Production workers stand on the Nautilus treadmill that they built in the Independence, VA, facility owned by Med-Fit Systems Inc., which purchased both the Nautilus commercial division and the plant last year. Photo courtesy of Med-Fit Systems Inc.

Med-Fit Systems Inc., which manufactures Nautilus commercial products, has produced its first Nautilus treadmill in its Independence, VA, plant after bringing production back from China.

The Fallbrook, CA-based company, which purchased the commercial division from Nautilus Inc. in February 2010, bought the 262,000-square-foot facility last August for $2.1 million. Prior to the return of the treadmill line, the Independence facility produced the Nautilus F3 free weight.

“In an era when more and more suppliers to the industry are taking their products and jobs overseas, we are doing just the opposite,” Dean Sbragia, CEO of Med-Fit Systems Inc., said in a statement. “After careful analysis, we determined that we could compete favorably on price and exceed quality and innovation criteria by returning it to our own plant.”

Med-Fit Systems says the return of the production of the treadmill to the United States has resulted in additional jobs in Grayson County, VA. The company anticipates more job openings there as other product lines are produced in the plant.

“The county and commonwealth of Virginia played a vital role in the acquisition by Med-Fit of the Nautilus commercial plant,” Sbragia said. “It is with great pride that we can now provide more jobs for hard-working Virginians by bringing this iconic brand home.”

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