Vermeer Corporation manufactures a variety of equipment and machines for agricultural, environmental, and infrastructure applications. It all started in 1948, when Dutch immigrant Gary Vermeer opened a tiny machine shop to meet the needs of other farmers. “Today, nearly 80 years later, we’re still just as passionate about finding a better way to make hay, feed cattle and give back to the land,” the company writes.
Over the years, the company has expanded beyond its headquarters in Pella, Iowa. President and CEO Jason Andringa, who is one of Vermeer’s descendants, explained, “Our headquarters and the vast majority of our manufacturing footprint is on land my grandfather, and company founder Gary Vermeer, used to farm. It’s where we started. It’s our home. And we will continue to invest in our team and our facilities there. However, as demand for Vermeer equipment continues, we continue to explore and grow our ability to produce more.”
Photo Courtesy Vermeer Corporation
In 2019, Vermeer acquired Schuler Manufacturing in Griswold, Iowa. Employees there design and manufacture feeding solutions, including the TMR (total mixed ration) mixers and feed wagons that Schuler made. Mark Core, Chief Marketing Officer and executive vice president of forage and lifecycle, explained, “By bringing Schuler’s feeding solutions into the Vermeer product family, farmers and ranchers can further depend on Vermeer to help them care for their livestock and operate efficiently, whether they are making hay or mixing feed.” One customer, Bruce Debruin, remembered his first time using a Vermeer feed wagon, “First time I ran the machine, I thought we should have had one before. It was fun. It was a joy to operate.”
Photo Courtesy Vermeer Corporation
In 2023, in addition to opening a new 312,000-square-foot Global Parts Distribution Center in Pella to package and ship parts worldwide, Vermeer also opened a new 108,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Des Moines and hired 60 to 80 people to operate it. The facility focuses on producing components vital to enabling Vermeer equipment to dig and install infrastructure, such as horizontal directional drill tooling and utility tractor attachments. It has since expanded into Cutting Edge products worn during job operations. As of this year, the Des Moines team has expanded to 143 employees.
This February, Vermeer also announced that it had bought 186 acres of land to build a 300,000-square-foot facility in Bondurant, Iowa, for which it will hire more than 300 employees. The site, also in the Des Moines metro area, will produce aftermarket components to support the Cutting Edge business and the existing Des Moines operations. Complete with machining, welding, painting, and assembly capabilities, it will also be able to manufacture new Utility, Tree Care, and Landscape products as the company rolls out new generations.
“The Des Moines area has proven, in a short amount of time, to be a great place to build our team and get important work done. We strive to be a top employer in the region, are committed to best-in-class manufacturing, and believe this growth only helps demonstrate that. We’re proud to call Iowa home, and we’re proud to build our team and equipment right here in the heart of the Midwest,” said Mindi Vanden Bosch, vice president of operations and another third-generation family member. Bondurant Mayor Doug Elrod added, “This project represents more than a facility. It represents opportunity for our residents, for our regional workforce, and for future generations.”
Photo Courtesy Vermeer Corporation
Vermeer’s presence is important to local communities. “The equipment we design, build, and support helps make our world go. And our people are doing the same thing—moving their communities, industries, and causes forward,” the company wrote. Last year, Vermeer also launched VermeerOne, a platform that provides machine data and dealer support, with all the information such as essential documentation, analytics and insights, and performance reports, ultimately changing how customers manage their equipment. Brianne Schulte, Vermeer vice president of strategy, risk, information technology, and financial planning, elaborated, “By providing essential data directly to owners, we’re helping them optimize utilization, respond quickly to issues, and plan more effectively.”
The company also invests in its local communities through its Vermeer Charitable Foundation, through which it provides grants and scholarships. As a result of one of these grants last year, the City of Pella broke ground on the Pella Rec Center, a 78,000-square-foot building that will feature four gyms, two pools, a walking track, and a fitness facility.
Environmentally, the company is a leader. There are more than 6,000 solar panels at the Global Parts Distribution Center in Pella, with two other installations across the Pella campus bringing the total to more than 10,000 panels. Not only do these systems produce 5,755 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy per year, meeting electricity needs and slashing Vermeer’s energy bill, but they also save 4,891 million tons of carbon emissions each year.
Moreover, Vermeer is transforming industries by electrifying equipment. As the company describes, electric equipment operates more quietly, allowing work to be conducted at earlier and later times. Without using any gas or releasing any fumes, local areas benefit from cleaner air and healthier environments. The equipment also has fewer moving parts, which translates into less maintenance, lower costs, and more streamlined operations. Senior product manager Josh Vrieze noted that more and more tree care contractors are asking for electric equipment, but “It’s not just our customers. It’s their customers as well that are asking for these types of operations.”
Most recently, the company introduced the BX1000XL electric brush chipper, the SC30TX electric stump cutter, and the S450TX electric mini skid steer. The company described, “By electrifying these proven platforms, Vermeer will demonstrate how this new power source can enhance productivity and create a better operator experience. At the same time, the equipment will deliver the reliability and performance customers expect from Vermeer.”
Photo Courtesy Vermeer Corporation
