Overview: How large gym chains source equipment

Large fitness networks, including 24 Hour Fitness, operate with sophisticated procurement ecosystems that balance scale, quality, safety, and cost. Their equipment sourcing typically blends centralized purchasing with regional adaptations, enabling consistent member experiences while accommodating space and climate variations across clubs. A typical approach combines direct OEM relationships, trusted distributors, and service partners, all governed by formal vendor management, lifecycle planning, and rigorous safety standards. This framework supports a broad product mix—cardio machines, strength equipment, free weights and racks, flooring, and ancillary items like mats and functional training gear—each category managed under distinct procurement playbooks but integrated into a unified supplier ecosystem.

To understand how 24 Hour Fitness and peers manage procurement, it helps to visualize four core pillars: 1) supplier consolidation and centralized buying, 2) product mix and channel strategy, 3) quality assurance and compliance, and 4) lifecycle management and sustainability. Together, these pillars determine how clubs maintain modern, safe spaces for members while controlling capex and maintenance costs. This article explains the practical mechanics behind these pillars, with actionable steps for operators and suppliers who want to engage in this market.

In practice, clubs often publish a standardized equipment specification library—comprehensive documents that define required models, dimensions, safety features, service expectations, and maintenance intervals. This library enables faster RFPs, clearer vendor comparisons, and consistent installations across locations. It also helps risk management teams assess warranties, spare-parts availability, and long-term total cost of ownership (TCO). In addition, ongoing data collection from maintenance logs, usage dashboards, and equipment utilization studies informs refresh cycles and optimization opportunities.

Key takeaways for readers: - Centralized procurement accelerates spend visibility and contract leverage. - A diversified supplier base reduces supply risk while maintaining quality. - Clear standards, certifications, and testing protocols safeguard safety and reliability. - Lifecycle management turns upfront investments into predictable, measurable value over time.

H2: Sourcing channels and product mix for large gym networks

For a chain like 24 Hour Fitness, equipment sourcing is not about one vendor, but about a curated portfolio of suppliers who can meet scale, speed, and quality requirements. The typical product mix spans cardio equipment, strength machines and racks, free weights, flooring and mats, and ancillary gear such as functional training rigs and rehabilitation tools. Each sub-category has its own procurement pathway, with some overlap among channels to maximize efficiency.

H3-2.1 Cardio equipment procurement strategies

Cardio devices—treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and stair climbers—represent a high-volume, high-impact category. Sourcing strategies emphasize reliability, serviceability, and uptime in busy clubs. Chains often deploy multi-brand portfolios to avoid single-point failure risk and to tailor offerings to space constraints and power availability. Major steps include: - Pre-vendor qualification based on uptime, parts availability, and remote diagnostics. - Preferential terms with OEMs that offer centralized service contracts and asset management portals. - Standardized footprint and maintenance requirements to simplify installation and servicing across locations. - Lifecycle planning with refresh cycles every 5–7 years for cardio hardware, balancing depreciation against member experience. Practical tip: request demonstration units and on-site trials in at least two clubs to validate fit-for-purpose before large-scale rollout. Data-driven decisions should use maintenance history, mean time between failures (MTBF), and patient load per machine as KPIs.

H3-2.2 Strength equipment, racks, and functional training

Strength zones require robust engineering, modularity, and long service life. Typical procurement steps include: - Selecting a core family of machines (plate-loaded vs. weight-stack) with standardized dimensions to fit venue layouts. - Sourcing racks and cages from manufacturers with modular add-ons to grow zones as demand shifts. - Ensuring compatibility with third-party attachments, colorways, and branding guidelines. - Prioritizing components with readily available spare parts and local service networks to minimize downtime. - Incorporating anti-corrosion finishes for humidity-prone environments and easy cleaning protocols for sanitization. This category often benefits from multi-brand consistency in key anchor products (e.g., a flagship multi-gyms line) while allowing regional variations for specialty spaces like powerlifting zones.

H3-2.3 Flooring, mats, and ancillary gear

Flooring and mats, though not as visible as cardio and strength equipment, significantly impact safety and durability. Procurement considerations include surface type (rubber, bonded foam, or modular tiles), thickness, acoustic dampening, and ease of maintenance. Suppliers are selected based on: - Compatibility with heavy loads and repeated impact without delamination. - Fire-rating compliance and slip resistance for safety standards. - Availability of installation services and long-term warranty on flooring cores. - Environmental attributes such as recycled content and low-VOC adhesives. Best practice is to stage flooring refreshes with equipment upgrades to minimize facility downtime and coordinate with maintenance windows in off-peak hours.

H2: Quality, safety, warranties, and lifecycle management

Quality assurance in gym equipment affects member safety, club uptime, and long-term cost of ownership. Procurement teams embed safety standards into every contract, using a mix of ISO/ASTM-aligned testing, third-party certifications, and rigorous on-site inspection protocols. Lifecycle management then translates these standards into predictable refresh cycles, spare-parts planning, and service coverage. In practice, this looks like a closed-loop process: - Establish product specifications anchored to safety guidelines and operational realities. - Source from vetted manufacturers with robust service networks and guaranteed parts availability. - Implement service-level agreements (SLAs) and proactive maintenance schedules to maximize uptime. - Track equipment age and condition to inform retirement decisions and capital budgeting. - Communicate transparency to club operators with dashboards and regular performance reviews. Key data points include MTBF, average repair cost per unit, downtime per outage, and the ratio of in-warranty vs. out-of-warranty repairs.

H3-3.1 Standards, testing, and compliance

Standards ensure consistent safety and performance across locations. Common practices include: - Requiring ISO 9001 or equivalent quality management systems from suppliers. - Verifying compliance with local electrical and fire-safety codes, as well as EN/ISO standards for gym equipment where applicable. - Conducting on-site test runs and documented inspections during installation and after commissioning. - Maintaining a dedicated risk register that tracks known issues and mitigations. Practical tip: request copies of manufacturer test reports, batch certifications, and warranty terms as part of the due-diligence packet in every RFP.

H3-3.2 Warranties, service contracts, and maintenance

Contracts typically include a mix of manufacturer warranties (often 1–5 years depending on part and component), plus extended service arrangements offered by OEMs or trusted third-party providers. A robust maintenance program should cover: - Preventive maintenance schedules aligned with usage profiles and manufacturer recommendations. - Access to a local provider network for timely repairs and preventative servicing. - Availability of spare parts with defined lead times and minimum stock levels at regional hubs. - Clear escalation paths and SLA targets for downtime and repair response. - Data collection to monitor equipment health, predict failures, and trigger proactive replacements. For operators, the goal is a favorable balance between upfront capex and ongoing OPEX, ensuring clubs stay productive while controlling hidden costs.

H2: Practical steps for clubs to optimize equipment sourcing

For operators who want to sharpen their procurement capabilities, a repeatable 8-step framework helps translate strategy into action while keeping stakeholders aligned. The steps below are designed for mid-to-large scale clubs planning multi-site upgrades or ongoing refresh programs.

1. Define program objectives: performance targets, member experience goals, and budget constraints.
2. Build an equipment specification library: standardized models, dimensions, safety features, and service requirements.
3. Stakeholder alignment: involve operations, facilities, finance, and risk management in decision criteria.
4. Develop a comprehensive RFP template: scope, evaluation criteria, warranties, and SLAs.
5. Vendor shortlisting and due diligence: assess financial stability, service footprint, and spare-parts strategy.
6. Run pilot projects: trial chosen models in select clubs to validate fit and performance.
7. Negotiate master terms: pricing, volume discounts, service levels, and renewal options.
8. Plan installation and education: coordinate logistics, staff training, and signage for new zones.

Best practices include maintaining a living procurement playbook, using data dashboards to monitor spend and uptime, and updating specifications after each refresh cycle. A practical tip is to pair procurement with facilities planning so that space reconfigurations are synchronized with equipment upgrades, reducing downtime and maximizing club readiness.

H2: Sustainability, risk management, and future trends

As the fitness industry embraces sustainability, procurement teams increasingly prioritize life-cycle thinking, material transparency, and circular economy principles. This means: - Favoring equipment with repair-friendly designs and widely available spare parts. - Selecting recyclable materials and low-VOC components to minimize environmental impact. - Planning refurbishments to reuse or responsibly dispose of obsolete equipment. - Leveraging data analytics to optimize utilization, reduce waste, and extend asset life. Looking ahead, digital tools such as asset-management platforms, predictive maintenance analytics, and supplier scorecards will play a larger role in reducing downtime, lowering total cost of ownership, and guiding smarter capital investments. Clubs that adopt standardized data-sharing with manufacturers can anticipate maintenance needs, schedule timely replacements, and achieve a smoother member experience.

H2: FAQs

1. Do 24 Hour Fitness clubs buy new or used equipment?
2. Does the chain operate private-label equipment or branding collaborations?
3. What brands are commonly seen in large gym networks like 24 Hour Fitness?
4. How often is cardio and strength equipment replaced or refreshed?
5. How is safety ensured across multiple locations?
6. Are maintenance services performed in-house or by external partners?
7. How are procurement budgets determined and approved?
8. Can facilities customize equipment for layout and branding requirements?
9. How are warranties and returns managed across locations?
10. What sustainability criteria influence equipment sourcing?
11. How is flooring and mat installation coordinated with equipment delivery?
12. How long does installation typically take for a club upgrade?
13. What should suppliers expect when bidding for a gym contract?