Commerce’s Business Attraction Efforts Bring High-Tech Manufacturing to Lewistown
In 2023, Montana welcomed Germany-based manufacturer VACOM Vakuum Komponenten & Messtechnik to its new U.S. headquarters in Lewistown. Two years later, Gov. Greg Gianforte, former State Senator Dan Bartel (not pictured), VACOM CEO Jens Bergner, VACOM General Manager Marcel Klessen and architect Jason Davis of SMA Architecture and Design headlined a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 25, 2025, to celebrate VACOM cleaning its first production parts in the Lewistown facility.
Montana Department of Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio and Business Attraction Community Liaison Tony Brockman also attended the ceremony, and U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on video to congratulate VACOM via recorded message.
“Montana is a great place to do business,” Bertoglio later said. “VACOM’s successful establishment of its U.S. headquarters here benefits not only VACOM but the Montanans who have and will find good-paying jobs in its Lewistown plant. Commerce’s business attraction efforts continue to stimulate economic growth and help companies like VACOM choose Montana.”
At a conference in Lewistown in December 2023, representatives from VACOM discussed plans to construct the 40,000-square-foot facility. With in-house daycare and employee educational centers, VACOM’s emphasis on its Montana employees’ long-term growth and benefit is clear. Though VACOM’s first U.S. location was built in Florida in 2020, the company made the decision in 2023 to make Montana its U.S. home. VACOM’s presence here will have impacts across multiple high-tech industries like semiconductors, photonics and quantum.
“With this new location, we are sending a clear signal for long-term growth and transatlantic cooperation," Bergner was quoted as saying in VACOM’s press release about the event. "Our decision for Montana was an easy one: Not only have we found a business-friendly environment here, but above all exceptional people with an impressive work ethic and a strong community."
Commerce’s Business Attraction team played a significant role in VACOM’s decision. Montana was in the running with over 20 other states for VACOM’s U.S. headquarters when, in 2023, VACOM took part in Commerce’s Red Carpet Program. The program is a highly individualized Montana experience for companies considering relocating or expanding here. It’s designed to make connections and provide information for companies to make an educated decision about where to put down roots.
Guided by Senior Business Attraction Advisor Frederick Van Den Abbeel, Bergner and a technical representative from VACOM toured Helena, Bozeman, Billings, Lewistown, Great Falls, Missoula and Butte. To demonstrate the quality and readiness of Montana’s workforce, Commerce connected VACOM with the Montana University System, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the Workforce Innovation Board. Lewistown’s municipal airport contributed to Lewistown’s logistical appeal and final selection.
The grand opening on July 25, which drew a crowd of over 50 people, had an atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Residents from Lewistown joined visitors from Helena, including legislators. In addition to the ribbon cutting, attendees heard from Bartel, Gov. Gianforte, Bergner, Klessen and VACOM Chief Technology Officer for Parts Cleaning Michael Flaemmich about the company’s decision to come to Montana and the vision for its flagship Lewistown facility. Two cleaning room tours, a band performance and a buffet of German food and drinks wrapped up the day’s fanfare.
Companies like Amazon, Olympus Arms, Ultimate Defense Technologies, EquipmentShare, Eshylon Scientific and more have made similar moves to, or expansions into, Montana in the past few years. Thanks to Commerce’s business attraction efforts, these companies saw what makes Montana the best place to do business: Montana is among the top five states for business tax environment; businesses here have the highest survival rate in the U.S.; and Montanans are loyal to their employers, beating the U.S. average for employee retention.
For more information on starting or expanding your business in Montana, visit commerce.mt.gov/business.
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