About Us

Three generations of knowledge and expertise

With 60+ years in the business, CIA Industrial has built a strong reputation as a trusted, reliable partner to industrial businesses across the nation. Over the years, the Luggen name has served as a symbol of honesty, expertise and ingenuity, and for a business built on the philosophy that if you simply get up and work hard, something good will happen.

Our personal investment in this business and industry is reflected in our growth, success, and every relationship we’ve built since 1961. Through ingenuity, hard work and determination, good principals and business sense, we’ve grown from a one-man operation to a family-owned small business to a national corporation. Our history, our people, and our passions are central to our story, our business philosophy, and the legacy we’re building together.

Years in the Business

0 +

Sold in Auctions

$ 1 B+

Lots

1 M+

OUR HISTORY

1961
OUR STORY BEGINS

James A. Luggen “Big Jim” (1914 – 2001) founded Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers with his wife Stella. Big Jim served his country proudly during World War II and returned to civilian life in 1946. He began his business career buying and selling excess war goods with his company, Wright Surplus Sales. As his expertise in the field of industrial machinery and equipment grew, he accepted a position as an auctioneer for Joseph P. Day Company of New York City in 1956. In 1960, he and Stella made the decision to go into business for themselves.

1972
Welcoming the next generation

Jerome A. Luggen and Jeffrey L. Luggen joined Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers, both after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. Having been around the business their whole lives they hit the ground running actively conducting auctions, buying and selling all types of equipment.

1972

1981
Passing the Torch

James A. Luggen decided to officially retire from the business, handing the reins over to Jerome and Jeffrey. They immediately took control and began actively seeking new business opportunities, expanding the company in both size and scope.

1993
Growing with momentum

The company flourished under Jerome and Jeff’s management, going from 5 employees in a home office servicing mostly local clients, to a full-time staff of 30 servicing clients nationwide.

2000
Enter the 3rd generation

Jeff’s sons Jeffrey M. (Jr.) (2000) and Joseph (2005) joined the staff, starting on the road set-up crew prepping the sites for auction. Spending weeks away from home, learning the business from ground up has helped teach them the sacrifice, hard work and dedication that it takes to run a successful small business.

2013
Building on our legacy

Jerome and Jeff are actively managing the company; Jeffrey M. has grown to a management position and is involved all aspects of the business, and Joseph M. has become our secondary auctioneer and an… accredited AMEA appraiser. Jerome’s son Ryan Luggen officially joined the company in 2013 after graduating from Ohio University. With the two fathers’ 30+ years of experience and their three sons’ youth and ambition, they look to provide top nationwide auction and appraisal services for another 50+ years.

2024
Changing of the Guard

The third generation officially takes over the business as Jerome and Jeff hand over the reins to their sons and head into retirement. Jeffrey M., Joseph and Ryan now lead the charge as managing partners who are dedicated to the company’s continued growth and success, and proud to carry on the values, vision and reputation they helped their family build. They’ve already made a few changes to better reflect how the business had evolved over the years and how they’re going to take it into the future, including a new name and tagline, modernized visual identity, and redesigned website.

Our Team

There’s an energy and enthusiasm every team member brings to the table that stems from something beyond the thrill of the sale, it’s about our hard work and personal drive to power through anything to finish the job, and finish it well. After 60+ years, our well-oiled machine is still powered by some of the brightest in the business.

” Your team came on site and gave us a fair price for our equipment, then methodically set-up the facility for auction. The process was so smooth, taking the worry off our hands of emptying the facility.“

– R. Alan Farrar,

COLONY BRANDS

” The way they presented themselves let us know they would be a reliable partner and capable of achieving our goals. We not only wanted to maximize our return but find someone we could trust – we found that in CIA.“

– Erwin Hartmann,

NIPPON SHARYO MANUFACTURING

” Your prompt turnaround time from our initial conversation to you jumping in the car to meet with me at my facility the very next day to the attention to detail to the flexible accommodations were exceptional.“

– Joel “YOLI” Silverstein,

SILVER’S METAL CO.

Industry Affiliations

CIA Industrial brings the utmost integrity and ethics to the auction and appraisal industry. We are licensed and bonded throughout the country, and are continuously expanding our affiliations and memberships in an effort to grow professionally and meet the needs of our clients.

About Us

Three generations of knowledge and expertise

OUR HISTORY

1961OUR STORY BEGINS

1972Welcoming the next generation

1981Passing the Torch

1993Growing with momentum

2000Enter the 3rd generation

2013Building on our legacy

2024Changing of the Guard