German firm HKL Baumaschinen says it is seeing a positive response to its sales of second-hand construction equipment on the Internet.

Last year, the Hamburg-based construction equipment vendor and rental company (www.hkl-baumaschinen.de) sold used equipment worth 10 million euros ($9.8 million) in foreign markets.

A substantial part of this was processed or initiated by the company's website, says managing shareholder Kay Stading.

Firms in the Middle East have approached the medium as a sales tool.

"Once they have visited our website and read up on our offering, we usually close the deals pretty quickly," Stading said.

All the equipment comes from leading German and foreign manufacturers and spares are available on demand.

All the equipment is part of HKL's own rental stock, which comprises about 20,000 units. On average, the equipment is six- to eight-years old and in good shape with maintenance handled by the company's own workshops.

Potential buyers who wish to see the equipment for themselves are free to visit the company's four used equipment centres in Germany.

At any time each location has more than 500 pieces of equipment in stock.

The equipment ranges from compressors, mini, track-type and wheel-type excavators and wheel loaders to large-scale vibratory compactors.

The company says it provides assistance in handling shipment and formalities with authorities.