IRONCRESTINDUSTRIALINDUSTRIAL SURPLUS BUYERS
DATA CENTER EQUIPMENT BUYER

Sell Surplus Data Center Equipment.

We buy retired UPS systems, battery strings, busway, copper cable, generators, switchgear and power distribution equipment from data centers, colocation facilities and decommissioning projects.

PLATE No. 125 MOLDED-CASE BREAKER — FRONT ELEVATION SCALE 1:2 SHEET 1 OF 1600V · 3PIO3-POLE · 600V CLASS1521TOGGLE2TERMINALS3FRAME4ARC VENTSFIG. 3 — THREE-POLE UNIT, TOGGLE CENTERED (TYPICAL) WE BUY
PLATE No. 125
Data center switchgear and electrical power equipment

What we buy

  • UPS systems and battery cabinets
  • Battery strings (VRLA and lead-acid)
  • Overhead busway and bus duct
  • Copper feeder cable and bus bar
  • Standby generators
  • Switchgear, PDUs and transformers

Who we work with

Data center operators, colocation providers, facilities teams, decommissioning contractors and electrical contractors clearing retired power equipment.

What to send

Clear photos of each unit, nameplates showing manufacturer, model, kVA/kW ratings, voltage and serial numbers, battery quantities and date codes, approximate quantity, city/state, and your removal timeline.

DATA CENTER DECOMMISSIONING

What data centers retire — and what it is worth

Data centers turn over power infrastructure on a steady cycle: UPS refreshes, battery replacements, capacity upgrades, consolidations and full facility decommissions. That retired equipment still holds real value, especially on the power side. Ironcrest buys the electrical and copper-bearing equipment that comes out of data center projects, and we review each opportunity from photos and nameplate details.

UPS systems

Uninterruptible power supply units — from smaller single-phase systems up to large three-phase and modular UPS platforms — are among the highest-value items in a data center decommission. Manufacturer, kVA rating, voltage, age, battery configuration and operating condition all shape the offer. Include clear photos of the unit and every nameplate, plus the battery cabinets that go with it.

Battery strings

VRLA and lead-acid battery strings are replaced on a schedule whether they have failed or not, which means removed batteries often have remaining service or commodity value. Quantity, manufacturer, model, amp-hour rating and date codes matter. Batteries are heavy and regulated, so removal planning starts with honest photos and counts.

Busway and bus duct

Overhead busway, bus duct runs, plug-in units and tap boxes come out during reconfigurations and decommissions. Copper-conductor busway in good condition has strong recovery value. Photograph the full run, the nameplate or manufacturer stamps, plug-in units, and approximate footage before it is taken down.

Copper cable and bus bar

Data centers hold enormous amounts of copper: feeder cable, grounding conductors, whips, bus bar and tie-in cable pulled during upgrades. Sorted by type and photographed with jacket markings visible, copper cable from a decommission is straightforward to value. See our copper wire grades guide to understand what drives the number.

Generators

Standby diesel generators that backed up the facility — from smaller units to large multi-hundred-kW machines — are reviewed on make, model, kW rating, hours, enclosure, fuel type and service history. Nameplate photos, hour-meter readings and a cold-start video move the review along fast.

Switchgear, PDUs and transformers

Main-tie-main switchgear, distribution switchboards, PDUs, RPPs and dry-type transformers round out the power chain. Working switchgear and transformers can have resale value well above commodity value. Send lineup photos, one-line diagrams when available, breaker schedules, and every nameplate.

View Ironcrest’s complete electrical equipment purchasing page →

TIMING AND SECURITY

Decommissioning timing and data security, done right

Most of the value in a data center project is captured or lost before a wrench turns. Sending photos early — before equipment is disconnected, stacked or scrapped — lets us identify what is worth selling intact versus what is better recovered for material value. Equipment photographed in place, with nameplates legible, almost always reviews better than the same equipment photographed in a pile.

One honest boundary: Ironcrest buys power-side equipment, not your data. We focus on UPS systems, batteries, busway, cable, generators and power distribution gear — not servers, storage arrays or data-bearing drives. Data-bearing media should be wiped or destroyed through a proper data-destruction process before any equipment leaves your facility. If drives are still installed, remove and handle them through your own IT asset disposition channel first; we review the power infrastructure around them.

Send photos before disconnection

Nameplates are easiest to read while equipment is still installed and lit. Photograph each unit, its nameplate, battery date codes and the overall room before your electricians start pulling cable.

Keep data media out of the sale

Pull and destroy data-bearing drives through your own process before equipment leaves the building. Ironcrest reviews the power infrastructure, not the data.

Plan removal with your team

Electrical disconnection must be handled by qualified contractors, and heavy units need proper rigging and access. Coordinate timing with your facilities team so removal is safe and orderly.

Heavy copper cable recovered from data center decommissioning
HOW TO SELL

What to send for today’s price

Pricing a data center lot comes down to specifics: manufacturer and model, capacity ratings, age and condition, quantity, battery details, and current market conditions for the material inside. Public per-pound prices are not posted because every lot is different — but the review is simple and fast when you send the right information up front.

1. Photograph everything in place

Wide shots of the room or lineup, close-ups of each unit, and legible nameplate photos. For batteries, capture date codes and total jar counts. For cable, photograph jacket markings and cut ends.

2. List the specs

Manufacturer, model number, kVA/kW ratings, voltage, phase, serial numbers, generator hours, battery amp-hour ratings and ages. One-line diagrams and breaker schedules help on larger electrical lots.

3. Give the logistics

City and state, whether the equipment is disconnected or still installed, floor level and loading access, whether a loading dock or forklift is available, and your target removal timeline.

Also selling other material from the project? We buy copper wire and cable and bus duct and busway as part of decommissioning lots.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Data center equipment questions, answered.

What data center equipment do you buy?

We buy power-side equipment from data centers: UPS systems and battery cabinets, VRLA and lead-acid battery strings, overhead busway and bus duct, copper feeder cable and bus bar, standby generators, switchgear, PDUs, RPPs and dry-type transformers. Send photos and nameplate details of what you have and we will review each item.

Do you buy servers, storage arrays or hard drives?

Our focus is power infrastructure, not IT hardware. Data-bearing drives should be wiped or destroyed through your own data-destruction process before equipment leaves your facility. If servers or storage arrays are part of a larger decommission, we review the power equipment around them — the data media itself stays with your disposition channel.

How do I get today’s price for decommissioned equipment?

Send photos, nameplate details (manufacturer, model, kVA/kW, voltage, serial numbers), battery quantities and date codes, estimated quantity, and the pickup location. Each lot is priced from the equipment’s ratings, condition, quantity and current market conditions, so public per-pound prices are not posted. Send photos for today’s price.

Can you handle removal from an active data center?

Removal depends on the equipment’s size and weight, access, floor level, and timing — and electrical disconnection must be handled by qualified contractors. Ironcrest is based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and reviews opportunities based on the details you send. Include access and loading information with your photos so removal options can be confirmed.

Do you buy single units or only full decommissions?

Both. A single retired UPS, one battery string, or a partial busway run is worth a review, and so is a full-room decommission with switchgear, generators and cable. What matters is clear photos, nameplates and honest quantities — send what you have.

Decommissioning a data center or retiring power equipment? Send photos, nameplate details, battery counts and pickup location to [email protected] or call 312-880-8174 for today’s price.

WHY SEND PHOTOS FIRST

Identification protects value.

Industrial equipment can be worth more intact than as scrap. Clear photos and nameplates help determine whether resale, component recovery or commodity recovery is the best path.

Submit your material →

HOW SELLING WORKS

Three steps to an offer.

01

Send photos

Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.

02

Material review

We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.

03

Receive an offer

For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.

CALLSEND PHOTOS FOR A PRICE