Our Story

At the time Peter Lo established his business, American companies were looking overseas for manufacturing support. Mr. Lo wanted to convey his ability to conduct business globally, and a nearby mountain named Xueshan gave him an idea. The name, formally pronounced “cha-sen” sounded similar to “Johnson,” which Mr. Lo knew to be a common name in Europe and North America. He liked the duality of it, so he called his company Johnson Metals.

Situated in the same location where the Johnson Health Tech factory stands today in Taichung, Taiwan, the company’s first foundry produced weight plates to fulfill early orders.

The Johnson logo bears both the Johnson name and a graphic representation of the Xueshan mountain near the Taichung, Taiwan headquarters.

These sketches represent the first barbell plates manufactured by Johnson Metals. Despite having little exposure to weightlifting equipment, Peter Lo accepted the order. He forged the plates in a small foundry and used his home for finish work. For a while, his living room served as a paint line.

Founder Peter Lo with wife Cindy and children May, Jason and Theresa.

As Johnson Health Tech entered into brand ownership and development, the company also pursued an aggressive expansion strategy. Ultimately, the company established wholly owned subsidiaries in over 40 countries and a distribution network that spans the globe.

In 1996, Johnson Health Tech acquired the tooling and patents of Trek Fitness, a line of exercise equipment, from the Wisconsin-based bicycle behemoth. Renamed Vision Fitness, this venture launched the era of Johnson Health Tech brand ownership and development.

Johnson Health Tech established Horizon Fitness in 1998, aiming to redefine the home exercise experience. With this new offering, exercise enthusiasts of all kinds could find the perfect piece for their unique goals, sure that the equipment fit their body as well as it fit their space and schedule. Today, Horizon continues to drive the evolution of fitness and wellness with award-winning products.

We own our factories and control manufacturing all the way from raw materials to finished products. This vertically integrated process enables us to realize greater value at each stage of production and pass those advantages along to our customers.

Johnson Health Tech launched Matrix in 2001 to bring premium fitness equipment to the marketplace. Fueled by cross-cultural collaboration, today Matrix offers a complete line of cardio, strength and group training equipment for health clubs, luxury resorts, collegiate athletic teams and more, plus club-quality equipment reimagined for the home.

In 2006, Johnson Health Tech introduced a special Wellness division to help people live an altogether more comfortable life. Since its launch, the Wellness division’s portfolio has grown to include massage chairs and accessories, including cushion massagers, foot massagers, neck massagers and more. In 2020, we acquired Fujiiryoki, a premium massage chair brand in Japan.

In 2008, when the global economy was contracting, Johnson Health Tech instead invested heavily to fill out the Matrix lineup. New product development, exclusive partnerships and brand acquisitions — including Milwaukee-based strength equipment manufacturer Magnum — grew the Matrix portfolio from 56 products in 2007 to over 400 by 2015. In 2025, our industry-leading portfolio exceeds 600 products.

As the number-one specialty fitness retailer in the world, Johnson Fitness & Wellness retail outlets in Asia, Europe and the Americas keep the company in close contact with customers on a daily basis.

In 2024, Johnson Health Tech acquired home fitness brands BowFlex, Schwinn Fitness, and JRNY to complement its existing retail portfolio. These strategic additions expand Johnson’s consumer business globally and its ability to offer a more diverse, holistic product range that inspires people to prioritize their health and well-being.