The story of Life Fitness began when two young entrepreneurs, Ray Wilson and Augie Nieto, saw the promise of Dr. Dimick’s invention. Even though it was slightly ahead of its time, they believed the Lifecycle exercise bike could help generations of athletes, trainers, exercisers, and people everywhere live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. Wilson and Nieto bought the rights to the Lifecycle bike from Dr. Dimick, perfected it, and sold it out of a motor home to health clubs across America. Despite the overwhelming odds and initial unpopularity of the Lifecycle exercise bike, the two passion-filled pioneers turned a two-man operation and a seemingly impossible vision into a prosperous reality. Along the way, they shaped the future of Life Fitness as well as the fitness industry, bringing cardiovascular training into the mainstream and helping ignite the health club boom. Today, Life Fitness employs more than 1,700 people at 12 international subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities, with 186 dealers and distributors in more than 120 countries. The company have come a long way since the Lifecycle bike and now offer more than 300 different cardio and strength-training products. The history of Life Fitness is painted with several ground-breaking product innovations and industry “firsts”. The timeline below will help you follow our storied past and learn about the role they have played in the evolution of the fitness industry.

Clarion’s history is closely tied to the history of the automobile industry itself.As a worldwide front-runner who created Japan’s first car radio and Japan’s first car stereo, Clarion has always led the field in any era.Clarion Co. give top priority to understanding driver needs and supporting them through sure technology, as well as steadfastly proposing unique new products based upon their advanced creativity.

Hoshino Gakki has been enabling strumming and drumming for almost 100 years. Founded in 1908 as a musical instrument sales division of Hoshino Shoten (bookstores), the company manufactures and distributes the well known Ibanez and Tama brands -- Ibanez guitars, basses, and acoustic and electronic items, and Tama drums, drum hardware, and parts. Hoshino Gakki has offices in the Netherlands, Germany, and Taiwan, as well as in California and Pennsylvania.

Great American Products was co-founded in 1972 by Roger Tuttle, the current President & CEO. Initially the company was a entrepreneurial mail order firm selling into to the motorcycle market, and then emerged as a manufacturer specializing in the production and sale of hand crafted pewter buckles, which were sold to specialty shops throughout the country.On February 1, 2002 GAP acquired Fort U.S.A., a fifty-seven year old souvenir company from Providence, Rhode Island. The synergistic acquisition of Fort U.S.A. for 1.25 million gives GAP a valued customer base and a sales representative force with cross selling opportunities of the GAP line of products.2007 marks the 35th Anniversary of Great American Products; the company has realized annual sales in excess of $17 million, and has emerged as a leader in the Licensed Sports industry. New products are constantly being developed and new channels of distribution are opening up to provide further growth.

Howard Miller Clock Company makes floor clock, alarm clocks, desk sets, wall and mantel clocks, grandfather clocks, and ornate collectors cabinets. Products are sold in about 50 countries, and prices range wildly from $5 to $15,000. Since the 1920s Howard Miller Clock Company has specialized in clock-making based on Mr. Howard Miller's craftsmanship, learned while a young man in the Black Forest region of Germany. Howard Miller Clock company purchased Pulaski Furniture's Ridgeway Clocks division in 2004. It has been peddling Ty Pennington-branded storage units and clocks, and looks to expand the collection to include other home furnishings in 2009.

CASIO COMPUTER wants a watch on every wrist and a handheld computer in every pocket. CASIO COMPUTER makes a wide range of electronics for consumers, including calculators, cell phones, digital cameras, portable TVs, watches, and musical keyboards. CASIO COMPUTER also manufactures computing and communications devices, like PDAs and electronic cash registers. The company likes to seek superlatives in its products: the G-Shock watch (1983) boasted that it was the toughest (able to survive a fall from a three-story building) and the EXILIM camera (2002) claimed to be the world's thinnest (roughly the size of a credit card). The three younger brothers of late founder Tadao Kashio continue to run CASIO COMPUTER.

Midwest Trophy hopes to reach its own goals by customers worldwide celebrating everything with its commemorative items. The firm, which does business as MTM Recognition, manufactures a variety of awards and recognition trophies, plaques, pins, custom castings, medallions, and watches. About 80% of sales are generated through MTM's corporate recognition business, but the company also provides awards for the Super Bowl, Olympics, World Series, and NCAA Championships. Clients have included Adobe, Farmer's Insurance, O'Charley's, and Westar Energy. MTM was founded in 1971 by CEO David Smith.

The company that now bears the name Avalon Guitars came into being in the 1980's. The company's reputation for producing the very highest quality acoustic guitars using traditional methods has remained unsurpassed.Avalon's excellence is firmly rooted in our highly skilled team of luthiers whose innovativeness, abilities and know-how is renowned.Avalon Guitars exists to make possible their contribution to the acoustic guitar world with their passion for acoustic guitar design, quality and above all, tone.

VIZIO’s revolutionizing how we watch, listen … and live! Based on the belief that everyone is entitled to the latest technology, VIZIO’s redefining high definition by finding a better way and making it for everyone, using greener methods! What started in 2002 as a small company consisting of three people has quickly grown into a company of more than 160 employees, two American based offices and earned the #1 position in LCD shipments in North America in Q1 and Q2 2009 and remains the #1 shipper of LCD HDTVs to the U.S. through the 3rd quarter of 2009 (cumulative Q1 – Q3, 2009) according to iSuppli’s Q3 2009 U.S. TV unit shipments.

Since 1889, Louisville Bedding Company has grown and expanded to more than one million square feet of manufacturing space worldwide. With 8 manufacturing and distribution points across the U.S., Canada and China, we have the capacity to produce an excess of 18 million mattress pads and 14 million bed pillows a year! Louisville Bedding Company has grown to be the World’s largest producer of mattress pads and as the global leader; Louis Bedding company is trusted to produce exceptional, high quality bedding products. They continue to respond to change with amazing success by investing in technology, implementing innovative marketing approaches and providing employees with valuable education and skill enhancement.

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