“Innovation is in Precor’s DNA”

FRANK O’Rourke, Precor’s newly appointed senior vice president of global sales, talks to Workout about the trade show season, his passion for prevention over cure and creating ‘member stickiness’

What got you into the fitness industry?

When I was in college, I worked in a hospital as a physical therapy technician. So many people were sick due to poor lifestyle choices and much of the illness I saw was totally preventable.

I decided I wanted to work on the other side of the health continuum, helping people live healthier, focusing on prevention and positivity.

I joined a major strength equipment company aged 23 and the rest is history.

Frank O’Rourke

Where do you think the fitness industry’s heading in the next year?

Club operators are bullish right now.

If one good thing came out of the pandemic, it was an understanding that our industry really can help. If you were normal weight, healthy, fit and active your chances of getting truly sick from Covid were reduced. People now understand that’s what our industry can do for them.

Technology will continue to be major topic for discussion, especially easily connecting to wearables. I think how to incorporate active recovery from illness or injury is a space we should all be exploring further, too.

Another trend to watch out for is the rise of selectorised 2.0. Freeweights have peaked; the next shift will be back to selectorised strength.

In the last decade we’ve really moved away from it, but I believe we’re going to see a resurgence of training for specific body parts, larger muscle groups and compound movements. People will gravitate back to selectorised strength –it’s effective and it’s safe.

What’s next for Precor?

Our next generation of innovations will be a game changer and propel Precor to the forefront.

Our new product, exclusively on show in Europe at FIBO, is all about ‘member stickiness’ and engagement.

When you do group exercise it’s live, it’s fun and you’re engaged. It’s hard to feel the same attachment to a cold piece of steel like a treadmill. Our new product offers a more engaged experience, creating that member connection, driving them to be their best with our equipment.

What makes Precor stand out in the very crowded marketplace?

Our quality is outstanding; Precor’s engineers have developed the best systems to ensure we deliver top products.

That’s what separates us from the rest. It’s a reason we don’t rush products to market: we must be confident they’ll hold up in the harshest environments. If a product does not pass, it simply never makes it to the production line.

Another stand out is innovation. From inventing the world’s first Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainer to the world’s first Adaptive Motion Trainer, and of course being the first to invent the Quick Start button, Precor has some of the best industry firsts; it’s in our DNA.

Precor is returning to FIBO for the first time since 2019 this April, showcasing a host of new products on stand 6B81, plus running a competition to win one of its new StairClimbers.