Warehouse bulging, broker of medical gear plans an auction

OMED of Nevada, a medical equipment reseller, has secured so much inventory in recent months that it needs to host its first-ever online auction in an effort to clear its north-Reno warehouse, says President Terry Vander Ploeg.

OMED has grown steadily since being purchased in 2009 by Vander Ploeg and Heinz Roesch. The company, which specializes in selling refurbished medical equipment throughout the United States and abroad, also has acquired a great deal of non-medical items linen carts, garbage cans, floor scrubbers, furniture as it helps its hospital customers clean house. The company has hired Baxtin Auctions of Reno to divest the items in an online auction Sept. 15.

"It is clogging up the warehouse, and we needed to get more distribution avenues," Vander Ploeg says.

OMED's president had listed many items on eBay with limited success, but the high cost of shipping prevented many people from bidding on items, Vander Ploeg says.

"We have a couple of guys constantly in the field acquiring equipment from hospitals in Nevada and California, and our niche is to take everything they have got. It is mostly medical equipment, but sometimes it can be anything from chairs to garbage cans or different types of stools. Some of it is not of particularly high value and can't be shipped around country; it is better used for the local market."

Bidding will be conducted online, but the company's items more than 50 lots have been assembled can be previewed on Sept. 14 at 800 Stillwell Road, No. 80. OMED plans on having bi-weekly auctions following its initial offering. Bidders can find out more information at baxtinauctions.com, as well as get directions to the company's warehouse.

OMED was founded in 1995 by former President Dave Ogren. The company currently employs 10 at its 27,000-square-foot warehouse. Service work also has helped he company grow, Vander Ploeg says. OMED has boosted its revenue stream by providing in-house maintenance and repair services on medical equipment for regional surgery centers and medical facilities.