Company profile

Description: World’s largest manufacturer of pleasure and fishing boats, marine engines, fitness equipment and billiards and bowling equipment.

Headquarters: Lake Forest, Ill.

Employees: 25,000.

2004 Sales: $5.23 billion.

Boat and marine brands: Baja, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Palmetto, Princecraft, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine and Trophy boats; Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Attwood and Land ‘N’ Sea marine parts and accessories; MotoTron electronic controls; Northstar marine electronics; Navman GPS-based products; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; IDS dealer management systems.

Other products: Brunswick bowling centers (127 worldwide), equipment, consumer products and billiards tables; Life Fitness, ParaBody and Hammer Strength fitness equipment; Valley-Dynamo pool, Air Hockey and foosball tables.

History: Founded in 1845 in Cincinnati by Swiss immigrant woodworker John Brunswick, who built one of America’s first billiards tables. Expanded into bowling at the end of the 19th century and got into the marine industry in 1960.