Third Generation Manufacturing Leader Combines Technology and Customer Service to Grow Her Business For Amanda Kummer, president of Abrasive West, a precision manufacturing and grinding company in Roselle, Illinois, finding her path in the industry began decades ago on her family’s shop floor. Amanda Kummer, president of Abrasive West, a precision manufacturing and grinding company in Roselle, Illinois, As a leader in modern manufacturing, Amanda leverages advanced technology featured at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show to expand her company’s capabilities and reach new customers across multiple industries. Growing Up on the Shop Floor Manufacturing has always been woven into Amanda’s life. She remembers running through her grandfather’s shop and learning to drive in the parking lot of her father’s manufacturing business. The smell of coolant and oil feels like home to her, and it is a familiar reminder of where she comes from and where she belongs. “By high school, I was no longer just observing; I was a part of the family business,” Amanda recalls. “I spent summers helping in the office and even ran a machine on the shop floor for one summer. It gave me a lasting respect for the people who bring consistency, precision, and pride to their work every day.” After leaving her Illinois hometown to attend Colorado State University, Amanda launched a successful career in retail management. The experience equipped her with valuable skills in sales, customer service, and people management, essential tools upon her return to manufacturing. Establishing a Precise Path Once she became a mother, Amanda began working remotely for her father’s company while caring for her young children. She managed the company’s Tungsten Carbide Needle Holder Inserts line, which produces precision components used in high-end surgical suites. She later established a new company focused exclusively on tungsten carbide needle holder inserts, Abrasive West. Precision part made by Abrasive West.For years, the niche market flourished, but in 2020, COVID dealt the company a devastating blow. Due to the global pandemic, orders for high-end equipment used for elective surgeries dried up as surgeries were cancelled, and hospitals focused on emergency care. “I had been looking to diversify for some time, but when COVID happened, we were chopped at the knees,” says Amanda. “In March 2020, our numbers were up more than 239% over the previous year. By the end of the year, we were down more than 50%,” Amanda recalls. Determined to reduce future vulnerability, she renewed her commitment to diversification. In 2022, Amanda expanded the team. In 2023, she moved the company into a larger facility and invested in a new ERP system as well as advanced manufacturing equipment. Today, Abrasive West supports customers in aerospace, dental, industrial engines, and gas turbine sectors, while still serving its long-standing medical clients. Finding Advanced Technology at IMTS To support this strategic growth, Amanda turned to United Grinding (IMTS booth #236802), a trusted provider of grinding and ultra-precision finishing solutions. Her father’s company had worked with United Grinding for many years, giving Amanda confidence in the people and the company’s expertise and reliability. Abrasive West’s Blohm machine has become essential to producing parts for aerospace clients. BLOHM's Profimat XT at Abrasive West.At IMTS 2022, Amanda explored the show floor and discovered what would become her newest machine: Blohm’s Profimat XT, a top-of-the-line creep-feed grinding machine that has a life expectancy of more than 20 years. Making Connections at IMTS Beyond world-class machinery, IMTS offers opportunities for industry learning and relationship building. “I love taking operators from the shop floor to IMTS because they have such a valuable perspective on how a machine might fit into our production,” Amanda says. “It also helps to take the mystery out of some of the advanced technology and show operators that these tools will make their jobs easier, but they will never replace them — they are the real artists of the industry.” United Grinding booth at IMTSLooking ahead to IMTS 2026, Amanda plans to continue exploring modern technologies to help her shop expand while connecting with the manufacturing community. “IMTS is incredible because it displays the enormous expanse of the manufacturing industry in one place,” Amanda notes. Looking to the Future Now serving a broader array of industries than ever before, Abrasive West is well-positioned for continued growth. Though the business sits just minutes from where Amanda’s grandfather and father launched their own shops, her vision is firmly focused on the future. By advancing capabilities, investing in people, and keeping customer service at the forefront, Amanda is building a resilient, modern manufacturing company for the next generation. Abrasive West’s success is rooted in precision, innovation, and a deep respect for the craft of manufacturing — qualities that continue to guide Amanda as she leads the company into its next chapter. Register now for IMTS 2026, September 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, and secure your place among the industry’s innovators.
By pairing advanced technology with a deep commitment to customer service, Amanda Kummer, president of Abrasive West, is expanding her company’s capabilities and serving a growing and diverse customer base.
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