Nautilus Inc. celebrates new global headquarters in east Vancouver

Proof of a company’s ability to survive an economic shock and to prepare for a fresh future went on display Friday morning as Vancouver-based Nautilus Inc. — a manufacturer of fitness equipment — celebrated its new global headquarters amid cheers and claps from its employees.

Under a blue sky and a just-getting-warmed-up sun, Bruce Cazenave, CEO of Nautilus, said the opening of the company’s 52,000-square-foot building in east Vancouver represents a recommitment to keep jobs in the community and a repositioning of the company for growth.

“This is truly a great day for our company,” Cazenave said.

The relocation of Nautilus from offices at Columbia Center at Columbia Tech Center to 17750 S.E. Sixth Way — still inside the Tech Center campus — comes as the company rolls out new products amid a weak economic recovery, including the CoreBody Reformer, a T-shaped device that combines Pilates, dance and yoga.

Nautilus — well known for its body-building and cardio machines — posted a profit of $2.35 million, 8 cents per share, for the first six months of 2012. That compares with a net loss of $1.66 million, 5 cents per share, during the first six months of 2011.

During the company’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, and Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt each made supportive remarks about Nautilus’ focus on helping people get fit and its contributions to the community.

They spoke to a large crowd of employees clad in T-shirts that on the front said “We are here,” with an arrow pointing to Vancouver’s place in the world, and that on the back said: “It’s a small world but it’s all ours.”

This story will be updated

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