Eleiko’s Legacy of Innovation and Excellence

Eleiko began in 1927 as an electrical appliance company. In 1957 a production foreman named Hellström approached the CEO to request the company’s help in building better barbell equipment. Hellström was an enthusiastic weightlifter who had identified a significant problem in his beloved sport. Barbells would often bend during weightlifting competitions, leading to uneven performances among lifters. The company agreed to leverage its expertise in steel production to help its employee in his quest to build something better. He and the Eleiko team eventually crafted what would become known as the gold standard in barbells, forever changing the primary focus of Eleiko’s business from appliance to strength equipment manufacturing.

Today the company in Halmstad in southwest Sweden is dedicated to making equipment that can withstand not only the rigors of professional athletes but also the everyday gymgoer. “If we develop the best dumbbell in the world, then it should be [practically] unbreakable during regular use; people abuse equipment in the gym all the time,” explains Product Development Manager Camilla Schough. “It’s very important for us that people feel that they can rely on our Eleiko bar and see that they can train as the professionals do.” This focus on trustworthy durability has enabled Eleiko’s products to become a staple in both professional competitions and commercial gyms worldwide.

Simulation Saves Time and Money

Before getting 3DEXPERIENCE® Works Simulation, Eleiko was conducting FEA tests with another software program. However, Product Development Manager Björn Welde explains that first they had to purchase the materials—sometimes resulting in lead times of nearly a year—and then after months of testing, they would discover they needed a different material.

Turnaround times have improved over the past nine months because the company has been using Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation, which allows the creation of digital twins. “This capability lets us test future concepts and materials repeatedly, well before committing to large, costly material orders,” explains Welde. 

An elevated level of rigor is essential in testing routines when crafting the world's strongest barbells and related products. Eleiko relies on specialized equipment to evaluate their products. “We have several cylinders that exert up to 1.5 tons in the center or at the end of the [weightlifting] bars,” notes Welde. 

Physical testing is elaborate. The company recreates real-life scenarios—such as dropping barbells weighing 1,000+ pounds from 3 feet or higher onto a steel-framed rack or a platform. Then they film the drops at high resolution and analyze the slow-motion replays afterword. Welde adds, “We can do these expensive and complex drop tests directly in [3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation], which is a big time-saver.” Schough concurs, “The opportunity we have with the 3DEXPERIENCE Works Simulation is that we can reject early [design] ideas digitally, saving a lot of money and time [on the back end].”

Commitment to Sustainability and Pushing Boundaries

Eleiko’s commitment to innovation does not stop at product performance; it also includes intense concern for longevity. The company sources recycled Swedish steel to create its barbells, ensuring that their products not only last longer but are produced in an ecologically responsible manner. Schough emphasizes the importance of this commitment: “One big thing for Eleiko is sustainability. Our goal is that our products last for the next generation.”