Talking Gym Equipment Innovation With Technogym’s Medical & Scientific Director
What differentiates Technogym from the rest of the market? “Innovation.”
In 1988, Technogym introduced machines driven by heart rate, using the CPR (Constant Pulse Rate) System.
1996 saw the introduction of the Wellness System Key, which provided users with a training management system.
In 2002 Technogym launched Excite, the first cardiovascular training line with an integrated TV screen.
And more recently, in 2012, Technogym became the first fitness and health company to utilise the capabilities of the cloud, with mywellness cloud.
I had the opportunity to speak with Silvano Zanuso, the Director of Technogym’s Medical & Scientific Department, to to talk all things fitness, technology, and Technogym.
At the age of 22, Nerio Alessandri from Cesana, Italy started designing and building his first pieces of gym equipment in his garage, and from there, Technogym was formed. The company has since gone on to equip 65,000 wellness centres and over 100,000 homes around the world, and it is estimated that Technogym products are used by approximately 35 million people every day. Their products include treadmills, free weights, benches, plate loaded machines… and everything else that you would need to fully equip a gym.
Equipment from Nerio’s garage.
But why did Nerio decide to start the company?
As I was told by Silvano,
“The answer is embedded in the name; Technogym – bringing technology and innovation to the industry, with a clear mission of creating a better quality of life.”
The company was founded in 1983, which was within the ‘body building era’, where everybody was talking about body building. Soon, however, following Technogym’s introduction of fitness equipment, the topic of conversation shifted to fitness and wellbeing; now popularly known as wellness, which is a key focus for Technogym who state: We promote wellness in everything we do.
So what is meant by the term wellness? Silvano, over to you…
“The term wellness is a combination of two other terms; fitness and well-being. The idea behind wellness is not only the production, not only the results, but a combination of the physical capacities of the consumers, their positive mental attitude, as well as the product solution.”
As Technogym continue to focus on combining fitness and technology, and as they continue to be inspired by the concept of wellness in the development of innovative products, the word in the gym will become ever-more focused on fitness and well-being.
Today we are exposed to ever-increasing levels of technology, and as Technogym’s customers continue to become more technologically-minded, they are requesting higher levels of technology in the products that are available to them.
There are various streams of innovation within Technogym, and one of the ways innovation is fed into the company is through the customers.
Silvano spoke of the value Technogym put on the input and feedback they receive from their customers;
“We learn a lot from our customers and critics alike… we must be very open to criticisms, as this is the best way for us to learn.”
Silvano then went on to say that they even see themselves as ”lucky” if they receive any complaints from their customers. This open attitude enables Technogym to build an incredible amount of trust amongst their customers, and is key to the company’s success in continuing to innovate and remain the leader within the fitness and well-being industry.
The future of technology opens up the future of Technogym.
When Technogym launched mywellness cloud in 2012, it was something that had never been seen before within the industry. However, speaking with Silvano on this, his view was the following;
“What we launched in 2012, mywellness cloud, was simply a consequence of what we did in 1996 through the Wellness System Key – the first portable memory that was able to store data.
But at that time, the internet wasn’t an option. The internet has expanded the possibility of better seeing and achieving what was already in the hearts and minds of the company. Sometimes technology just enables you to do something that you already had in your mind – realising your dreams.”
So what are Technogym employees dreaming of today? What are you dreaming of for the ‘wellness’ industry?
Before our time was up, I wanted to ask Silvano one final question; is there a limit to the use of technology in sports and fitness?
“Technology will continue to advance, and Technogym will continue to develop their equipment alongside this advancement.
What I’ve realised is that, when it comes to sports and technology, you find two types of attitudes; one – those devoted to technology and wanting the latest innovations. Two – those who resist technology, and just want to feel and use their body. But a new attitude is emerging – those who are in between.”
So for Technogym, there is no limit to the technology they are willing to use in order to meet the demands of their customers. Silvano identified three key areas of the company that differentiate Technogym from their competitors, and allow them to consistently meet the needs of these customers; the design of the products, the team behind the product development, and innovation.
Innovation is the driving force. Wellness is the global trend.
