Published November 2002

Quinton Cardiology to buy back treadmill business

By Eric Fetters
Herald Business Writer

Quinton Cardiology Systems will begin making medical treadmills again by re-acquiring the business that gave the company its start 50 years ago.

Mike Matysik, chief financial officer at the Bothell-based company, said in October that Quinton is purchasing the medical treadmill division of Stairmaster Health & Fitness Products Inc. for $1.9 million.

Quinton’s main products are medical devices and monitors used in diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating patients with heart problems. That equipment is often used with medical treadmills for cardiac stress testing and rehabilitation, Matysik said.

“Stairmaster was a good supplier of the treadmills for us, but we have more of an interest in developing the product line as we improve our diagnostic equipment,” he said.

Wayne Quinton, who founded the company in 1953, built the first treadmills designed specifically for cardiac testing. In 1999, the company sold its treadmill business, which had expanded into the fitness market, in order to reduce debt and focus on other cardiology equipment.

But Quinton never left the business completely behind, as it was the exclusive distributor of Stairmaster’s medical treadmills. And Stairmaster has subleased space for its treadmill production at Quinton’s headquarters.

Stairmaster was bought in February by The Nautilus Group Inc. of Vancouver, Wash. Subsequently, Stairmaster decided to relocate all of its treadmill manufacturing to an Oklahoma plant. John Hinson, Quinton’s president, said that decision prompted his company to buy back the treadmill line.

Matysik said Stairmaster will continue to make fitness-oriented treadmills under the Quinton brand name.

Back to the top/November 2002 Main Menu