Interlune, Vermeer to build moon base infrastructure. Agreement builds on successful demonstration of full-scale lunar excavation prototype. Published July 31, 2026 Interlune, a space infrastructure and resources company, and Vermeer Corp., a global provider of industrial equipment manufacturing, will expand their strategic partnership to develop and deliver the critical infrastructure and services necessary for a permanent human presence on the moon. The expanded collaboration between the companies builds on a joint development agreement that led to the full-scale prototype of the Interlune excavator, which was unveiled in May 2025. "Reliable, autonomous mobility and heavy-duty excavation are the backbones of any permanent settlement on the moon," said Rob Meyerson, co-founder and CEO of Interlune. "By working with Vermeer, we are moving from developing prototypes to repeatable, scalable systems that will help build the moon base and enable the harvesting of lunar resources to power the future." This continued partnership leverages Vermeer's nearly eight decades of expertise in designing, testing, and building industrial equipment for tough jobsites around the world and Interlune's specialized knowledge in space systems, lunar environments, and robotic systems. The joint effort will focus on general civil engineering and infrastructure concepts to deliver the essentials required for a robust in-space economy, transforming harsh environments into a viable workspace for commercial and government missions. "For nearly 80 years, Vermeer has built a legacy by solving complex civil engineering challenges on Earth, and we are now ready to apply that expertise to the most demanding job site in history: the moon," says Jason Andringa, president and CEO of Vermeer Corp., who also serves on the Interlune Advisory Board. "We are fully committed to working with Interlune, NASA, and others to deliver the essential infrastructure required for the moon base." Interlune and Vermeer plan to develop, test, and deliver a mission-ready lunar site-preparation tool by 2028, aligning their efforts with NASA's Moon Base program plan. The tool will be developed and integrated with a lunar rover and demonstrated first on Earth and then on the moon to validate its ability to prepare and stabilize the lunar surface for sustained operations. This work will establish a foundation for reliable construction and resource extraction beyond Earth, and help define the equipment standards needed to build on the moon, Mars, and beyond. Get curated news on YOUR industry. Enter your email to receive its newsletters.

Vermeer introduces the MT500 material transporter for ground-mount solar pile layout. PELLA, Iowa / Jul 20, 2026 The Vermeer MT500 material transporter consistently and precisely delivers and places W-beam piles on ground-mount solar jobsites with minimal labor. Operated by one person with the push of a button, it eliminates manual pile lifting. The new Vermeer MT500 material transporter consistently and precisely delivers and places 10 ft to 25 ft (3.05 m to 7.6 m) W-beam piles on ground-mount, utility-scale solar jobsites with minimal labor. Operated by one person with the push of a button, the MT500 eliminates manual pile lifting. "Solar contractors are looking for ways to do more with the crews they have, and accuracy matters on every pile," said Ed Savage, product manager, Vermeer. "The MT500 brings a level of consistency to the layout process that is hard to achieve manually, and it does it with minimal user inputs and one person running the machine." Reduces manual handling on solar construction jobsites. On most ground-mount solar jobsites, pile layout involves a crew operating skid steers or telehandlers to move pile bundles from the staging area to the required pile positions. It is labor-intensive work, and consistent, accurate placement is difficult to achieve at scale. The automated arm on the MT500 picks each pile and places it on the correct pile plan position with the push of a button, handling piles up to 400 lb (181.44 kg). Compatible with third-party GPS systems, the MT500 uses point-to-point and row-to-row automation to move accurately across the solar field. An amber beacon notifies others on the site when the machine is in remote control or automation mode, and the object detection system and bump bars slow or stop the machine when an object is detected in specific travel zones. An emergency stop is standard. All machine functions are controlled via a full-function wireless remote. Built for solar jobsite flexibility. The adjustable pile rack is configurable on the jobsite to hold 10 ft to 25 ft (3.05 m to 7.6 m) piles up to a 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) payload, giving contractors the flexibility to work with different pile sizes on the same site. Rubber tracks keep ground pressure at 6.4 psi (44 kPa) reducing ground disturbance and allowing the machine to work in wet conditions. With 12 in (30 cm) of ground clearance, the MT500 handles uneven terrain across a range of jobsite conditions. A 74-hp (55 kW) Tier 4 Final/Stage V Rehlko engine powers the machine without requiring DEF fluid. The machine has a 35-gal (132 L) fuel capacity. No major disassembly is required to move between sites. Stow the pile rack and arm and the MT500 is ready to go, measuring 88 in (224 cm) wide and 187 in (475 cm) long in transport mode. Shortened training curve for solar construction crews. On-rig diagnostics deliver specific diagnostic explanations and prescriptive troubleshooting steps to the operator, helping crews of all skill levels keep the machine running. The MT500 shares the same on-machine display as the Vermeer PD25R pile driver, so crews already familiar with the pile driver lineup can get up to speed quickly. "Solar contractors need a machine that can move to the next site and get back to work without a lot of setup time or retraining," Savage said. "The MT500 fits into an existing Vermeer pile driver operation in a way that makes sense for the crew and for the dealer supporting them." The MT500 integrates with the VermeerOne(TM) platform, delivering real-time machine data to help operators and fleet managers proactively manage maintenance and performance. The machine is backed by the Vermeer dealer network, with localized service and support available wherever jobs take contractors. Watch the MT500 material transporter in action as it picks and places piles across a ground-mount solar jobsite, run by one operator with the push of a button. About Vermeer Corporation. Vermeer delivers a real impact on the way important work gets done through the manufacture of high-quality agricultural, underground construction, surface mining, tree care and environmental equipment. With a reputation for being built tough and built in a better way, Vermeer equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. To learn more about Vermeer, products, the dealer network and financing options, contact your local Vermeer dealer. Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications. Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Equipped to Do More, and VermeerOne are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. May 26, 2026 The Vermeer VX75 vacuum excavator is available in three configurations to address potholing, slurry management and combo applications. Learn which setup fits your operation. May 18, 2026 Vermeer introduces the MTR726 microtrencher attachment, designed for contractors who need to install fiber optics at greater depths. The new attachment cuts trenches up to 27 in (68.6 cm) deep. Mar 24, 2026 The Vermeer D24 HDD now features a factory-installed cab, the first in its class, to enhance operator comfort and productivity in any climate.

Vermeer's MT500 takes the heavy lifting out of solar pile placement. July 15, 2026 Vermeer is introducing a new type of machine to simplify one of the solar industry's most tedious tasks. One of the first steps in constructing a new solar farm is the "shake out," the manual process of placing piles that serve as the support for solar panels. With solar farms covering hundreds and even thousands of acres of land, the number of piles requiring placement translates to repetitive and difficult work for contractors. "Finding, training and retaining labour: that's at the forefront of all of our customers' minds," said Ed Savage, Product Manager at Vermeer. "Solar requires a lot of repetitive tasks. You look at the scale of the utility scale solar market, it's thousands of acres, so tens of thousands of piles that must be put in the ground." The new Vermeer MT500 material transporter is designed to reduce the manual labour required during the shake out. The machine carries and places 3 metre to 7.6 metre W-beam piles on ground-mount, utility-scale solar jobsites with minimal labour. More news from Vermeer: Operated by one person with the push of a button, the MT500 eliminates manual pile lifting. Traditionally, the process is tackled by a three-person crew loading the piles onto a skid steer or telehandler equipped with forks, then manually lifting and dropping the beams across the jobsite. "The MT 500 can carry a bundle of piles on board up to 5,000 pounds, which typically covers the majority of the market," Savage said. "It works off the same digital map as the pile driver, so it's placing it at a very accurate point on the ground." The MT500 is built on the same undercarriage as Vermeer's PD25R pile driver. Both machines use the same engine and hydraulics and share the same maintenance points and parts. The commonality allows contractors with PD25Rs to easily integrate the MT500 into their fleet. The machine itself includes a rack to carry the piles and a mechanical arm to lift and place the beams. The arm is equipped with a grip that uses a laser to sense which pile on the rack is easiest to grab. With the push of a button on the remote control, the pile is selected, lifted and placed according to the digital map. The machine then automatically moves to the next waypoint. "We've got it down to just one button push to do a complete cycle," Savage said. "The operators that have run it absolutely love it. Just imagine if they had to do that all with individual button pushes or toggle switches. It would be pretty fatiguing at the end of the shift." Rubber tracks keep ground pressure at 6.4 psi to reduce ground disturbance and allowing the machine to work in wet conditions. With 30 cm of ground clearance, the MT500 handles uneven terrain across a range of jobsite conditions. A 74-hp Tier 4 Final Rehlko engine powers the machine without requiring DEF fluid. The machine has a 132-litre fuel capacity. Improved accuracy. While the MT500 reduces the labour required to place piles, it also improves accuracy. The automated arm on the MT500 picks each pile and places it on the correct pile plan position with the push of a button, handling piles up to 181 kg. Compatible with third-party GPS systems, the MT500 uses point-to-point and row-to-row automation to move accurately across the solar field. With specific tolerances required for pile installation, improperly placed beams lead to rework and delays on the jobsite. "A lot of times the pile driver crew has to drag that pile into position to try and get it underneath the hammer on the pile driver," Savage said. "They can weigh up to 400 pounds, so it's not always an easy task." Safe handling. The hands-off approach of the MT500 eliminates the risk of injury associated with moving piles. "Customers tell us this all the time they have had so many smashed fingers, hands and feet dealing with piles," Savage said. The machine is also equipped with an amber beacon to notify others on the site when the machine is in remote control or automation mode. Bump bars on the front slow or stop the machine when an object is detected in specific travel zones. Vermeer also included lidar to sense for obstacles on either side of the MT500. An operator-controlled emergency stop is standard. All machine functions are controlled via a full-function wireless remote. Shortened training curve. On-rig diagnostics deliver specific explanations and prescriptive troubleshooting steps to the operator, helping crews of all skill levels keep the machine running. The MT500 shares the same on-machine display as the Vermeer PD25R pile driver, so crews already familiar with the pile driver can get up to speed quickly. "Solar contractors need a machine that can move to the next site and get back to work without a lot of setup time or retraining," Savage said. "The MT500 fits into an existing Vermeer pile driver operation in a way that makes sense for the crew and for the dealer supporting them." The MT500 integrates with the VermeerOne platform, delivering real-time machine data to help operators and fleet managers proactively manage maintenance and performance. The machine is backed by the Vermeer dealer network, with localized service and support available wherever jobs take contractors. For transport, the MT500 does not require any major disassembly to move to its next jobsite. The machine measures 2.2 metres wide by 4.6 metres long in transport mode. "To get it ready to put back on the truck or trailer, you just have to stow the mechanical arm," Savage said. "And that's all done on the remote control. It's a very simple process."