Vermeer to set up technology hub at university

Construction, mining and agricultural equipment manufacturer Vermeer Corporation, together with Iowa State University Research Park (ISU RP) has announced the groundbreaking of the Vermeer Applied Technology Hub.

The hub will house offices, meeting spaces and a high bay space and Vermeer intends to create an environment for software engineers to develop practical, affordable and modular equipment technology.

The hub will provide office space to allow students and faculty from Iowa State and other schools to work collaboratively on technology advancements for Vermeer industrial and agricultural equipment. As technology is developed, Vermeer intends to use the high-bay facility for testing and validation.

Vermeer will initially occupy approximately two-thirds of the 36000 sq ft facility, which will be built, owned and operated by ISU RP. Building will continue throughout this year and into early 2016, with an anticipated move-in date of next May.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with Iowa State to demonstrate how partnership between the education system and private industry can best be applied,“ said Vermeer chief operating officer Jason Andringa

“When the state, our education system and the state’s private industry come together, strong economic development potential can follow.”

Vermeer links with ISU RP go back to 2012 and it has worked alongside the university’s students on seven projects since then.