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.

The keys to success for Baldwin alternate in color -- black and white. One of the top piano manufacturers in the US, Baldwin Piano is best known for making concert and upright pianos under the Baldwin, Howard, Hamilton, Chickering, and Wurlitzer names. The company also makes ConcertMaster computerized player pianos. Its custom models include the Goldtop (fashioned after the classic Les Paul guitar) and the Elvis Presley Signature vertical style. Gibson Guitar, which has been working to breathe new life into Baldwin, bought the ailing piano maker from GE Capital in 2001. Dwight Hamilton Baldwin established the company as Baldwin Piano & Organ in 1862.

Headquartered in City of Industry, CA., Jada Toys is a leading manufacturer of authentically licensed and highly stylized toys, games, and collectibles.Founded in 1999 by Jack and May Li, Jada Toys’ innovative products have lead to explosive growth over the past 10 years. The privately held company has recorded a 350 percent revenue increase since 2003 and currently boasts distribution at major US retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys’ R Us. Abroad, Jada has expanded sales globally to include Europe, Russia, South Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America markets.Expanding into entertainment licensing in 2008, Jada became Guitar Hero’s first licensee to produce an electronic item: Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker, which was dubbed “The best gadget at CES 2008” by Yahoo. Following that up, Jada was awarded a license with Marvel Entertainment to manufacture vehicles utilizing a brand new patented technology called Touch Tech. The line of action vehicles will highlight the famous heroes of The Marvel Universe and the new Marvel Super Hero Squad animated series which debuts on Cartoon Network in September 2009.

Hunter Douglas products are found in millions of homes and commercial buildings around the globe.Hunter Douglas manufacture and market the two principal products lines - window coverings and architectural products - in five geographic markets: Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia.The company leadership position flows directly from continuous innovation within their business - in their product lines, manufacturing processes, distribution network and marketing programs. These innovations come from about 21,000 people of Hunter Douglas worldwide.

Sony Electronics wants its customers plugged into the latest technology and entertainment. Sony Electronics is the largest subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the holding company for Sony Corporation's US-based electronics and entertainment businesses. Sony Corporation of America's consumer electronics unit makes and markets products to tap into Sony's music, films, games, and other businesses. The electronics arm sells PCs (the Sony VAIO) and their peripherals, as well as TVs, VCRs, PDAs, DVD and MP3 players, digital cameras, camcorders, CD players, and car audio items. The company's also a retailer and operates about 60 Sony Style retail shops in the US, mostly in California, Texas, and Florida.

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. provides technology-based educational platforms worldwide. The company offers reading solutions, such as the LeapPad learning system that includes basic vocabulary and reading concepts to preschool and kindergarten children; and Tag learning system, a pen-based reading system that focuses on fundamental reading skills and offers a library of interactive books. It also provides educational gaming products primarily for children; The Leapster Educational Gaming system, Leapster or classic Leapster, a handheld device with a multi-directional control pad and a touch-screen enabled by a built-in stylus; Leapster2 platform, which connects to the LeapFrog Learning Path; Didj Custom Gaming System, a Web-connected handheld device that allows for customization of curriculum and game play; and Crammer Study and Sound System, a hybrid music player and study device. The company offers the Fridge Series, a line of magnetic toys designed for preschoolers and kindergarteners that teaches letter names, letter sounds, and learning songs: the Learn and Groove Series, which features bilingual musical learning toys: and Pre-school Games, a line of fast-paced handheld learning games; and Clickstart and My First Computer that introduces computer and preschool skills by turning any TV into a child's first computer. Further, LeapFrog Enterprises provides the LeapFrog Learning Path, an online tool that helps parents track what their children are learning with its Web-connected products, such as Tag, Leapster2, and Didj. It sells its products directly to national and regional mass-market and specialty retailers; and other retail stores and school-related distributors and resellers through a combination of sales representatives, as well as through online store and other Internet-based channels. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California.

Thirty years ago, Amron International's founder, Norma Ockwig, saw an opportunity and began selling commercial diving and hyperbaric equipment to the international offshore oil industry. Thus, in 1978, Normco, a sole proprietorship was formed. In 1979, the company was incorporated and renamed Amron International Diving Supply Inc. Since its founding, Amron has been growing and nurturing an ever-expanding line of products serving its customer base, which includes virtually every industry, market and profession that is in or manufacturer and supplier of high quality diving, tactical, hyperbaric, and outdoor equipment.Now headquartered on the beautiful California coast in Vista, California, Amron continues to serve its wide-spectrum of customers including the armed forces, diving contractors, schools and universities, medical centers, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The North Face Apparel Corporation have helped explorers reach the most unfathomable heights of the Himalayas. But The North Face legend begins, ironically, on a beach. More precisely, San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, at an altitude of only 150 feet above sea level. It was here in 1966 that two hiking enthusiasts resolved to follow their passions and founded a small mountaineering retail store. The North Face was taking exploration to the outer limits of the ski world, adding extreme skiwear to the product offering. These were the days of pastels, neons, hair dye, and mohawks; they laid the groundwork for today's free-spirited snowsports athletes. By the end of the decade, The North Face became the only supplier in the United States to offer a comprehensive collection of high-performance outerwear, skiwear, sleeping bags, packs and tents. Now, more than 40 years after its humble grand opening, The North Face delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. North Face push the boundaries of innovation so that you can push the boundaries of exploration. North Face remain deeply proud to be the first choice of the world's most accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, snowboarders, endurance runners, and explorers.

Conair helps Canuks have perfectly coiffed hair, shiny teeth, and neatly pressed clothes. Conair Consumer Products, the Canadian division of Conair Corporation, makes and markets hair styling appliances (Conair, Easy Start, Super Clips) designed for home and professional salon use. The division also manufactures lighted mirrors, electric razors and battery-operated trimmers, oral irrigators, facial saunas, foot massagers, nail care centers, showerheads, and steam irons. Conair makes electronic scales sold under the Weight Watchers brand, as well as Interplak and Opticlean branded motorized toothbrushes.

Boker USA distributes high-end hunting and sporting knives, as well as kitchen cutlery, sharpeners, and watches through US retail outlets and its own catalogs. Many of the products it sells are made by sister company Heinr. Boker Baumwerk in Germany. Other items include bags, self-defense videos, and flashlights. The company sells its products through independent dealers, catalogs, and its Web site. The earliest manifestation of the company began in Germany with Herman and Robert Boeker when they began making sabers in 1829. Boker USA was founded in Colorado in 1986.

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