Vermeer commemorates anniversary of tornado recovery efforts

An EF3 tornado destroyed several buildings in Iowa last July, but three new facilities are being built in their place.


Posted by Jimmy Miller, Digital Editor, Lawn & Landscape

Published July 16, 2019

PELLA, Iowa – Vermeer recently held the groundbreaking for a monument commemorating the buildings destroyed by an EF3 tornado in Pella, Iowa, last July along the Vermeer Mile.

“The tornado was the greatest challenge Vermeer has ever faced. I am incredibly proud to say our
team has turned it into an opportunity. Not only are we rebuilding what we had, but we're becoming

stronger than ever before,” President and CEO Jason Andringa said.

With three new facilities underway at the Pella-based headquarters, Vermeer is investing heavily in
the future. The first facility scheduled to open this summer is a new engineering and R&D building named

Shop 48. The name stems from Founder Gary Vermeer’s shop that led to the founding of Vermeer Corporation in 1948. With more than 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to building and testing new equipment, team members will begin to move into this area in August.

“We're very fortunate at Vermeer to have a 71-year history of innovation. Shop 48 will take our

innovation and growth opportunities long into the future,” said Doug Hundt, the president of industrial solutions.

Plant 7 was formally announced today as the new facility being built where Plants 5 & 6 once
stood. Nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space will expand beyond the
original manufacturing footprint that took up just less than 400,000 square feet of this area. The
new facility will connect to the original Plant 7 that was damaged in the tornado but repaired in the

months following. Together, they will take on the name Plant 7.

Scheduled to be complete in fall 2020, this facility is being built to keep team members safe at every touch point on the job, create ultimate productivity, be a collaborative and engaging space for team members and allow for growth long into the future. Incorporating advanced manufacturing techniques and continuous improvement best practices will help drive world class manufacturing.

“Looking ahead, this facility is going to be world-class in every feature. We're advancing our paint technology, coat technology and the space for our team,” said Bill Blackorby, vice president of operations.

Also recognized was the new Eco Center. Replacing the one lost in the tornado, the new building

will be placed behind Plant 1 and open its doors in January 2020. The Eco-Center helps responsibly process and manage waste along the Mile.

“Our customers depend on our ability to get high quality equipment to them - this new facility makes
us excited to continue to deliver on this promise into the future,” said Mark Core, the executive vice president, forage and lifecycle and chief marketing officer.
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