Bodytone FBC08 olympic bench press, plate loaded

The Bodytone FBC08 is an olympic bench press station designed for the horizontal barbell bench press. Unlike the selectorised machines in the Forza range it is loaded with olympic plates, so the bar path is free and the movement is the competition lift rather than a guided approximation. At 75 kg net and 980 EUR excluding VAT it is the most accessible reference in this catalogue, which makes it the natural first free weight station for a hotel gym, a corporate fitness room, a club building a free weight area or a tactical training facility.

Technical specification

Free weight operation and floor planning

A plate loaded bench behaves differently from a selectorised machine in daily operation, and the differences are worth planning for. The footprint on the drawing, 196 x 170 cm, has to be extended in practice by the space needed for a spotter at the head end and for plate handling at both ends of the bar, plus a plate tree within reach so loose discs do not end up on the floor. Free weight zones also need appropriate flooring: rubber protection under and around the station protects the slab and reduces noise transmission, which matters in hotels and mixed use buildings.

Maximum load is 200 kg, bar included, which covers the great majority of commercial users. The station is light at 75 kg net, so unlike the heavy selectorised machines it can be repositioned by staff and does not raise floor loading questions; the trade off is that the frame must sit on a flat surface and be checked for stability after any move.

Upkeep is mechanical and simple: verify the rack hooks and safety supports are undamaged and correctly seated, check the frame welds and fixings, confirm the bench pad is securely mounted and free of tears, and clean the upholstery with a neutral cleaner. Inspect more frequently than a machine, because a free weight station takes impact loads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the FBC08 suitable for an unsupervised room?

A free bar bench press is inherently a supervised movement. In an unsupervised hotel or residential fitness room it is safer to install a guided chest press such as the FH01, and reserve the olympic bench for staffed hours or for facilities with a coach on the floor.

What is the maximum load it accepts?

200 kg, which includes the bar. That figure covers commercial club use, sports team training and tactical populations; it is only limiting for competitive powerlifting.

What else do I need to order with it?

At minimum an olympic barbell, collars and a set of plates, and in practice a plate tree and rubber flooring for the zone. Light In Fitness can price the complete free weight area on one quotation rather than the bench alone.