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FIBO launches: fitness-kit.net special
This year’s FIBO in Cologne, Germany, welcomed 116,000 trade visitors and fitness fans, with 15 per cent more visitors than last year. Here, we detail some of the products that were unveiled
Progressive Resistance
reemotion Fitness premiered its new cable-based strength training technology, the Live
Axis, which allows users to train against resistance with every move they make.
The resistance equipment is fitted with live-sliding cables, allowing for optimum activation throughout each movement. Users can also engage different parts of the body by changing their position when conducting exercises.
The line includes a number of pieces of equipment, ranging from chest and shoulder resistance pieces through to deadlift and rotary stations.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Fitness Systems Limited
Striding Forward
Life Fitness released two new machines in its Elevation Series cardio line-up: the FlexStrider and the PowerMill. The FlexStrider Variable-Stride Trainer has a stride length up to 36” and lets exercisers vary their stride length on the fly.
The PowerMill – the company’s first step climber – is equipped with SureStepSystem technology. The equipment features an AC motor for a wide interval training range, varying from 12 steps to 185 steps a minute on its highest speed.
Also announced was the Insignia Series, to replace the Life Fitness Signature Series in summer 2014.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Life Fitness
Wellness Ecosystem
Technogym launched its Wellness On The Go digital ‘ecosystem’, which connects its fitness equipment with consumer mobile devices, apps and movement tracking to allow operators to manage members’ activities inside and outside the club.
The service offers: Technogym’s Unity console, available on Artis and Excite equipment lines; the cloud-based MyWellness Cloud platform, which connects operators, trainers and members to create a personalised training plan, including access to a range of apps; the new MyWellness app, to keep clubs in touch with members; and a new Prescribe app so trainers and instructors can monitor members’ exercise data.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Technogym
Air Power
Star Trac introduced an air-driven bike that delivers simultaneous upper and lower body exercise through a distinctive isokinetic resistance mechanism.
The Turbo Trainer’s flywheel design displaces air at a rate that matches the effort put in by its user, meaning that the harder the flywheel is turned, the greater the isokinetic resistance. Those using the machine can measure workout metrics including elapsed time, distance, kilocalories, RPM and telemetric heart rate when using a chest strap. The bike has been designed with durability in mind and can be used anywhere in a gym space, as it’s self-powered and doesn’t require electricity to operate.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Star Trac
On the pulse
Pulse put forward two new digital design concepts to help enhance gym-going experiences.
The company unveiled its new 18.5” interactive Android user console, which can be installed into its Fusion cardiovascular range. The concept allows users to experience digital TV and radio, full internet browsing with social media access, and a training programme with personalised workout options. Meanwhile, its new web-based cloud solution offers a personalised training experience for users.
Also unveiled was its Trixter XdreamV2 bike, with a 23” touchscreen and HD graphics. In addition to the virtual reality mountain biking mode, the model offers real video rides. A classic mode lets the bike act as a standard exercise bike, plus there’s a live multiplayer mode
and ghost racing.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Pulse Fitness
Healthy Vibrations
Performance Health Systems has brought a number of new Power Plate models to market, including a new concept that could be adopted by healthcare providers.
The pro7HC has been specifically designed to cater for the healthcare market, with the plate suitable for use with a range of medical conditions, helping speed up recovery times and return patients to their activities of daily living.
For use in gyms and health clubs, the Power Plate pro6+ features a touchscreen monitor suitable for instructor-led classes, while its embedded cable system allows for enhanced workouts for upper-body as well as full-body.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Performance Health Systems
Music Maestro
Schwinn has brought its new Class Tamer music player to market for use on iPads and iPhones, which can be used by cycling class instructors to lead effective sessions for group exercise.
Designed with the help of Schwinn’s global team of instructors, the app has scrollable notes pages to allow instructors to input and save cueing notes, music tags and BPM counts for specific songs. Other features include the ability to modify the tempo of songs during a ride, 10 sound effects for classes, and a stopwatch that works independently of the song timer.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Schwinn
A Soft Touch
Escape Fitness launched its new plyometric CrossFit box at FIBO this year, with the unveiling of the Multiplyo Soft Box.
The Escape Multiplyo has been designed using soft, high-density foam, inclusive of anti-slip landing zones, to help reduce the kind of injuries that occur when using wooden plyometric boxes. The outer material of the box also allows users to easily clean the Multiplyo after each use.
Escape has also kept in mind users at both ends of the fitness spectrum, with the box being created to cater for both beginners and long-time plyometric enthusiasts.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Escape Fitness
The Eagle has Landed
Cybex has unveiled a new 12-piece line that features refined movements, restyled aesthetics and re-imagined user features, as the business attempts to increase its blueprint in the field of selectorised equipment.
The range includes a leg press, leg extension and leg curl, while users can also train using a chest press, overhead press, row, arm curl, arm extension and a pulldown. Also included in the line are abdominal and back extension pieces.
The Eagle line offers patented Dual Axis Technology, which allows users to train with pre- or user-defined patterns of motion. Workouts can be optimised with an incremental weight system.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Cybex
Resistance & Results
Precor unveiled a new product in the field of strength training, as well as a fitness-related app to improve gym-goers’ experiences.
The manufacturer has completed its Discovery Strength Series with five selectorised converging and diverging resistance pieces, with independently moving arms. The equipment features Advanced Movement Design (AMD) platforms to engage more muscles to functionally develop strength and stabilise movement.
Precor also showcased its Preva Android App, which extends the reach of Preva Personal Accounts, enabling smartphone users to set fitness goals, track progress, save their favourite workouts, as well as earn achievement badges for their exercise.
fitness-kit.net keyword: Precor
Seeing in Technicolour
Dutch company VibroGym International used FIBO to launch a progressive vibration training device that makes use of a number of smart applications.
The newly designed VG Evolution is built from precision-cast aluminum to deliver vibrations across the entire surface of the platform. The VG makes use of an innovation named Cardio Colour Control, which allows users to view cardio stats on-screen in colour.
fitness-kit.net keyword: VibroGym
Back Pain Relief
Following six years of development, combining elements of traditional Eastern and Western therapies, the portable LumbaCurve device seeks to relieve back pain through the use of acupressure stimulation.
Making use of Passive Gravity Assisted Traction (PGAT), the device is rolled under the base of the spine to stretch out the lower back, causing the vertebral joints to separate. This in turn relaxes the spine’s discs and frees up the spinal nerves to provide pain relief.
fitness-kit.net keyword: LumbaCurve
