie Bros. coming here as a leader in growth will make a major impact for us,” he added.

Sharing more details about the construction plans, officials noted that, at first, 45 acres of the 107-acre site will be developed. The facilities will include a 33,000-square-foot auction that will house a 50-seat auction theater and a 300-seat virtual ramp theater.

Another facility to be built is a 16,000-square-foot refurbishing building that features wash pads as well as booths for painting and blasting.

Ritchie Bros. closed on the property earlier this year.