ICON Health & Fitness
ICON Health and Fitness, Inc. is an exercise equipment manufacturer and marketer based in Logan, Utah, United States.
Company overview
ICON Health and Fitness is the world’s largest manufacturer of exercise equipment. The privately held company employs about 2500 people in 9 locations, including facilities in China, Europe, and North and South America. The company manufactures treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, Weight machines and benches, and yoga and Pilates equipment. ICON is ISO 9000 certified, and holds about 200 patents.
Brands
ICON’s major brands include ProForm, Weslo, Weider, HealthRider, NordicTrack, and FreeMotion Fitness. Other brands include EPIC, Image, and iFit.
History
In 1977, Utah State University students Scott Watterson and Gary E. Stevenson founded Weslo, Inc., a company that imported Asian kitchen and tableware, along with marble products. In 1979, Weslo began selling wood-burning stoves under the Fire King brand. In the 1980s, they began manufacturing trampolines, and then, under the name ProForm Fitness Products, treadmills, exercise bikes, indoor rowers, and home gyms.
In 1988, Weider Health and Fitness acquired Weslo and ProForm, and in 1990, moved them into the current headquarters in Logan.
In 1994, Weider sold ProForm and Weslo, along with Weider Care, to IHF Capital Inc, a group led by Mitt Romney's Bain Capital, in a deal equaling U.S.$450 million. The companies were renamed ICON Health and Fitness, Inc.
ICON acquired HealthRider in 1996, NordicTrack in 1999, and FreeMotion Fitness, Inc in 2001.