KITCHENER, ON, February 3, 2022 – PEER Group® is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022. The company, which opened its doors on February 3, 1992, was founded by Mike Kropp and Bob Harris, two engineers with an idea to develop reusable software that connects automated equipment with factory information systems. Since then, PEER Group has grown from two employees to more than 230, and has become a global leader in innovative factory automation software solutions for the semiconductor and related industries.
“I am as ecstatic as I am proud to be celebrating this milestone,” says Mike Kropp, PEER Group’s co-founder, president, and CEO. “When Bob and I started on this journey, neither of us could have predicted all the phenomenal experiences, challenges, accomplishments, colleagues, and customers we encountered along the way.” Echoing the sentiment of his co-founder, Harris, who serves as PEER Group’s chairman, remarks “how grateful we both are for the continued success. Nothing would have been achievable without our incredibly talented employees and world-class customers and clients.”
Highlights throughout the three decades include the opening of PEER Group’s current office space in the heart of downtown Kitchener’s Innovation District in 2000, the 2003 acquisition of TRW’s high-technology systems integration business and the subsequent establishment of an EU office in Dresden, Germany, and winning Semiconductor International’s Best Product award for PEER Tool Orchestrator (PTO) in 2007. Additionally, PEER Group has been the recipient of several industry awards and accolades, including being named a winner of Intel’s Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) award in 2020, which recognizes companies that are part of Intel’s supply chain “whose performance consistently exceeds expectations.” PEER Group is also a ten-time recipient of Canada’s Best Medium-sized Workplaces award issued by Great Place to Work® Canada, as well as being recognized as a Great Place to Work for Women, Inclusion, Millennials, Mental Wellness, and Giving Back, among other categories.
“What’s most exciting about reaching 30 years is that the best is yet to come,” shares Kropp, noting that the global microchip shortage has drastically increased demand for PEER Group’s software and automation expertise. “We are experiencing explosive growth and as a result, we are actively adding team members across all company departments and will be opening office space in Toronto to take advantage of the engineering talent that exists in the Toronto-Waterloo Region Corridor,” says Kropp, while adding: “I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years will bring.”
About PEER Group
Smart Manufacturing starts with factory automation software. PEER Group® is the largest supplier of factory automation software for OEMs and factories in the semiconductor and related industries. We help lower the cost of automation for our customers by solving their most challenging equipment automation, data management and process control problems.
Follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter @peergroup_inc.