The manufacturing industry has changed dramatically over the years. Equipment has evolved, processes have become digital, and machining technology has advanced far beyond what early shops could have imagined.

But here at KCSP Machine, one thing has remained consistent throughout our 80 years in business since opening in 1946: a commitment to producing high-quality work and exceptional results for our customers.

What started as a small screw machining operation has grown into a modern precision machine shop serving customers across a wide range of industries. But the road to where we are today wasn’t easy; along the way, we’ve weathered two major fires, learned and embraced new technology, supported our fair share of unique projects, and continuously adapted to meet changing demands within our industry.

The Early Years: The First and Second Generations of Kansas City Screw Products

KCSP Machine originally operated as Kansas City Screw Products, founded in 1946 by Frank Leighter. But the roots of the company stretch back even further.

During World War II, Frank Leighter operated screw machines that produced bullet cores for the war effort. When he attempted to enlist, military officials reviewed his occupation and strongly encouraged him to remain stateside. Skilled screw machine operators were considered too valuable to wartime manufacturing efforts to leave the home front!

That experience reinforced the pride in his work and eventually led Frank to found Kansas City Screw Products. His son, Gene Leighter, went into the machine shop business himself but eventually stepped in to help his father run Kansas City Screw Products when Frank was diagnosed with cancer. By the 1960s, Gene had taken over full-time leadership of the company.

Back then, the shop’s primary capability was screw machining services. Parts were quoted largely through experience and manual calculations, as cycle times weren’t analyzed the way they are today. Much of the business relied on deep machining knowledge developed over years on the shop floor.

The Third Generation: Learning the Business from the Ground Up

Steve Leighter, Gene’s son, joined the business straight out of high school and spent more than 54 years helping shape the company into what it is today. Like many third-generation manufacturing leaders, Steve learned every aspect of the operation firsthand.

He started by cleaning machines, washing parts, and transporting oil throughout the shop. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it exposed Steve to all areas of the floor. Once those responsibilities were handled, he earned opportunities to run drill presses, lathes, metal stamping equipment, and eventually automatic screw machines.

That hands-on progression gave Steve a deep understanding of machining processes and shop operations long before he stepped into a leadership role.

Taking over the business

When Gene passed away suddenly, Steve took over the company at just 33 years old. While stepping into leadership at a relatively young age was intimidating, Steve embraced the challenge and continued his family’s legacy, growing the company while maintaining the customer-first philosophy his predecessors had established decades earlier.

Rising from the Ashes

Over the years, KCSP Machine faced two devastating fires, one in 1978 and the other in 1995.

The 1995 incident was especially severe. Much of the facility was heavily damaged, and some machine castings became so overheated that they cracked apart under the intense temperatures. For nearly a year, the company operated out of the only surviving section of the building, shipping and receiving, while the rest of the building was rebuilt from the ground up.

Despite the destruction, our commitment to our customers never wavered. In fact, immediately following the fire, Steve crawled under safety barriers to retrieve finished customer parts that were urgently needed!

For many years, Kansas City Screw Products used a double-headed phoenix as its logo. The symbol represents our company’s ability to rebuild and move forward after both fires, stronger than ever.

Our Shop Has Seen It All

Over the past eight decades, KCSP Machine has manufactured an exciting variety of precision machined parts. Our shop has supported everything from wartime production to inventive one-off concepts brought in by entrepreneurs. Some of the more unusual requests included:

Components for a magician’s disappearing coin trick
Inserts designed to prevent cat declawing

While the products we’ve produced have changed, customer priorities have stayed consistent. Customers need parts produced accurately, efficiently, cost-effectively, and with top-notch quality. And KCSP Machine continues to adapt its capabilities to meet those needs.

Customer Service Comes First

Technology has evolved, but KCSP Machine’s approach to customer service has stayed the same. In his time leading the company, Steve Leighter often emphasized one guiding principle: take care of the customer, always.

That philosophy shaped countless decisions over the years, including one memorable delivery. After accidentally shipping the wrong parts to a customer, Steve came into the shop on Saturday, produced the correct order, and personally drove the replacement parts from Kansas City three hours into central Kansas early Monday morning to ensure the customer stayed on schedule. That customer relationship still exists today.

This is just one example of the mindset that continues to guide KCSP Machine 80 years after the company first opened its doors, and how we will continue to operate in the years to come.

KCSP Machine Looks Ahead While Honoring Our Legacy

Today, KCSP Machine combines decades of machining knowledge with modern technology and advanced precision machining services. From our roots in traditional screw machining to our investment in Swiss machining, the company has continued to evolve while remaining committed to craftsmanship and customer support.

If you’re looking to partner with a precision machine shop rooted in experience and dependability, don’t hesitate to request a quote to get started on your next project.

The History of KCSP Machine: 80 Years of Resilience and Commitment to Our Customers