On a low-slung industrial block in West Philadelphia, a factory with more than 80 years of history is still quietly turning out the Pilates gear that defines the classical method. Inside the Gratz Pilates workshop, woodworkers, welders and upholsterers handcraft reformers, Cadillacs, wall units and barrels to tight specs that have barely budged in decades. Now the company is preparing for a move to a much larger Port Richmond headquarters, a shift leaders say will dramatically ramp up production, grow local hiring and keep this niche corner of small-batch manufacturing rooted in the city as boutique fitness keeps booming worldwide.
Inside the shop: slow, precise craftsmanship
“Everything’s made by hand here in the shop in Philadelphia,” Adam Leenig, Gratz’s director of manufacturing, told 6ABC. Each reformer takes roughly 50 hours to build and involves about eight craftspeople, he said, moving through a meticulous workflow of hand-sanding, metal work, upholstery and final assembly. Before any machine leaves the floor, staff test it on site, part of the quality…..