features
Specifier: Strong growth
Industry suppliers are responding to the exponential increase in consumer demand for strength training with a raft of new and innovative launches and concepts, as Steph Eaves reports
Tell us about your latest strength launch
We’ve introduced the Technogym Universe, a functional strength line designed to empower users to achieve peak performance and enhance their overall journey.
With a focus on promoting strength, mobility and functionality, the Universe line offers 14 versatile modular solutions accompanied by a wide range of functional accessories. This comprehensive line allows operators to tailor their functional strength zones to meet the unique needs of their users, offering endless training variety and effective workouts.
Whether performing exercises with weights, isotonic, magnetic, calisthenic, elastic, or eccentric resistance, users can maximise their results and engage muscles more effectively.
In addition to its diverse resistance options, Technogym Universe provides users with access to training content through Technogym Visio. This platform offers guided Technogym sessions led by athletes, pre-designed routines for motivation, a library of functional strength exercises with proper form guidance, and a convenient timer function for HIIT or strength workouts.
What need does this meet?
Strength training has undergone a significant evolution in recent years. One notable trend is the shift towards functional strength training. This approach not only builds muscle strength but also enhances mobility, stability, and balance. Another trend gaining traction is the integration of technology into strength training routines. From wearable fitness trackers to smart equipment, technology offers real-time feedback and data analytics, allowing individuals to track progress, optimise workouts and stay motivated. Moreover, there’s a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusivity in strength training, with a focus on making fitness accessible to individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
What’s your latest strength launch?
Our new collection of cable machines comprises the Eleiko Dual Adjustable Pulley, Cable Cross, Single Adjustable Pulley, Lat Pull Down, and Low Row stations, which can be used alone or as building blocks for customised multi-station configurations.
Our Cable System is truly modular and can adapt to facilities’ ever-evolving needs. We’ve taken a new approach to building multi-station cable solutions so customers aren’t constrained by a base foundation and can freely design units and training spaces that align with their preferences.
This eliminates limitations often associated with traditional multi-station solutions.
Custom colours are available so a facility can match its unique identity.
Safety measures include fully-protected weight stacks and gliding pulley mechanisms that mitigate pinch points, reduce injury risk and comply with ISO safety standards.
What need does this meet?
The expansion into cables is a natural progression for Eleiko; from our roots in lifting and free weights to functional cable training, we aim to empower individuals to improve their performance in sports and life with meticulously engineered, precision-crafted strength equipment.
What’s your latest strength launch?
The Mars Strength Station is a self-contained training pod that fuses one-to-one digital coaching with quality equipment. This creates a fully-supported, freestanding training aid with a small footprint that can be positioned anywhere from a gym floor or studio to a hotel guest room or home. The integrated touchscreen is pre-loaded with dumbbell-driven exercises and workouts, creating an always-available safe and effective support service. Every exercise is brought to life by a video demonstration and training tips to help users optimise each and every rep.
We’ve coupled this with Escape’s space-saving XRack, which houses 10 pairs of Nucleus Dumbbells, to provide a completely self-sufficient, training solution.
The ‘always-on’ digital coaching element supports everyone from seasoned athletes to beginners who may lack the confidence they need to train in a dedicated free weights area. The freestanding pod can be positioned anywhere with a power supply and internet access. Operators may choose to place the Mars Strength Station away from the free weights area, helping redirect traffic in an increasingly busy area. Removing it from this area may also extend the appeal and accessibility of resistance training to those who lack the confidence to train in a dedicated ‘weights’ zone.
What need does this meet?
The Mars Strength Station has been specifically designed in response to the growing popularity of strength training. With its small footprint, the MARS Strength Station offers space-challenged operators with limited trainer availability a means of providing a self-contained, fully-equipped and coached training solution.
Tell HCM readers about your latest strength launch
The Glute Bridge Bench is the latest product in our Discovery strength benches and racks product line. It enables exercisers to perform over 50 different exercises targeting the glutes, legs and core.
The Glute Bridge Bench features a dedicated lifting platform with non-slip footplate and a supportive, oversized back pad which can be adjusted to nine different angles providing comfort, stability and versatility.
Eight pairs of numbered pegs on the outside of the barbell tracks allow for a variety of resistance band exercises. For added security, the tracks are protected by guard rails and stoppers at either end, making sure a barbell won’t roll off and into other areas of the gym. This also means that when preparing to perform exercises such as a hip thrust or glute bridge, the starting barbell position is on the tracks and not the exercisers’ hips, ensuring the exerciser starts and rests in an unobstructed position.
The Glute Bridge Bench has built-in storage, so exercisers have easy access to weight horns for Olympic and bumper plates, as well as additional vertical barbell storage.
What need does this meet?
Glute training continues to rise in popularity, however, one of the challenges we discovered when speaking to operators is that there’s often no dedicated space or equipment to facilitate all the glute training requirements that exercisers now seek. More specifically, exercisers are performing these exercises anywhere they can find space on the gym floor and taking up space with equipment that’s intended for other purposes, such as flat benches and power racks.
Another challenge is that exercisers are not placing themselves in the most comfortable or secure position by leaning against a bench to perform glute-specific exercises, as these benches are prone to move or slip.
The design of the Discovery Glute Bridge Bench solves these problems and offers an incredible selection of training options for these parts of the body a growing number of exercisers want to focus on.
Tell us about your latest strength launch
Our latest innovations are significant additions to biceps, triceps, and leg training circuits.
The Three Angles Biceps Machine is designed to isolate the elbow flexor, focusing on the biceps. What sets it apart is the ability to adjust the working surface at three inclinations (from a nearly neutral position through a 45-degree shoulder angle to 90 degrees), allowing for various training configurations.
The Standing Total Arms machine is a dual-function and designed to provide a complete arm workout. It effectively replicates the curling motion of the biceps and the push-down motion of the triceps, all while standing.
For lower body training with a particular focus on the quadriceps, we’ve designed the Super Pendulum Squat. This machine incorporates a guided trajectory that creates a hybrid movement between a squat and a 45 degree leg press. The design emphasises the quadriceps, offering a comprehensive solution for lower body strength training.
The Super Horizontal Leg Press Dual System is designed for lower body training, replicating the pushing motion from a seated position along a horizontal plane. This machine effectively targets the muscles of the front and back of the thigh and hip, providing a complete lower body workout.
What needs does this equipment meet?
In recent years, we’ve noticed a growing interest in isotonic strength training, especially among the younger generation. Gen Z, which is highly active on social media, has placed a strong emphasis on healthy lifestyles and physical training, but they no longer settle for just being fit – they now seek muscular definition and strength development. Consequently, the market has seen a push towards increasingly specific and targeted equipment, and our company has responded with innovation.
Tell us about your latest strength launch
Our newest range is BLK BOX Nexus, which blends cable-based strength with free-weight functionality for a space-efficient solution. Each unit features two 120kg cable stacks, along with squat racks and pull-up stations.
The Nexus range is targeted towards facilities and clients specialising in small group personal training (SGPT). The design is tailored to accommodate this group size, catering to a range of abilities and progression levels.
The range has gained traction in physiotherapy and rehab settings, as it offers the flexibility to create adaptable training programmes across the recovery spectrum. We’re also getting interest from commercial operators, particularly those seeking to expand their offerings with versatile training spaces.
Nexus can be fully customised and also reconfigured to accommodate growth, while the range integrates with existing BLK BOX racks and storage.
What need does this meet?
With strength training now at the forefront, the Nexus range enables athletes and coaches to unlock a new repertoire of movements and exercises to further enhance their training.
From an operator’s perspective, space is at a premium and space-saving design enables users to combine compound and accessory movements within a single station. For class-based or SGPT environments, the system allows for multiple users to be stationed simultaneously, maximising space efficiency.
Are you launching new strength products?
We’ve just launched the new Performance Series plate-loaded range which has been designed in conjunction with Ryan Terry, the winner of Mr Olympia Men’s Physique 2023.
Built for all body types and sizes, the range includes: standing chest press, calf raise and Viking press, iso hack squat, linear shoulder press, adjustable incline chest press, standing hamstring curl, swivel handle row, bicep curl and vertical leg press.
These machines carry high specification detailing, from Kevlar belts to provide constant tension throughout the movement, to smooth bearings and each is calibrated for correctly targeted muscle engagement. The flexibility of the plate-loaded element allows for use by both heavy lifters and first timers, and each machine comes with an adjustable range of motion and a start position to fit every body.
What need does this meet?
As people get more serious about training, gyms are seeing greater expectations for the weights section. We saw demand increase for our Pro series, so decided it was time to upscale the range.
Ryan Terry approached us with a vision for a super gym. He understood the need for best-in-class equipment that would also be a talking point. So we set to work designing these pieces to debut in his gym, and are now rolling out a limited number of pieces to other gyms.
What’s your latest strength launch?
We recently launched Altrafit, a new range we design and manufacture ourselves, drawing on our experience of supplying equipment to the industry for over a decade.
The Altrafit range covers a range of functional training equipment, including dumbbells, barbells, Olympic bars and plates, kettlebells, power bags, slam balls, med balls, plyometric boxes, battle ropes and more, with the wider range also covering studio equipment, flooring, turf tracks and equipment racks.
What need does this meet?
We’ve been supplying equipment for years; sourcing, installing and servicing from end to end and we saw the opportunity to deliver the same quality equipment direct. We’re passing on the reduced cost to our customers, meaning they’re buying the same equipment as before, just at a lower cost. This also enabled us to launch our own products and listen directly to our customers’ needs.
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, ...
