Asia's fitness giant Johnson Health Tech arrives in the Philippines

Johnson Health Tech, the largest fitness manufacturer in Asia and the third-largest in the world, has arrived in the Philippines and, with its industry-leading product portfolio and strength in global R&D, are looking to provide turn-key solutions for all fitness and wellness related needs.

“Johnson Health Tech is extremely excited to have an established home in one of the most dynamic cities in Southeast Asia," said Mr. Katsuya Ito, the Japanese-Australian nationale spearheading JHT Philippines’ Manila Team.

With a product portfolio covering all fitness channels and markets, including Matrix, Vision and Horizon, Johnson’s global network consists of manufacturing facilities in Shanghai and Taiwan, with Research & Development centers in North America, Shanghai and Taiwan. It is among the industry’s fastest-growing manufacturers, and with 24 wholly-owned subsidiaries, a service network of 60 countries, and 315 retail stores, it has a better reach to efficiently serve the needs of its customers around the globe.

Throughout its gradual but massive growth, Johnson Health Tech has also established itself as a true pioneer of product innovation, from the Matrix hybrid bike to the first folding elliptical, to perfecting the eddy current magnetic brake system. Many of the technologies invented for the Johnson Health Tech machines have now become industry standards. From the beginning, an investment in key technologies to increase quality and add value has been a key priority of Johnson Health Tech.

Humble beginnings

Growing up in an impoverished post-war Taiwan, Johnson Health Tech founder, Peter Lo knew that following one’s dreams would require hard work, ambition, and a true entrepreneurial spirit that, 40 years later, has become the core of the company's business.

In 1975, with the idea that building his own business would be the key to long-term success, a determined Lo hand wrote about 2,000 letters to American companies to offer support and services for their manufacturing needs. He received only 2 responses. One, an exercise equipment called IVANKO, asked if Lo could manufacture barbells. With his first order of $400 for 200 barbell pieces. Lo created Johnson Metal. While learning the skills and knowledge necessary for barbell manufacturing. Lo began to understand the individual and societal benefits of fitness equipment and wanted to foster his commitment to health and well being around the world.

By the 1980’s, Lo’s barbell business has expanded to the cardio fitness space. Johnson Health Tech became the original equipment manufacturer for numerous industry leaders including Trek, Schwinn, Omron, True and Universal among others. In 1996, Johnson Health Tech’s first brand efforts was spun off by the Trek Fitness management team–Vision Fitness–with the idea that the specialty fitness channel, still a small market at that time, would see immense growth in the future.

While higher-end cardio products were too expensive and mass products were too low-quality for most fitness enthusiasts at the time, Johnson Health Tech was to find the “sweet spot” by offering exceptional quality at a more affordable price.

With a knack for spotting major trends in the fitness and manufacturing world to meet today’s consumer needs, Johnson Health Tech’s business more than doubled within just three years. In 1998, Johnson Health Tech introduced Horizon Fitness to bring higher quality and durability to the typically lower-end sporting goods/mass-market channel. Three years later, Johnson Health Tech launched Matrix Fitness line of products to the commercial fitness channel.

By launching a wholly owned subsidiary in the heart of the Makati Business District this year, Johnson Health Tech (JHT), will begin its service to both the commercial market that include fitness clubs, condominiums, corporate gyms, colleges, and government projects as well as the home use market with a primary focus in aggressively developing a corporate-owned retail store network across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.