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MY WOODWAY:
ARRIVED:
WOODWAY
History
WOODWAY’s history began in Germany in 1974. Willi Schoenberger, a technical director in
charge of planning a fitness center, noticed that the most important piece of equipment, the
treadmill, did not meet the most important requirements: a mechanically sound machine that is
designed to meet human needs.
He envisioned a comfortable surface that did not interfere with the natural biomechanics of
running or walking. Also, he wanted to design a transportation system which eliminated the
friction associated with the conventional (conveyor belt) treadmills. After intensive research, and
trial and error (and in cooperation with the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Koln, Germany), Willi
developed and patented a very unique and revolutionary treadmill design.
In 1975, WOODWAY GMBH was founded in Weil am Rhein, Germany. The name “WOODWAY” is
derived from the German “wald weg” or “way of the woods” – the feel of running on a soft pine
needle covered path in the forest.
In 1983, a manufacturing license was awarded to Sakai Medical, for the use of WOODWAY
technology in the Japanese marketplace.
In 1988, a U.S. license was granted to a small, but well-established manufacturing company in
Waukesha, Wisconsin. WOODWAY USA was formed when the U.S. incarnation of the
WOODWAY was developed and completed in 1990. WOODWAY USA is very proud to be the
primary manufacturer of WOODWAY Treadmills worldwide, exporting treadmills each month to
Germany and Japan for inter-national distribution, in addition to serving our domestic
customers and clients.
Today, WOODWAY’s design and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany and
Japan make WOODWAY the largest specialized treadmill manufacturer in the world. Constant
enhancements in quality, design and function are shared and implemented by all three
WOODWAY manufacturers.
