WHERE INNOVATION BECOMES THE INDUSTRY BENCHMARK

Celebrating innovation, engineering precision, and design impact in the global fitness equipment industry.

WHO IS IT FOR?

GEDA is designed for organizations and professionals operating at the intersection of engineering, industrial design, and fitness innovation. This membership and awards program supports those advancing the standards of performance, functionality, safety, and aesthetics in gym equipment.

  • Brands seeking further recognition for their advanced approaches.

  • Health, Fitness & Wellness operators looking for objective insight in world-class products.

  • End-users seeking objective industry advice.

  • The GEDAs exist to recognise and reward products that prioritise function, comfort, and performance for the people using them—not just aesthetics or marketing.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Designs focused on pushing movements in the horizontal plane, such as chest presses or push sleds.

Innovations around isolating the quadriceps via knee extension.

Biceps curl-focused equipment in any form.

Designs for horizontal pulling actions like rows or seated pulls.

Hamstring-focused designs through knee flexion—seated or lying leg curls, and beyond

Triceps extensions and similar movements designed to strengthen through elbow extension.

Designs that challenge the vertical pushing plane

Creative approaches to shoulder abduction, like lateral raise mechanisms.

Any form of multi-joint hip and knee extension combo where the footplate moves and the backrest stays still.

Pull-downs, chin-up enhancements, or any device enabling vertical pulling strength.

Deadlifts, glute bridges, or hyperextensions.

Any form of multi-joint hip and knee extension combo where the backrest or shoulderpads are what moves and the footplate is static.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Equipment is evaluated across 3 core design metrics, each driving the extent to which the machines are built to be used by humans to improve musculoskeletal functions:

USABILITY /10

How intuitive, safe, reassuring and practical is the user experience? This includes build quality and feel, ergonomics, footprint, and user interaction.

ADJUSTABILITY /6

How well can the equipment adapt to different users and use cases? Is every relevant adjustment available, accessible, and purposeful?

PROFILE /4

How well does the Resistance Profile™ of the machine match the Strength Profile™ of the human performing the intended movement?

An independent, international panel of 7 biomechanics and exercise mechanics experts.


No affiliations with equipment companies.

Brought on for their expertise, not their bias.

Contractually bound to full impartiality

  • 2025 Chair: Benny Price

  • Advisory Lead: Michael Cooper


(Each Council vote holds equal weight.)

THE COUNCIL