Brunswick Corporation
03.31.2006
Life Fitness Unveils State-of-the-Art Research and Development Lab
Do you ever wonder where the next generation of workout equipment is developed? Where the latest exercise trends are researched? Where new technology is incorporated into workout equipment? Where equipment is tested to ensure it functions correctly and works muscle groups appropriately?
Located just west of Chicago, a group of talented Life Fitness engineers, designers and exercise experts conduct their work at the recently unveiled, state-of-the-art Life Fitness research and development lab in the Franklin Park, Ill. facility.
“Life Fitness has a legacy of delivering the highest quality and most reliable cardiovascular and strength-training products in the market,” said John Stransky, President – Life Fitness. “Our new, upgraded research and development lab helps ensure Life Fitness remains the unparalleled leader in the industry.”
Plans for the new R&D lab began in 2004. An extensive team, led by Gary Peterson, Life Fitness’ Vice President – Research and Development, assessed the division’s capabilities and determined what was needed to convert the former lab into a cutting-edge R&D facility. “A significant portion of the upgraded lab is based on Mercury Marine’s test facility,” said Peterson. “We wanted to emulate the phenomenal processes and technology employed by Mercury.”
Life Fitness teamed with A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc., a Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm, to design, engineer and build the 38,000-square-foot lab, which includes space and equipment dedicated to biomechanical, electromagnetic, environmental and mechanical research and development.
Fostering A Competitive Advantage
Approximately one half of the $3.8 million renovation was used to upgrade R&D equipment, which allows for more innovation, increased product quality and reliability and improved time-to-market. Upgraded and improved capabilities include:
Biomechanics Lab: The division’s biomechanics capabilities have been a competitive advantage since the late 1990s. In the new lab, Life Fitness created a dedicated workspace and upgraded the technology to enable efficiency and endurance testing, the results of which are used to modify Life Fitness products. Upgraded R&D equipment includes high-speed thermal imaging and a VO2 mask, which counts burned calories.
CNC Modeling Machine,: This machine’s robotic arm uses computer-aided-design concepts or CAD to create 3-D, life-size foam models of proposed fitness equipment. “Prior to having this capability in-house, we were reluctant to try new, innovative designs and concepts because it cost so much to have the models created by a vendor,” said Gary. “Now, we’re trying things we never would have tried before.”
EMI/RFI Chamber: This chamber is used to conduct rigorous electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) tests to ensure Life Fitness equipment does not interfere with radio frequencies that may be used to monitor other machines or heart devices, for example. This test is required on all cardio equipment per Federal Communications Commission regulations. Life Fitness is the only manufacturer in the market to have this capability in-house, which enables greater equipment performance and faster time-to-market.
Anechoic Chamber: This chamber is used to conduct noise tests. Life Fitness products are currently the quietest products on the market because of the division’s noise reduction technologies.
Vibration and Shock Table: This table is used to test fitness equipment parts. Coupled with temperature and humidity testing - a planned future capability, it will simulate use in the field, as well as test extreme temperatures and humidity to ensure the quality of Life Fitness products.
Electronics and Software Lab: Life Fitness currently has the largest electronics and software lab in the marketplace and its competency in fitness/entertainment equipment is quickly increasing. “The fitness equipment marketplace has grown tremendously over the past few years to include non-traditional exercise customers,” said Gary. “As such, more and more people are insisting on listening to the radio or watching television during their workout.” Life Fitness’ extensive electronics and software lab provides a competitive advantage in the entertainment while exercising realm.
"Our goal is to maintain our leadership position in the U.S. and to successfully expand our presence in markets outside of the United States," said Peterson. "The renovated lab energizes our R&D efforts, which will help deliver on that vision."
