The NOHRD Story
FITNESS. DESIGNED.
NOHRD was created from a simple belief: fitness equipment can deliver exceptional performance without compromising the space around it.
By combining German engineering, handcrafted production and natural materials, NOHRD reimagines conventional fitness equipment as something both functional and beautiful. It is equipment designed to be used, enjoyed and made part of everyday life.
From WaterRower to NOHRD
The NOHRD story began with WaterRower.
In 1994, Dominik Kuprecht established WaterRower’s German sales and distribution office. As the WaterRower became increasingly established throughout Europe, customers began asking for complementary fitness equipment created with the same attention to performance, materials and design.
After the German business relocated to Nordhorn in 2005, it developed the space, skills and manufacturing capability to create equipment of its own. The first product developed in Germany, WaterWorkx, marked the beginning of a new range and prompted the creation of the NOHRD brand.
Rather than imitate the appearance of conventional gym equipment, NOHRD extended the philosophy that had made WaterRower distinctive: purposeful engineering, natural materials and design considered for the environments in which people actually live and train.
Every element served a function, but the finished machine also carried the warmth, individuality and visual presence of a carefully crafted object.
Wood was central to this vision. Its natural variation made every WaterRower individual, while its warmth and tactile character helped transform the machine from something purely mechanical into something people could value and enjoy living with.
This combination of exercise, engineering, sculpture and furniture design established the philosophy that continues to define WaterRower today.
A Name Rooted in Nordhorn
Even the NOHRD name reflects its origins.
NOH is the vehicle registration code for Nordhorn. In the original NOHrD logo, the stylised lowercase “r” represented a water tap, providing a nod to WaterRower, while the “D” stood for Deutschland.
The name connects NOHRD to both the town where its products are made and the WaterRower business from which the brand emerged.
Designed and Made in Germany
NOHRD equipment is designed and manufactured in Nordhorn, Germany.
Bringing product development and production together allows designers, engineers and craftspeople to work closely throughout the creation of each product. Ideas can be developed, tested and refined within the same environment in which the finished equipment is made.
Advanced manufacturing is combined with skilled finishing by hand, particularly when working with the hardwoods, veneers, leather and upholstered elements that have become central to the NOHRD identity.
The result is equipment characterised by precise movement, material quality and a level of finish intended to endure.
The movement of the water also creates the distinctive sound that has become part of the WaterRower experience.
Rethinking Fitness Equipment
NOHRD approaches each product as a new design challenge rather than beginning with the accepted form of traditional gym equipment.
Every curve, mechanism and material must contribute to the way the product performs. At the same time, its proportions, surfaces and visual presence must allow it to belong naturally within an interior.
This approach has produced equipment that looks and feels unmistakably different. Examples include the flowing wooden frame of the Sprintbok, the slender profile of the SlimBeam and the sculptural organisation of the DumbBells and SwingBells.
The objective is never design for its own sake. It is to create equipment that feels intuitive, performs exceptionally and encourages people to make movement part of their lives.
A Complete Approach to Movement
What began with a single product developed in Germany has grown into a complete fitness collection spanning cardio, strength, mobility and wellness.
NOHRD equipment can be selected individually or combined to create a coordinated training environment. Consistent materials, complementary forms and shared wood finishes allow rowing machines, treadmills, bikes, strength equipment and wellness products to work together visually as well as functionally.
From a compact training corner to a complete home gym, hotel fitness suite or professional studio, the range is designed to support different spaces and different ways of moving.
Sister brands. Shared values.
NOHRD did not begin as an unrelated brand that was later paired with WaterRower. It grew directly from WaterRower’s German business and has shared its values from the beginning.
Today, WATERROWER and NOHRD remain distinct but complementary sister brands. WaterRower is dedicated to creating an authentic rowing experience, while NOHRD extends the same design philosophy across cardio, strength and wellness.
Together, they provide a complete approach to fitness, united by craftsmanship, innovation, responsible materials and the belief that performance equipment should enhance its surroundings.
Designed for what comes next
The WaterRower was one of many ideas created by John Duke during a life dedicated to invention and design. His work has extended across exercise equipment, digital technology, water turbines and marine engineering, alongside his work as a sculptor.
That combination of artistic instinct and inventive thinking remains part of the WaterRower character.
Today, WaterRower continues to explore new technology, materials and ways to improve the rowing experience. Connected monitors, advanced performance measurement and digital training platforms provide greater insight and motivation while preserving the natural movement and simplicity at the heart of every WaterRower.
The technology may continue to evolve, but the original purpose remains the same: to bring the experience of rowing on water into everyday life and to create something with which people can form a genuine and lasting connection.
This is where fitness, craftsmanship and design move together.
