Vermeer Announces New Iowa Manufacturing Facility
Vermeer Corporation has its sights set on expansion. The company recently announced the acquisition of 186 acres of land and the intent to build an all-new 300,000 sq-ft facility in the Des Moines metro, located in Bondurant, Iowa. It will be home to initially 300+ jobs related to the manufacture and support of Vermeer industrial parts and equipment.
The press release explained that this investment supports the growth Vermeer has seen due to an accelerated momentum of innovation — increasing customer demand across all markets, expanded support in the field and a growing strength in the Vermeer brand worldwide.
“I’m incredibly proud of this business my grandfather, Gary Vermeer, began 78 years ago and the team doing the work to equip Vermeer customers around the world,” said Jason Andringa, president and CEO and third generation family member. “While Pella will always be home to our headquarters, the need for Vermeer equipment has continued to grow and the innovation coming from Vermeer requires continued investment both in Pella and beyond. After announcing the launch of our Vermeer Des Moines team just three years ago, we’re excited to further our commitment to our customers, our team, the greater Des Moines metro and the state of Iowa through this investment.”
The Vermeer Des Moines location began operations in the spring of 2023. Today, a team of 143 works out of 108,000 sq ft. Vermeer said this team has demonstrated an incredible ability to deliver parts and equipment its customers need as they feed and fuel communities, manage natural resources and connect people to daily needed infrastructure.
From the press release:
As innovators, Vermeer knows power doesn’t lie in the product alone, but in the tools, the space and the people building the equipment. This state-of-the-art facility will include advanced manufacturing tools and practices, a patented air circulation system and other exceptional investments to ensure another world-class manufacturing location.
Today, the Vermeer Des Moines team builds critical, wearable components Vermeer equipment uses during jobsite operations, known as Cutting Edge products. The all-new facility will serve as a state-of-the-art center of excellence for all aftermarket components supporting our Cutting Edge business. Additionally, the facility will also include full-spectrum manufacturing capability — including machining, weld, paint and assembly — giving Vermeer Des Moines versatility to meet a continually growing demand and will focus on the manufacture of key products, including new generations of equipment, from our Utility, Tree Care and Landscape product lineups.
“The Des Moines area has proven, in a short amount of time, to be a great place to build out our team and get important work done,” said Mindi Vanden Bosch, vice president of operations and third generation family member. “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 our equipment right here in the heart of the Midwest.”
Room to Grow
This new facility announcement is just one piece of the growth puzzle Vermeer is building. Over the past several years, the company has made a series of strategic moves to support a strong growth trajectory since 2016. In the past three years alone, Vermeer has accomplished a lot, including:
- Upgrades across multiple facilities
- The addition a 135,000 sq-ft expansion at Vermeer MV Solutions in Greenville, S.C.
- The opening of a 312,000 sq-ft Global Parts Distribution Center in Pella
- The 108,000 sq-ft facility in Des Moines
- Reworked 127,000 sq ft of operational space in manufacturing in Goes, the Netherlands
- Acquired significant ownership in a manufacturer located in Queensland, Australia
Vermeer explained it has been in close partnership with the City of Bondurant, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. It said that through effective collaboration and a shared vision for the future, the City of Bondurant and the IEDA have been critical in helping make this announcement a reality.
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