04/15/2026
For our 3rd installment highlighting the history of Peerless Saw as we celebrate our 95th anniversary, we dive into the 1980’s!
The 80’s were defined by a foreign ownership transition and a transformative capital investment.
In 1985, owner Ted Montague sold Peerless to a Finnish conglomerate called the Hackman Corporation. The Helsinki based company insisted the current Peerless VP of manufacturing, Con Wittkopp, stay on as president of the company. Con agreed under 1 condition – Hackman invests in a new heat treatment system to improve product quality. Hackman agreed, and Con selected the system manufacturer and oversaw installation which was completed in 1988.
The new heat treatment system transformed the way we manufacture. The nitrogen atmospheric furnace with a hydraulic quench press is still running to this day and sets us apart from our competition.
While many saw body manufacturers rely on purchasing pre-hardened steel, this system allowed us to bring a vital manufacturing process in-house for unmatched quality control.
