Executive Summary
This week’s report highlights significant strategic expansions, tech acquisitions, and structural growth across the global fitness and equipment sectors. Spirit Fitness expanded its commercial treadmill line with a versatile three-mode platform, while South Korea’s Olympic Committee set a new standard in sports medicine by deploying the nation’s first 80cm wide-bore MRI. In health-tech, ABC Fitness completed the acquisition of AI coaching platform FitMetrics alongside a major franchise partnership.
Meanwhile, Belfast-based BLK BOX achieved record financial growth, SportsArt launched a high-tech experiential showroom in Ohio, MTG opened Japan’s first Nike Strength showroom in Tokyo, Dyaco Europe appointed industry veteran Michael Bülter to lead commercial sales, and retail giant Decathlon initiated a strategic move into ski resorts by agreeing to acquire a 50% stake in Sport 2000 France’s central purchasing arm.
1. Spirit Fitness Expands Cardio Lineup with New Trimodal Treadmill
Spirit Fitness, a core strategic brand under Dyaco International, officially introduced the Spirit Trimodal Treadmill to address the growing demand for varied, high-intensity commercial training. Unlike traditional single-belt running machines, the new unit incorporates three distinct operational modes on an engineered elastic slat belt:
• Standard Mode: Functions as a traditional motorized treadmill featuring up to a 20% incline for walks and hill climbs.
• Free Mode: Disengages the motor for user-powered friction running with an unlimited speed range and a 6% incline lock.
• Sled Mode: Provides magnetic and mechanical resistance across 15 distinct load levels for lower-body power driving.
Equipped with three ergonomic grip positions (high, mid, and low) and a 21.5-inch LED console, the unit allows multi-angle training and real-time resistance tracking for commercial gym floors.
2. Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Unveils Nation’s First 80cm MRI for Elite Athletes
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) officially launched a Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Free.Max MRI scanner at the Jincheon National Training Center Medical Center in South Korea. Featuring an 80cm wide-bore opening—compared to the standard 60–70cm industry range—the system is designed specifically to accommodate elite athletes with broad shoulders and high muscle mass.
The facility will utilize the equipment for precision diagnostics, sport-specific injury tracking, and ongoing sports medicine research. The launch event was attended by national sports leaders and Olympic athletes, following the facility’s recognition with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Asia Sports Science and Medicine Award earlier this year. KSOC revealed plans to add dedicated CT scanning capabilities to the compound in 2027.
3. ABC Fitness Acquires AI Platform FitMetrics and Partners with Fitura Brands
Fitness technology provider ABC Fitness expanded its software stack by acquiring FitMetrics, an AI-assisted coaching platform designed to operate alongside ABC Trainerize. The deal follows ABC’s acquisition of Replify in July 2026 and aims to automate administrative tasks, progress tracking, check-ins, and client communication workflows for personal trainers.
According to figures supplied by ABC Fitness, Replify’s deployment in Q2 2026 automated 65% of call volumes across select client sites, while FitMetrics users reported doubling to quadrupling client coaching capacities. In tandem with the acquisition, ABC Fitness announced a multi-brand technology partnership with franchise operator Fitura Brands to power its Padel SWT, Core Precinct, and ContrasTheory concepts with custom software, including integrated court-booking functionality.
4. BLK BOX Reports Record FY25 Results with Revenue Reaching £26.7 Million
Belfast-based equipment manufacturer BLK BOX released its financial performance report for FY25, filing record figures driven by the global commercial shift toward functional strength training.
- Revenue: Reached £26.7 million, representing a 36% year-over-year increase from £19.6 million in FY24.
- Adjusted EBITDA: Increased to £2.7 million (up from £1.9 million in FY24).
- Gross Margin: Expanded to 33%, up from 19% in 2022.
More than 70% of sales were generated through recurring B2B client accounts, including an expanded rollout across PureGym’s international network of over 600 locations. During the past fiscal year, the company completed over 1,000 global projects—including fit-outs for Manchester United, the Ryder Cup, and the British & Irish Lions—and expanded its operations across North America and China.
5. SportsArt Opens ‘Powr-Zone’ Experiential Showroom in Columbus, Ohio
Commercial equipment manufacturer SportsArt partnered with WellXM and Involve Ventures to open Powr-Zone Columbus, an experiential showroom, think tank, and application center in Ohio. The facility is set to officially open on September 10, 2026.
Designed as an appointment-based center for club operators, collegiate programs, and hospitality buyers, the space features SportsArt’s Eco-Powr cardio machines alongside its coach-led Powr-Zone small-group programming. The Eco-Powr equipment converts up to 74% of human workout energy into grid-ready electricity (generating up to 220 watt-hours per workout hour). The location also serves as an operational testing bed for new digital engagement software and group training formats.
6. MTG Opens Japan’s First Nike Strength Showroom in Tokyo
On September 1, 2026, Nagoya-based distributor MTG Co., Ltd. officially opened Japan’s first dedicated Nike Strength equipment showroom in Tokyo (Mita, Minato-ku). Operating on an advance-reservation basis, the space allows commercial gym operators, studio owners, and retail consumers to inspect and test the full line of Nike-branded strength equipment.
Nike Strength was launched globally in 2023 under an exclusive license with Dimension 6 Fitness Corporation. Through its master distribution agreement with Dimension 6, MTG is overseeing the brand’s physical sales, spatial layout consulting, and digital distribution across the Japanese market. The showroom displays the brand’s complete equipment line, including dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, weight plates, benches, and squat racks.
7. Dyaco Europe Appoints Michael Bülter as Head of Commercial Sales
Dyaco Europe strengthened its regional leadership team with the appointment of Michael Bülter as Commercial Sales Manager, effective September 1, 2026. Bülter brings roughly 20 years of experience in the medical, therapeutic, and commercial fitness sectors, having previously held senior sales positions at Nautilus, Life Fitness, GYMNA, and anti-gravity treadmill manufacturer BTL.
Working alongside Dyaco Europe General Manager Anton Blajs, Bülter will oversee commercial market expansion in Germany with an emphasis on Spirit Fitness products, the electronic-adaptive i-Strength circuit line, and the Dyaco Medical rehabilitation division. The appointment reflects Dyaco’s strategy to capitalize on the convergence of traditional commercial fitness, preventive health, and clinical physical therapy.
8. Decathlon Moves to Acquire 50% Stake in Sport 2000 France Central Unit
Global sports retailer Decathlon signed a letter of intent to acquire a 50% stake in Sport 2000 France, the central purchasing, marketing, and logistics arm of Céraclès Coopérative. The transaction does not include direct ownership of Sport 2000’s ~400 independently franchised stores, which will continue to trade under their existing banner.
The deal targets the mountain sports and ski rental sector in the Alps and Pyrenees, where Sport 2000 operates nearly 190 mountain locations compared to Decathlon’s five stores. Céraclès Coopérative reported €788 million in sales across 732 stores in FY25, while Decathlon France generated approximately €4 billion over the same period (part of its €16.8 billion global turnover). The transaction is expected to close in 2027, pending approval from France’s competition authority, the Autorité de la concurrence.
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