Iowa company to harvest Helium3 from the moon for fusion energy, quantum computing.

As we watch NASA’s Artemis II mission, one Iowa company is looking forward to incredible breakthrough potential. The moon has plentiful Helium3, an element not found on earth, and Vermeer’s technology can harvest it, unlocking new potential in quantum computing and fusion energy. CEO Jason Andringa explains.

Andringa has a space background. He has a degree from MIT in Aeronautics and Astronautics and worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion lab—yes, a real life rocket scientist. Andringa discusses their massive one hundred million dollar expansion into Bondurant, and confirms he’s been communicating with SpaceX on future technology and missions. Will Vermeer be planting a flag on the moon or Mars soon?

Jason Andringa, CEO of Vermeer

Jason Andringa, CEO of the 78-year-old Iowa brand Vermeer, is steering the manufacturing giant through a period of explosive growth that spans from the soil of the Des Moines metro to the regolith of the moon. He detailed the company’s massive $100 million investment in Bondurant, Iowa.

The new 300,000-square-foot facility, dubbed Vermeer Des Moines, sits on a 186-acre plot—less than a quarter of which is being developed initially. The expansion aims to double the current regional workforce of 100 to roughly 300 team members by the summer of 2027.

Strategic Domestic Growth and Labor Markets

While Vermeer maintains its global headquarters in Pella, pulling nearly 3,000 workers daily, Andringa noted they have hit a ceiling for local recruitment. The move to Bondurant allows the company to tap into the larger Des Moines talent pool and nearby educational institutions like Iowa State University. Despite the global trend of offshoring, Vermeer remains committed to a domestic strategy, with 96% to 98% of its steel sourced within the U.S. “We have really always built all of the products that we sell within the United States, we’ve built it within the United States, and not only have we built it within the United States, our supply chain has been US based,” Andringa said.

From Underground Infrastructure to Lunar Excavation

Vermeer is transitioning its “fast-moving” smaller product lines, such as tree care and landscape equipment, to Bondurant to free up space in Pella for “big iron” machinery. However, the most futuristic growth lies in aerospace. Leveraging Andringa’s background at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Vermeer is partnering with Interlune to develop lunar excavators. These machines will harvest Helium-3, a rare gas valued at $25 million per kilogram, essential for nuclear fusion and quantum computing.

Andringa is bullish on the necessity of this technology, noting that “Vermeer can be kind of a fast follower or even kind of a moderate follower in those type of technologies.” While the CEO has traded his childhood astronaut dreams for executive leadership, his vision for the company remains celestial. “I’m incredibly passionate about using the things that Vermeer is world class at to help be part of the solution on the moon and Mars,” Andringa concluded. He also confirmed he’s spoken to people at SpaceX on future projects.

Will we be planting a Iowa and Vermeer flags on The Moon or Mars in the near future?

Thank you to our collaborator Dentons Davis Brown

⚖️ Get guidance from Dentons Davis Brown: https://www.dentons.com/en/dentons-davis-brown