Biomedical & Life Sciences

June 15, 2021

1980s Startup Grows into one of Burlington's Largest Companies

In 1981, four engineering students from McMaster University came together with an idea; to create human-scale robotics. Thus, the engineering start-up CRS Robotic Inc. was formed in 1982. Operating out of a family member’s home on Lakeshore Road in Burlington, CRS Robotic Inc. began consulting services to Canadian machine tool manufacturers in machine controls. Since its inception, the company has always called Burlington home. In 1994, the company changed its name to CRS Robotics Corporation and in 2002, the company was acquired by Thermo Electron Corporation, known today as Thermo Fisher Scientific, a leading company in Burlington and one of the City’s largest employers. At present, Thermo Fisher Scientific boasts more than 80,000 employees worldwide with over 2600 of these employees located across Canada.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an emphasis on innovation, their work is aimed at making laboratory work and research better than ever. Whether they are helping clients to eradicate disease, responding to the pandemic, or supporting Pharma on the next breakthrough or drug development, their stories involve thousands of important projects that improve millions of lives.

With a proven track record and decades of experience in laboratory robotics, Thermo Fisher Scientific delivers on Laboratory Automation (robotic systems) for drug research organizations like Pharmaceutical companies, Biopharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions, employing roughly 200 employees worldwide, of which 50% are working in Burlington.

For Business

Currently located at 5250 Mainway, the laboratory automation team  chooses to remain in Burlington as it offers the company room to grow and provides access to a well-connected transportation network to major cities like Toronto, which is imperative for shipping their laboratory automation systems worldwide. Burlington also provides the company with easy access to skilled talent, particularly within robotics and software programs from nearby Universities.

For Employees

As an added benefit the main office is located next to Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Their Burlington employees consider Bronte Creek Provincial Park to be the favourite place for employees to take a lunch time walk. Employees also appreciate other beautiful surroundings, including the vibrant lakefront, the Niagara Escarpment, and numerous trails throughout the City. Aside from having a variety of housing options, employees who live in Burlington enjoy the strong sense of community, great culture, and diversity in the City.

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