Computers Unlimited celebrates 45 years in business

Computers Unlimited

In 1978, Dr. Mike Schaer and his partner, Stan Hoggatt, established Computers Unlimited in Billings, Montana. Now celebrating its 45^th anniversary in 2023, CU has evolved into a world-renowned software development leader.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Schaer assumed full ownership of the company. During these formative years, CU had a dedicated team of about 18 employees, who laid the foundation of the company, contributing their expertise in sales, software development, testing, implementation, training, and end-user support. Those core areas of emphasis remain integral to CU’s present-day operations and identity, continuing to drive success today.

“We have a saying here at CU, ‘Our People Make It Happen,’” says President David Schaer. “It’s a reflection of the strong work ethic, commitment, and longevity of over 175 professionals that work at CU. Culture is who you are and a reflection of how you treat your co-workers and customers.”

Part of that culture is listening and reacting to customer needs. Computers Unlimited has a nearly half-century track record of listening to its customers and evolving its TIMS software platform to meet the needs of the market on both a technical and operational level.

“Every business, regardless of industry, experiences ongoing changes, and the industrial gas sector is no exception. While the fundamental aspects of many industrial gas business processes have remained relatively unchanged, technological advancements in the TIMS software platform have introduced innovative approaches to traditional processes. These developments have enabled higher levels of automation, speed, and precision, while reducing costs,” Schaer says. “As a dedicated software development company, we strive to strike a balance between making incremental improvements and enhancements to our existing product line, and exploring revolutionary solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible. This approach is crucial for our long-term sustainability and success in a rapidly evolving software industry.”

As the company celebrates its 45^th Anniversary in 2023, it is well-positioned to continue its success long into the future.

“Rather than contemplating the future in definitive terms, our attention is directed towards making the necessary organizational changes, investments, and philosophies that are required to keep our customers thriving and successful,” says David Schaer. “By maintaining a mindset and philosophy centered on continuous evolution, we have positioned ourselves favorably in both the present and the future. Regardless of the specific timeframe – be it 5, 10, 20 years, or beyond – our commitment to enhancing the TIMS software platform empowers us to adapt and thrive.”

The company will celebrate its 45^th Anniversary during this year’s Fall Users Group conference in Billings where the focus will be on next-generation user experiences. 

Concludes Schaer, “As we celebrate 45 years of success and hard work, we are grateful for the past and focused on the future!”

Congratulations to all GAWDA members celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2023.

GAWDA members represent the best-of-the-best companies in the gases and welding industries. Each year in the Summer issue, we recognize those GAWDA Members celebrating milestone anniversaries. In the Q3 issue’s President’s Column, GAWDA President Robert Anders explored the three C’s of longevity. We want to add a fourth C for this column: Congratulations to all those GAWDA members celebrating anniversaries this year! And if you have a milestone anniversary coming up in 2024 and would like to be featured in this column next year, please reach out today at steveg@gawdamedia.com