The history behind it all
In 1948, our trusted founder, Gary Vermeer, founded Vermeer Manufacturing Company on a small farm in Pella, Ia. Seventy-five years later, we are continuing his legacy of finding a better way to equip our team, dealers and customers to build a better world. Gary’s first invention, the wagon hoist, allowed farmers to mitigate the labor-intensive task of unloading grain. This important innovation was the launchpad for the Company.
Gary soon bought a 36-foot x 84-foot cement block building to continue the manufacturing of wagon hoists for farmers in the surrounding area. With the larger space, he was able to begin the production of more products to help his community. In 1971, Gary invented the baler to help a neighboring farmer with the tiring task of putting up hay. This brand-new piece of equipment quadrupled sales for the Vermeer Manufacturing Company. In 1991, Vermeer propelled itself into the industrial industry with the invention of the D7T Navigator Drill. This horizontal directional drill soon became one of the Company’s biggest markets and continues to be even today.
Today, Vermeer has expanded from its modest beginnings to an innovative, globally recognized organization of more than 4,000 team members worldwide, recently having been recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best Midsize Employers. Operating eight facilities in six continents and more than 60 countries, the Company’s iconic “yellow iron” equipment is distributed through a global network of more than 600 independent industrial and forage dealers. As we look towards the future, we are committed to carrying on the legacy of innovation and continuous improvement to make a lasting impact on the world around us. Together, we are equipped to do more.
