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The PEER Group Inc. (PEER Group®) is a global supplier of automation software used throughout the semiconductor and related industries (LED, MEMS, Electronics and Photovoltaics).

PEER Group software helps two user groups – high-technology factories (e.g., semiconductor fabs) and the original equipment makers (OEMs) who sell equipment to them – to improve productivity and enable Smart manufacturing.

The software enables SECS/GEM equipment-to-factory and machine to machine  (M2M) connectivity, equipment automation, factory automation and big data  management, e.g., collecting and storing high-volume Equipment Data Acquisition (EDA) data.

History
Founded in 1992 by engineers Bob Harris and Mike Kropp, PEER Group’s original focus was building custom factory floor data collection software systems.

Acquisitions
Since its inception, the company has made a number of acquisitions to expand its product offerings, geographic reach and/or customer base.

In 2003, PEER Group partnered with Asyst Technologies, Inc. to integrate Asyst’s SECS/GEM products which – at the time were used by virtually all of the Tier 1 and 2 semiconductor equipment manufacturers for factory automation and by a third of 300mm semiconductor fabs for connectivity or simulation testing.

PEER Group later acquired Asyst Technologies’ connectivity software products (in 2009 ).

In 2003, PEER Group acquired the European division of TRW’s high-technology systems integration business and established an EU office (PEER Group GmbH) in Dresden, Germany. PEER Group GmbH provides automation testing, supplier management, equipment integration and Advanced Process Control (APC) solutions.

In 2008, PEER Group acquired the CCS Envoy testing product, originally created by CCS Technology.

In 2008, PEER Group acquired the IP rights from CenterPoint for the APC and Yield Management Scenarios, APC\Platform, EDAfactoryController and portA products. In 2013, PEER Group purchased rights from acpIT for the exclusive ownership of the Process Control System, Equipment Connector and portA software products (and product team), for additional host connectivity and process control capabilities for their OEM and fab customers.

Business updates
Bob Harris retired from day-to-day business activities in 2007. Mike Kropp was named President and CEO in February, 2010.

In 2016, PEER Group contributed to the public domain all rights in SECS Message Language (SML), a general notation to describe individual SECS (SEMI Equipment Communications Standard) Data Items and complete SECS messages, simplifying the description of SECS communications. SML has been used in the semiconductor industry since 1980; it was first used by SEMI in its E30-0298 standard and is used in numerous standards published by SEMI.

Product distributors, resellers
PEER Group works with several product distributors to sell its software products in certain geographies. In 2010, PEER Group selected Mizuho Information & Research Institute as its exclusive distributor in Japan.

In 2014, PEER Group selected ELIM Technology as its Korean distributor. The partnership later ceased.

In 2018, PEER Group partnered with DKSH (Shanghai) Ltd. to strengthen sales channels in Mainland China and Taiwan. In 2018, PEER Group signed WeSoft as implementation partner in China.

PEER Group also works with G-Electronics in Israel.

Partnerships and memberships
PEER Group belongs to several associations that regulate manufacturing operations. The company is a member of SEMI, the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the electronics industry.

PEER Group also forms partnerships with other industry leaders. In 2011, PEER Group became a Brooks Automation Solution Provider (BSP), serving North America and Europe. Brooks uses a highly selective process for its Solution Provider program, choosing companies with extensive experience successfully integrating Brooks products.

In 2012, Applied Materials named PEER Group a value-added reseller to distribute and support certain factory automation software products for Applied Materials, Inc.

PEER Group provides the automation software solution for Owens Design’s Metrology Automation Platform.

Honours
External organizations have recognized PEER Group for excellence in innovative technology, financial growth and company culture.

Intel
Intel Corporation awarded PEER Group with the Preferred Quality Supplier Award in 2015, 2016 and 2017 .

Branham300
Branham300 (“the definitive listing of Canada’s top public and private ICT companies”) has listed PEER Group as one of the Top 250 Canadian technology leaders for several years.
 * 2012 (#179)
 * 2013 (#156)
 * 2014 (#145)
 * 2015 (#121)
 * 2016 (#130)
 * 2017 (#135)
 * 2018 (#125)

Deloitte Canada
Deloitte Canada added PEER Group to its “Fast 50” list of high-growth tech companies in 2014; PEER Group ranked #33. The company also placed on Deloitte’s “Fast 500” list the same year, sitting at #321 for North American companies.

Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work® Institute Canada named PEER Group one of Canada’s Best Workplaces™ (Medium-sized) for several years. PEER Group has been certified as a Best Workplace for many years and has received other special recognitions from Great Place to Work (e.g., Best Workplace for Millennials, Inclusion , Women , and Technology ).
 * 2008 (#42)
 * 2013 (#5)
 * 2014 (#13)
 * 2015 (#31)
 * 2016 (#22)
 * 2017 (#24)
 * 2018 (#4)