Vermeer history

When Vermeer began selling products worldwide through New York exporters, the company created Vermeer Holland (in 1955) as a manufacturing and distribution facility for European clients.

In 1956 Vermeer again revolutionized an industry--this time in tree care--with the debut of a stump cutter that chewed up stumps in minutes and was operable by just one person instead of several.

From revolutionizing the tree care industry with stump cutters and tree spades to the one-of-a-kind large round hay baler in 1971, Vermeer's technological advances have always taken the industry by storm.

By 1972 Vermeer Manufacturing had exclusive dealerships in Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland to sell its ever-increasing line of goods.

A year later in 1976 as VMC's work force grew to 685, Gary's youngest child, Mary, joined VMC's board, while continuing to live and teach in Omaha, Nebraska.

Not one to sit on his laurels, Vermeer and his company forged ahead with another discovery--the brush chipper--in 1978.

Robert was named executive vice-president and secretary-treasurer in 1984, the same year Gary was honored as Iowa Inventor of the Year.

Gary Vermeer, the founder of Vermeer Manufacturing retired in 1989, and turned the management of the business over to his son, Bob Vermeer, and his daughter, Mary Vermeer Andringa.

At the same time trenchless technology caught fire, VMC created Vermeer University in 1991, an in-house schooling program.

The next year, 1994, sales were around $320 million according to Off-Highway Research, no doubt helped by another environmentally-friendly piece of equipment--the Brawny TG-400--a large tub grinder.

Sales for 1995 topped $350 million and part of VMC's secret for success was a very simple yet effective business strategy: carry no long-term debt.

In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands.