Standards lead process upgrades and fitness equipment builds a solid line of defense for “safety and quality”

News from this newspaper Recently, with the implementation of the new version of the "General Safety Requirements for Outdoor Fitness Equipment" and the continuous improvement of the international standard certification system, my country's fitness equipment industry is taking the lead in standards, forcing process upgrades, promoting products to be in line with international standards in terms of safety, environmental protection, performance, etc., and building a solid quality defense line for the high-quality development of the industry.

The improvement of the standard system is an important support for the upgrading of fitness equipment technology. Domestically, the new version of the national standard puts forward higher requirements for the environmental protection, weather resistance, and structural stability of outdoor fitness equipment materials. It encourages companies to upgrade production processes, use food-grade environmentally friendly materials, optimize the strength of welding nodes, and upgrade coating weather-resistant formulas to ensure long-term safety and stability of products in extreme environments. At present, domestic enterprises have led and participated in the formulation of more than 40 national and group standards, covering indoor and outdoor equipment, smart fitness, ergonomics and other fields.

International standard certification has become a "passport" for enterprises to explore the global market. As the authoritative standard in the field of global fitness equipment safety, the EU EN957 series of standards puts forward strict requirements for the structural integrity, stability, electrical safety, etc. of the equipment. It covers various products such as treadmills, exercise bikes, and strength training equipment. It is divided into professional grade (S grade) and household grade (H grade). Among them, the professional grade standard has the highest requirements for process accuracy. Passing this certification means that the product has reached the international leading level in terms of safety and quality, and can successfully enter the European high-end market.

In order to meet domestic and foreign standard requirements, companies continue to increase their efforts in process optimization. In terms of structural technology, CNC laser cutting, fully automatic welding and other technologies are used to ensure the structural accuracy and stability of the equipment; in terms of surface treatment, the environmentally friendly powder coating process is upgraded, and multiple extreme tests such as salt spray, aging, and ultraviolet light are passed to improve the weather resistance and durability of the equipment; in terms of safety protection, emergency stop devices and anti-clamping designs are added to eliminate potential safety hazards in sports.

The in-depth binding of standards and processes promotes healthy development of the industry. According to statistics, in 2023, the increased compliance costs for industry companies due to standard upgrades will account for approximately 3% to 5% of revenue, but it will promote product technology iteration and brand value improvement in the long term. More and more companies are improving their core competitiveness by participating in standard setting and breaking through international certifications, and their products are exported to more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Industry experts said that in the future, they will continue to improve the standard system, promote the collaborative upgrading of processes and standards, and help my country's fitness equipment industry achieve the leap from a "manufacturing power" to a "manufacturing power".