Vermeer to expand, rebuild after tornado

An industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturer plans to expand its Iowa production site less than two months after a tornado tore through its factories, destroying two plants.

The July 19 tornado reached speeds of 144 mph, ripping apart buildings and idling production lines at Vermeer Corp's campus near Pella, The Des Moines Register reported . Vermeer is Pella's largest single employer with about 2,800 employees. READ MORE