Johnson Health Tech & Matrix, then and now

Parent company Johnson Health Tech ( JHT) launched our UK subsidiary, Matrix Fitness, 20 years ago. Now one of the world’s fastest-growing fitness brands, take look at how the company’s history and ethos have laid the platform for our worldwide success.

Rob Knox is product director for Matrix Fitness and a Johnson Health Tech (JHT) veteran. As part of the UK team, Knox has been involved from the very beginning of JHT’s UK journey. He’s part of the Matrix Fitness team that has seen its turnover grow to £40 million.

How did the company start?

Peter Lo, his wife Cindy Lo and their business partner, Jean Hung, started the company in 1975 in Taichung, Taiwan. They started with a simple foundry, at a time when American companies were looking overseas for manufacturing support. He called his company Johnson Metals after the famous Xueshan Mountain in Taiwan (pronounced ‘Chasen’), which is similar to the European and US name, Johnson. Mr Lo earned his first client, Ivanko, by sending hundreds of handwritten letters to companies in America, offering his manufacturing services. Our modest beginning quickly gave way to two decades of aggressive investment and growth. During this time, JHT emerged as a premier manufacturer for industry-leading fitness equipment companies.

He called his company Johnson Metals after the famous Xueshan Mountain in Taiwan (pronounced ‘Chasen’), which is similar to the European and US name, Johnson. Mr Lo earned his first client, Ivanko, by sending hundreds of handwritten letters to companies in America, offering his manufacturing services. Our modest beginning quickly gave way to two decades of aggressive investment and growth. During this time, JHT emerged as a premier manufacturer for industry-leading fitness equipment companies.

Our modest beginning quickly gave way to two decades of aggressive investment and growth. During this time, JHT emerged as a premier manufacturer for industry-leading fitness equipment companies.

Tell us more about Matrix

Matrix Fitness is JHT’s premium brand. Launched in 2001, it started as a small range of cardiovascular and strength products for the commercial sector. Today we have over 500 fitness products in the Matrix portfolio, including a home range, generating approximately $420 million globally.

What sets Matrix apart in the development process?

Continuous improvement and innovation are at the heart of what we do. We encourage our stakeholders to feedback to us and from this we make the small steps to improve. We talk to customers, service technicians and individual users to gather data and to identify ways to improve our existing products and develop new ones to address any outstanding needs. Our goal is to always challenge and improve on the status quo. Our philosophy is to listen rather than to act. We gather all sorts of information and turn it into product enhancements and prototypes.

We talk to customers, service technicians and individual users to gather data and to identify ways to improve our existing products and develop new ones to address any outstanding needs. Our goal is to always challenge and improve on the status quo. Our philosophy is to listen rather than to act. We gather all sorts of information and turn it into product enhancements and prototypes.

Our goal is to always challenge and improve on the status quo. Our philosophy is to listen rather than to act. We gather all sorts of information and turn it into product enhancements and prototypes.

Where is Matrix Fitness today?

We continue to drive the evolution of fitness and wellness with our award-winning products. Our focus is on product technology and enhancements that improve the user experience. We want to redefine fitness with our original group training products and develop solutions to preserve and enhance health through all stages of life. We’ve seen a number of changes in the UK business with Matthew Pengelly joining us as managing director,

We’ve seen a number of changes in the UK business with Matthew Pengelly joining us as managing director, however, we continue to follow the vision and values that provide the foundation to all that we do.

For more information on Matrix products click here.