West Philadelphia factory continues 80‑year legacy as original maker of Pilates equipment

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Long before boutique fitness studios surged in popularity, Gratz Pilates was already shaping the industry.

The West Philadelphia factory has spent decades handcrafting the original Pilates apparatus, a process that remains central to high-end fitness around the world.

Gratz Pilates is the original maker of the equipment designed by Joseph Pilates, and its factory floor is where each piece begins.

"We make all of the classical Pilates equipment that Joseph Ortiz designed 60 years ago," said Adam Leenig, director of manufacturing.

While the reformer often gets the spotlight, the company also produces the Cadillac, Wall Unit, and barrels, all essential to classical Pilates.

Leenig said each reformer takes about 50 hours to build and involves roughly eight people, including metal workers, upholsterers, and woodworkers.

"This is how we prepare everything. We sand everything to a very fine grit," he said, describing the early stages of production before the equipment moves to the metal shop. "Everything's made by hand here in the shop in Philadelphia."

Once assembled, each machine is tested before leaving the facility.

"These are the best sellers. This is what we're most known for here," Leenig said. "We make sure everything slides, pulls down, rolls, you know, doesn't make any kind of noise that's not supposed to make. Everything is checked here by our team."

Gratz Industries began in 1929 as a custom metal and furniture workshop in New York City.

Its connection to Pilates began in the 1960s, when a protégé of Joseph Pilates asked the company to build equipment based on his original designs.

Until then, Pilates exercises were performed only at Pilates' New York studio. Gratz's work helped expand the method beyond that space.

The company moved to Philadelphia 12 years ago, settling into a 27,000 square foot facility in West Philadelphia, where it manufactures equipment and operates its upholstery department.

Today, 88 employees produce thousands of machines each year. Demand typically increases around the holidays, but global interest in boutique fitness also drives production.

Gratz now serves studios in more than 170 countries.

"Korea is one of our biggest customers. We're shipping to Israel on the regular, all over Europe. Australia just recently," Leenig said. "Everyone's super proud to be a part of making something with their hands and making something that people use."

The company is preparing for a major expansion, with plans to move into a 150,000 square foot headquarters in Port Richmond.

"We're designing an event space where we can have seminars. We have a large manufacturing facility where we'll have double or triple our output, and we're hoping to hire more people from around the Port Richmond area," Leenig said. "We're making a big investment in Philly."

The new space will serve as Gratz's headquarters as the company continues its legacy of hand-built Pilates equipment made in Pennsylvania.