Cybex International
Cybex International is an American fitness-equipment brand known for commercial and consumer cardiovascular, strength, and rehabilitation equipment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cybex International is an American fitness-equipment manufacturer and brand whose roots date to the late 1960s, when the business was established in Ronkonkoma, New York, as The Cybex Ergometer Company. Its early focus was isokinetic rehabilitation equipment, a category associated with controlled resistance and clinical or therapeutic exercise. Over time, the company expanded into the broader fitness-equipment market, serving health clubs, gyms, rehabilitation facilities, institutional customers, and home users. The company’s portfolio became centered on commercial cardiovascular and strength equipment. Its best-known product families included Arc Trainers, treadmills, stationary bicycles, steppers, and a broad range of resistance and selectorized strength machines. Cybex developed a distribution network reaching more than 87 countries and operated manufacturing facilities in Medway, Massachusetts, and Owatonna, Minnesota. The company’s products were positioned around biomechanical design, durability, exercise performance, and use in professional fitness environments. Cybex’s corporate history was shaped by a series of ownership changes and acquisitions. The business was acquired by Lumex, a company traded on the American Stock Exchange. In 1995, after Lumex sold its medical-supply business, the remaining operation adopted the Cybex name and continued as a publicly traded company. In May 1997, Cybex merged with Trotter, Inc., a treadmill manufacturer based in Medway, Massachusetts. UM Holdings, which owned Trotter, obtained a controlling interest of approximately 51 percent through the transaction. In 1998, Cybex acquired Tectrix, a California company specializing primarily in exercise bikes and steppers, and shifted production of those products to Medway. Cybex later acquired Forza in 2001, giving it direct sales and distribution capabilities in the United Kingdom. The company also faced a major product-liability dispute. In 2010, a New York jury awarded $66.5 million to a plaintiff who had been injured when Cybex strength equipment fell on her. The award was subsequently reduced to $44.5 million, and the case was settled in 2012 for $19.5 million. The settlement was reported as important to the company’s financial survival. In February 2013, UM Holdings acquired the remaining publicly traded shares, taking Cybex private. Cybex entered a new phase in January 2016, when Brunswick Corporation acquired the company for $195 million and placed it within Brunswick’s Life Fitness portfolio. The portfolio also included Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, InMovement, SciFIT, and Indoor Cycling Group. Integration under Brunswick resulted in the closure of Cybex’s Medway manufacturing facility on September 30, 2017. The site employed approximately 150 people; component fabrication and engineering activities were transferred to other Life Fitness facilities, including locations associated with Cybex in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Life Fitness operations in Illinois. In 2018 and 2019, Brunswick reorganized and then sold its fitness-equipment business. Life Fitness Holdings, including Cybex and several other fitness brands, was sold to KPS Capital Partners for approximately $490 million. The transaction closed in June 2019. Cybex therefore continued as a brand within the Life Fitness business after leaving Brunswick ownership. Its historical identity remains associated with specialized commercial fitness equipment, rehabilitation-oriented engineering, and a broad portfolio of cardiovascular and strength products.
History
Cybex International originated in the late 1960s as The Cybex Ergometer Company in Ronkonkoma, New York. Its initial business was focused on isokinetic rehabilitation equipment, reflecting a market distinct from ordinary gym equipment and oriented toward controlled resistance, physical therapy, and clinical exercise. The company was later acquired by Lumex, which was traded on the American Stock Exchange. A significant corporate reset occurred in 1995. Lumex sold its medical-supply business and changed its corporate identity to Cybex, with the company continuing as a publicly traded fitness-equipment manufacturer. In May 1997, Cybex merged with Trotter, Inc., a company primarily known for treadmills and operating a manufacturing facility in Medway, Massachusetts. UM Holdings, Trotter’s owner, received approximately 51 percent of Cybex in the merger and became its controlling shareholder. Cybex broadened its product base through acquisitions. In 1998 it purchased Tectrix, a California manufacturer whose principal products were exercise bikes and steppers. Production of those products was moved to Cybex’s Medway facility. In 2001, the company acquired Forza, adding direct sales and distribution operations in the United Kingdom. The resulting business manufactured and marketed cardiovascular, strength, and rehabilitation equipment through distributors in more than 87 countries. Its production footprint included facilities in Medway, Massachusetts, and Owatonna, Minnesota, and the company was reported to have more than 600 employees. The company’s growth was accompanied by a serious product-liability case. In 2010, a New York jury awarded $66.5 million to a plaintiff who had suffered injuries after a piece of Cybex strength equipment fell on her. The award was later reduced to $44.5 million. In 2012, the parties settled for $19.5 million. Contemporary accounts described the settlement as significant because enforcement of the larger award could have pushed Cybex toward bankruptcy. In February 2013, UM Holdings bought the remaining publicly traded stock, taking Cybex private. On January 20, 2016, Brunswick Corporation acquired Cybex International for $195 million. Cybex became part of Brunswick’s Life Fitness portfolio alongside Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, InMovement, SciFIT, and Indoor Cycling Group. The integration changed the company’s manufacturing structure. Cybex’s Medway facility, which employed approximately 150 people, closed effective September 30, 2017. Component fabrication and engineering activities were shifted to other Life Fitness locations, including the Cybex facility in Owatonna, Minnesota, and operations in Franklin Park and Rosemont, Illinois. Brunswick subsequently reorganized its fitness-equipment activities into Life Fitness Holdings. In 2018, Brunswick announced plans to spin off or sell the business, and in May 2019 it announced an agreement to sell Life Fitness Holdings to KPS Capital Partners for approximately $490 million. The sale closed in June 2019 and included Cybex, Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Indoor Cycling Group, SCIFIT, and Brunswick Billiards. Cybex therefore continued as a fitness-equipment brand within the Life Fitness business under new ownership. Its historical development combines rehabilitation engineering, commercial gym equipment, international distribution, acquisition-led expansion, public-company ownership, and later integration into a larger fitness-brand portfolio.
- 2019
Life Fitness Holdings sold to KPS Capital Partners
[1]KPS Capital Partners completed its acquisition of Brunswick’s fitness-equipment business, including Cybex.
- 2017
Medway plant closure
[1]The Medway, Massachusetts, manufacturing facility shut down, with selected production and engineering functions transferred elsewhere.
- 2016
Acquisition by Brunswick
[1]Brunswick Corporation acquired Cybex for $195 million and placed it within the Life Fitness portfolio.
- 2013
Cybex becomes privately held
[1]UM Holdings purchased the outstanding publicly traded shares and took the company private.
- 2001
Acquisition of Forza
[1]The Forza acquisition gave Cybex direct sales and distribution capabilities in the United Kingdom.
- 1998
Acquisition of Tectrix
[1]Cybex acquired Tectrix, expanding into exercise bikes and steppers and moving their production to Medway.
- 1997
Merger with Trotter
[1]Cybex merged with treadmill maker Trotter, Inc., while UM Holdings became the controlling shareholder with approximately 51 percent of the company.
- 1995
Company adopts the Cybex identity
[1]After Lumex sold its medical-supply business, the remaining public company changed its name to Cybex.
- 1960
Business founded as The Cybex Ergometer Company
[1]The company was established in the late 1960s in Ronkonkoma, New York, initially concentrating on isokinetic rehabilitation equipment.
Products and positioning
Professional-grade fitness and rehabilitation equipment emphasizing biomechanics, durability, controlled exercise movement, and institutional or commercial use.
Cardiovascular equipment
Arc Trainer
The Arc Trainer is Cybex’s signature cardiovascular product family. It is an elliptical-style training platform designed for commercial fitness settings and marketed as a lower-impact alternative to some conventional running and stepping movements. The product became one of the most recognizable offerings associated with the Cybex brand.
Cardiovascular equipment
Cybex treadmills
Cybex developed treadmills for commercial and institutional exercise facilities, building on the company’s expansion through the 1997 merger with Trotter. The line formed part of the brand’s broader cardiovascular portfolio alongside bikes, steppers, and Arc Trainers.
Strength equipment
Cybex strength equipment
The strength portfolio includes resistance and selectorized equipment intended for gyms, health clubs, and institutional users. Strength products were central to Cybex’s commercial identity and were also involved in the company’s significant 2010 product-liability litigation.
Rehabilitation equipment
Cybex rehabilitation and isokinetic equipment
Cybex began as a rehabilitation-equipment business focused on isokinetic exercise. These origins influenced the company’s emphasis on controlled movement, resistance technology, and biomechanics, even as its later product range expanded substantially into commercial fitness.
Cardiovascular equipment · 1998
Cybex stationary bicycles and steppers
Stationary bicycles and steppers became important parts of Cybex’s cardiovascular range, particularly after the 1998 acquisition of Tectrix. The products complemented the company’s treadmill and Arc Trainer offerings for gyms and other professional exercise facilities.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2019
Sale of Life Fitness HoldingsM&ABackground
Brunswick reorganized its fitness-equipment operations into Life Fitness Holdings and pursued a sale of the business.
Action taken
KPS Capital Partners acquired Life Fitness Holdings, including Cybex, in a transaction completed in June 2019.
Aftermath
Cybex continued as a brand within the Life Fitness business under KPS Capital Partners ownership.
Reported transaction value. Approximately $490 million (2019)
2017
Manufacturing footprint consolidationStrategyBackground
Brunswick and Life Fitness were integrating Cybex operations after the 2016 acquisition.
Action taken
The Medway, Massachusetts, facility was closed, and component fabrication and engineering were moved to other Life Fitness locations.
Aftermath
Approximately 150 employees were affected at the Medway site, while manufacturing and engineering capacity continued at other facilities.
2016
Brunswick acquisitionM&ABackground
Brunswick sought to expand and consolidate its fitness-equipment business through its Life Fitness portfolio.
Action taken
Brunswick Corporation purchased Cybex International for $195 million and integrated it into Life Fitness.
Aftermath
Cybex became one of several brands in the Life Fitness portfolio, and its manufacturing and engineering footprint was subsequently reorganized.
Acquisition price. $195 million (January 20, 2016)
2013
Take-private transactionM&ABackground
Following the product-liability dispute and a period of ownership by UM Holdings, the outstanding publicly traded shares remained available for acquisition.
Action taken
UM Holdings purchased the outstanding publicly traded stock of Cybex, making the company privately held.
Aftermath
Cybex operated as a private company until Brunswick acquired it in 2016.
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