Our Story
It's In Our Blood
1980 - A school teacher named Richard Sorin was sweating over a hot piece of hand-cut welded steel in a small 2 car garage. He had already taught the scholastic weightlifting club that morning, followed by AM bus duty, 8 hours of gym class, PM bus duty (for extra money that was used to eventually start his business), and then the jogging club for the teaching staff. Following the school day he would tear across town to make it to the steel yard before i t closed. He would strap steel to the roof of a 1974 Toyota Land Cruiser and drive back across town to get started with his new business and dream…Sorin Exercise Equipment.
You see, he loved to lift weights, and with a background of collegiate track and field and national level Olympic weightlifting, he knew his way around a weight room. What he did not have, was access to any super-strong, customizable, sport specific weightlifting equipment. Nothing on the market at the time was good enough for him. He was tired of the bar being set so low by weightlifting equipment manufacturers, so he did the only thing he could think of. He made his own.
The premise was to make functional strength training equipment that could be customized and above all, BOMB PROOF. After he would make a piece of strength training equipment, he would sell it to local gyms, schools or institutions. Some he would keep for himself, to put in his growing customized gym, where some huge weights were lifted, and modern grip training was born. As the years went by, the designs improved and the customer list grew like wildfire. The name Sorin Exercise Equipment was eventually shortened and changed to Sorinex, and the equipment kept getting better.
Now, more than 40 years later, Sorinex is still a family owned business and employs more people than ever. Sorinex is the most sought after strength brand for professional teams, colleges, high schools and military bases. Some of our designs have changed the face of strength training forever, and can be found in almost any serious gym in the world. During this process of growth, our clients have become an extended family to us, part of our brotherhood. We realize we are still around because of our great customers and friends. We want to take the opportunity to thank YOU, our customers, supporters, vendors and friends for being the foundation on which Sorinex is built. Without you, there is no Sorinex. We promise to do our best to serve you with the best strength training equipment and service in the industry.
The History
Richard ‘Pops’ Sorin strikes his first sparks. self taught welding and design. Sorin Exercise Equipment founded.
Founded
1980
Pops mortgages his house for the University of Kentucky job which became the biggest custom weight room in the nation.
The Risk
1987
After making the biggest custom weight room in the nation, Bruno Pauletto at the University of Tennessee demanded one larger and “better”. Pops delivered, creating the first super room.
The Challenge
1989
Company renamed to Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Inc®.
Branded
1992
Sorinex creates the first “Landmine”, created out of a training need for Bert Sorin while preparing for Olympic trials in hammer throw.
Innovation
1999
Prior to a 13-0 season, Pops installed the Miami Hurricanes football weight room. pivotal to canes success, Sorinex then installed the first portable weight room at the Rose Bowl for the National Championship Game.
Built To Last
2001
New HQ in Irmo, SC showing growth and progress.
Development
2004
The Sorinex Basefit™ / Base Camp™ systems with first ever 4-way hole design released at Crossfit Games 2.
Recognition
2008
The yearly gathering of strength, SummerStrong, debuts.
Debut
2008
Base Camp™ Rack Early Adopters included: Nick Garcia (Notre Dame HS), Craig Fitzgerald (USC Football), Luke Richesson (Jacksonville Jags), Tom Myslinski (Memphis)
Established
2009
Sorinex Jammer Arms™ released. First ever rack attached lever arms.
Modernization
2010
Sorinex paves their way to becoming the industry leader in quality and innovation with major installs at Auburn and Penn state.
The Reward
2013
Upgraded HQ and Manufacturing facility in Lexington, SC.
Expansion
2016
10 Years of SummerStrong.
Tradition
2017
Awarded half of the largest fitness contract ever with the U.S. Army ACFT kits.
Made American
2019
40 years in business with 40+ industry first designs to date.
Legacy
2020
Facility design has evolved, Breaking away from traditional design, the 2021 FBS National Champions Georgia Bulldogs separate their facility into sections for specific functions.
Evolution
2021
Continuing to grow with the industry, we are once again expanding our manufacturing for the future.
Expansion 2.0
2023