Adam Leenig
Adam Leenig is the Development Director at Gratz Pilates, where he oversees manufacturing, product development, process improvement, and the continued evolution of how Gratz apparatus is made. With a background in sculpture, furniture making, and high-end fabrication, Adam brings a hands-on understanding of materials, design, craftsmanship, and manufacturing to his role.
Adam's career began in the workshop. Trained in sculpture at Pratt Institute, he spent years designing and building furniture before moving into architectural fabrication, product development, and manufacturing leadership. That experience shaped the way he approaches his work today, with a strong interest in how design, materials, process, and craftsmanship come together.
What drew Adam to Gratz was the opportunity to work with products that still rely heavily on skilled craftsmanship. Woodworking, metal fabrication, upholstery, machining, finishing, and assembly all play a role in creating the finished apparatus.
He enjoys solving difficult manufacturing problems, developing new processes, improving how products are made, and finding ways to grow without losing the details that give Gratz its character.
Adam works across Gratz's manufacturing, engineering, and product development teams, helping connect design intent with the realities of making a product well.
His work includes improving manufacturing methods, supporting new product development, evaluating materials and equipment, improving quality, and helping expand Gratz's manufacturing capabilities as the company grows.
For Adam, the goal is not simply to make things more efficiently. It is to understand what matters about a product and make sure those qualities are preserved as the company evolves.
"I like making things, and Gratz is still a company where things are genuinely made. There are not many places where so many different materials, processes, and skilled trades come together. I enjoy figuring out how we improve and grow while still preserving the craftsmanship and details that make the product feel like Gratz."
"How much goes into making something that looks relatively simple when it is finished. A single piece of apparatus can involve woodworking, machining, welding, metal finishing, upholstery, springs, hardware, and a surprising amount of adjustment and detail. There is a lot of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship behind that simplicity."
"The Reformer. It is the most versatile apparatus we make, but it is also one of the most interesting from a manufacturing standpoint because so many materials, components, and details have to work together. I like that something mechanically complex can ultimately feel so simple to the person using it."