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Vermeer becomes Gold Sponsor of International No-Dig Auckland. Reading Time: 3 mins read Vermeer has been confirmed as a Gold Sponsor of International No-Dig Auckland, strengthening the global HDD leader's commitment to supporting the trenchless industry across Australia and New Zealand. Taking place on 28-29 October 2026 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), International No-Dig Auckland will bring together trenchless technology professionals from across the region and around the world to explore the latest developments, challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Vermeer has a longstanding presence in the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) sector and will join industry leaders, contractors, asset owners, utilities, councils, engineers and technology providers at the event. "Vermeer has been a longstanding global leader within the HDD industry. It is important that we continue to support the industry while helping educate end users and stakeholders on how to overcome the many challenges they face every day," Vermeer Sales and Operations Manager Greg Clayton said. Prime Creative Media Head of Marketing - Events Molly Hancock said Vermeer's involvement is a strong endorsement of the event and its role in bringing the trenchless community together. "Vermeer has been part of the global HDD conversation for decades, so having the team join us as a Gold Sponsor is a fantastic reflection of the value they see in bringing the industry together in Auckland," Hancock said. "International No-Dig Auckland is designed to create genuine opportunities for people across the industry to share knowledge, explore new technology and have the conversations that can help shape the future of trenchless infrastructure." Vermeer sees International No-Dig Auckland as an important opportunity to connect with customers and industry professionals across the region, while recognising the achievements of the trenchless sector. "As this is both an important international and regional event in Australia and New Zealand, it provides an excellent opportunity to support our customers while celebrating the achievements and success of the industry together," Clayton said. For Vermeer, the value of the event extends beyond business connections, providing an opportunity for open conversations about the issues facing the industry and potential solutions. "We enjoy connecting with existing customers and industry specialists while also catching up with contacts we haven't seen in a while. It gives us the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our industry and collaborate on solutions, particularly around key issues such as skilled labour challenges," he said. Hancock said these conversations are particularly important as the sector navigates a period of continued growth and change. "The trenchless sector is evolving quickly, and the challenges facing contractors and asset owners are becoming increasingly complex. Events like International No-Dig Auckland give the industry a chance to step back from the day-to-day and work together on the issues that affect everyone," Hancock said. With the trenchless industry continuing to evolve, face-to-face collaboration remains an important part of sharing knowledge and driving progress. "The trenchless industry is experiencing strong growth globally. It is important for industry participants to come together to discuss new methods, technological advancements, and best practices. By working collaboratively, we can help drive innovation and ensure the industry continues to develop and grow positively into the future," Clayton said. International No-Dig Auckland will provide a dedicated platform for these conversations, with a two-day exhibition and conference program covering the latest trenchless technologies, techniques and industry insights. The event will also mark a significant milestone for the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. "With Vermeer on board, alongside our growing network of sponsors and exhibitors, we're looking forward to creating an event that genuinely reflects the strength of the trenchless industry across the region," Hancock said. With Vermeer joining as a Gold Sponsor, International No-Dig Auckland continues to bring together leading organisations committed to advancing the trenchless industry and supporting the people delivering critical underground infrastructure. International No-Dig Auckland will take place on 28-29 October 2026 at NZICC, Auckland. Tickets are available here.

Vermeer joins industry leaders as Gold Sponsor of International No-Dig Auckland. Reading Time: 5 mins read Vermeer has been confirmed as a Gold Sponsor of International No-Dig Auckland, strengthening the global HDD leader's commitment to supporting the trenchless industry across Australia and New Zealand. Taking place on October 28 to 29, 2026 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), International No-Dig Auckland will bring together trenchless technology professionals from across the region and around the world to explore the latest developments, challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Vermeer has a long-standing presence in the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) sector and will join industry leaders, contractors, asset owners, utilities, councils, engineers and technology providers at the event. "Vermeer has been a long-standing global leader within the HDD industry. It is important that we continue to support the industry while helping educate end users and stakeholders on how to overcome the many challenges they face every day," Vermeer Sales and Operations Manager Greg Clayton said. Prime Creative Media Head of Marketing - Events Molly Hancock said Vermeer's involvement is a strong endorsement of the event and its role in bringing the trenchless community together. "Vermeer has been part of the global HDD conversation for decades, so having the team join us as a Gold Sponsor is a fantastic reflection of the value they see in bringing the industry together in Auckland," Hancock said. "International No-Dig Auckland is designed to create genuine opportunities for people across the industry to share knowledge, explore new technology and have the conversations that can help shape the future of trenchless infrastructure." Vermeer sees International No-Dig Auckland as an important opportunity to connect with customers and industry professionals across the region, while recognising the achievements of the trenchless sector. "As this is both an important international and regional event in Australia & New Zealand, it provides an excellent opportunity to support our customers while celebrating the achievements and success of the industry together," Clayton said. For Vermeer, the value of the event extends beyond business connections, providing an opportunity for open conversations about the issues facing the industry and potential solutions. "We enjoy connecting with existing customers and industry specialists while also catching up with contacts we haven't seen in a while. It gives us the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our industry and collaborate on solutions, particularly around key issues such as skilled labour challenges," he said. Hancock said these conversations are particularly important as the sector navigates a period of continued growth and change. "The trenchless sector is evolving quickly, and the challenges facing contractors and asset owners are becoming increasingly complex. Events like International No-Dig Auckland give the industry a chance to step back from the day-to-day and work together on the issues that affect everyone," Hancock said. With the trenchless industry continuing to evolve, face-to-face collaboration remains an important part of sharing knowledge and driving progress. "The trenchless industry is experiencing strong growth globally. It is important for industry participants to come together to discuss new methods, technological advancements, and best practices. By working collaboratively, we can help drive innovation and ensure the industry continues to develop and grow positively into the future," Clayton said. International No-Dig Auckland will provide a dedicated platform for these conversations, with a two-day exhibition and conference program covering the latest trenchless technologies, techniques and industry insights. The event will also mark a significant milestone for the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. "With Vermeer on board, alongside our growing network of sponsors and exhibitors, we're looking forward to creating an event that genuinely reflects the strength of the trenchless industry across the region," Hancock said. With Vermeer joining as a Gold Sponsor, International No-Dig Auckland continues to bring together leading organisations committed to advancing the trenchless industry and supporting the people delivering critical underground infrastructure. International No-Dig Auckland will take place on October 28 to 29, 2026 at NZICC, Auckland. Tickets are available here.

Treasury Secretary Bessent promotes tax cuts, Trump accounts during Iowa visit. Vermeer CEO says federal tax provisions helped fuel expansion, but tariffs cost about $2.5 million monthly. The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. PELLA - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent touted federal tax cuts Wednesday as a catalyst for new manufacturing investment during a visit to Vermeer Corp. in Pella, even as the Iowa equipment maker's CEO said tariffs are costing the company about $2.5 million a month. Bessent appeared with U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, to tour Vermeer's global parts distribution center and participate in a roundtable discussion with agricultural manufacturers that was closed to the press. The visit came as Iowa's manufacturing sector continues to shed jobs. The state lost 4,300 manufacturing jobs over the 12 months ending in June, more than any other Iowa industry, according to Iowa Workforce Development. Bessent said manufacturers at Wednesday's roundtable highlighted the 2025 tax law's permanent full-expensing provision, which allows businesses to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying equipment. "What they like is the powerful incentives in the bill to expand manufacturing in the U.S.," Bessent said in an interview with The Gazette. Jason Andringa, president and CEO of Vermeer, said those tax provisions were helping drive investment at the Pella-based industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturer. "The One Big beautiful Bill, the Working Families Tax Act, H.R. 1, however you want to call it, has been very beneficial for Vermeer, our dealers and our customers," Andringa told The Gazette. He said provisions encouraging research and development, equipment expensing and factory construction contributed to Vermeer's decision to build a new manufacturing facility in Bondurant. The company currently leases a 100,000-square-foot facility in Des Moines. Andringa said Vermeer planned to move that operation to its new Bondurant facility, which will be roughly three times as large and create an additional 150 to 200 jobs. Vermeer's overall business is growing by double digits, Andringa said, driven largely by its industrial equipment business serving infrastructure installation, organic waste processing and other markets. Its agricultural business, by comparison, has been roughly flat amid weakness in the farm economy. Tariffs add costs. The strength Andringa described at Vermeer contrasts with broader weakness in Iowa manufacturing. Whirlpool has announced layoffs at its Amana refrigerator plant, including 288 workers affected by the elimination of a production shift this summer. John Deere has made repeated workforce reductions in Iowa and elsewhere during the downturn in agricultural equipment demand. Andringa said the Trump administration's tariffs had created another significant cost for Vermeer despite the company sourcing nearly all of its steel domestically. "Tariffs have been challenging," he said. "The benefits from the tax act definitely more than offset those expenses, but yet it's about a $2.5 million dollar expense per month for Vermeer, what we believe the tariffs have cost us in increased expenses." Asked whether the administration's combination of tax cuts and tariffs had made it easier for Vermeer to invest domestically, Andringa drew a distinction between the two policies. "Half of that I will give a resounding 'yes' to, and that's the tax cuts," he said. "The tax cuts have been resoundingly beneficial and helped us to grow and succeed. Tariffs, I would say 'no.'" Andringa said stable tariffs could be manageable, but "sort of the chaotic nature of how the tariffs have been rolled out over the last 15 to 18 months has made it very challenging." Bessent defended the administration's broader manufacturing strategy, arguing that new factory investment takes longer to show up in employment data. He pointed to manufacturing expansions in other states and said construction employment generated by new facilities eventually would translate into permanent factory jobs. Miller-Meeks similarly argued that the tax law is beginning to produce tangible investments. She left for another event without talking with reporters because of scheduling conflicts caused by weather delays earlier in the day. In a written statement, she said Bessent heard from Vermeer employees about how the tax cuts are helping expand domestic manufacturing and create jobs. "This is exactly the kind of investment in American workers we need more of, and I'm grateful the Secretary took the time to see Iowa's manufacturing strength for himself," Miller-Meeks said. Farm economy. Bessent acknowledged pressure on farmers who buy equipment from manufacturers such as Vermeer. He pointed to $12 billion in federal farm assistance, efforts to secure Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans and Treasury's work with agricultural lenders to ensure farmers have access to credit. Bessent said the administration pushed China for greater certainty on soybean purchases and was monitoring farm credit conditions heading into the next growing season. "The $12 billion that went out was important for last year, but it's important that farmers have credit for next year. So we're very cognizant of that, and (U.S. Agriculture) Secretary (Brooke) Rollins has been pushing that," he said. Andringa said Vermeer would like to see Washington continue investing in infrastructure while pursuing permitting reform, regulatory changes and improvements to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Bessent says economy is stabilizing. Bessent defended his recent assertion that the nation's "K-shaped economy is over" - in which higher-income households have fared substantially better than lower-income households - giving way to what he has described as a "C-shaped" economy. He argued that inflation had moderated while wage growth among lower-income workers had accelerated. Bessent said working families were hit particularly hard by increases in groceries, rent and insurance in recent years. He said lower-income wage growth now exceeded inflation, creating real gains in purchasing power. "If you can start doing that over a series of years, that's how working Americans can dig out of this hole," he said. Economic data remain mixed. Spending has remained stronger among higher-income households, and wage-growth measures have continued to show disparities across income groups, although some of those gaps have narrowed in recent months. Trump Accounts. Bessent also used the Iowa visit to promote Trump Accounts, the new tax-advantaged investment accounts for children. The Treasury Department said July 27 that 7 million children had enrolled, with 86 percent coming from families earning less than $200,000. Eligible U.S. citizen children born from 2025 through 2028 may receive a one-time $1,000 federal contribution. Treasury and the IRS on Tuesday issued new guidance and proposed regulations allowing employers to make up to $2,500 in tax-free annual contributions to Trump Accounts for employees or their dependents. More than 50 companies have committed to making contributions, according to the Treasury Department. Asked whether employer contributions could widen wealth disparities between children whose parents work for companies that provide the benefit and those who do not, Bessent pointed to philanthropic and state contributions as another source of funding. He cited philanthropic commitments aimed at children in lower-income areas and predicted states would increasingly contribute as well. Vermeer has not decided whether it will offer Trump Account contributions, Andringa said, but the company is open to considering them if employer matches become common. "So for sure, we match 401(k) contributions, and so if it becomes fairly commonplace for companies to maybe match Trump accounts, I mean we would certainly be open to it," he said. Andringa noted that Vermeer already provided benefits including subsidized on-site childcare, a medical clinic and a pharmacy at its Pella campus. Bessent said he believed the accounts could serve another purpose by exposing households that did not own stocks to investing and financial education. The Trump Accounts app includes 15 financial-education modules covering subjects including saving, investing, diversification and compound growth. "Everybody deserves a piece of the action in the U.S. economy," Bessent said. Wednesday's stop with Miller-Meeks was part of a broader Iowa swing for Bessent. He was scheduled to appear with U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, for a discussion with Iowa bankers about the tax law, Trump Accounts and federal financial regulations. The Iowa appearances come less than three months before the November election, with both Miller-Meeks and Nunn seeking re-election in highly competitive districts. Tom Barton covers state government and politics. Reach him at 319-398-8499 or [email protected].