Dynabrade founder Walter Welsch dead at 96
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Walter N. Welsch, founder of power tool manufacturer, Dynabrade, Inc.

CLARENCE, N.Y. -- Walter N. Welsch, founder of power tool manufacturer, Dynabrade, Inc., died May 16, 2020. He was 96. 

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In 1951, he joined the Minnesota abrasive manufacturer 3M where he was a sales representative based in Tonawanda, New York. While calling on jukebox manufacturer Wurlitzer, he developed an idea for replacing tedious hand filing with a power-actuated abrasive belt filing machine, the now well-known Dynafile, an industry leading material removal tool.

He founded Dynabrade in 1969, and led the company from its North Tonawanda on Payne Avenue to its current 150,000 square-foot global headquarters in Clarence, New York. Dynabrade employs nearly 300 people worldwide and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.

“Wally leaves behind a great company, but even more so, a legacy of optimism, ethical behavior and true American entrepreneurial spirit that will serve as his greatest accomplishments,” company president and CEO Hardy Hamann said in a statement. “For all his achievements, as an inventor, entrepreneur and business leader, we will remember Wally most for his strong and caring personality, his great sense of humor and his passionate support for his family and all of our employees.  He will be missed and warmly remembered by his family and Dynabrade employees all around the world.”

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Karl Forth

Karl D. Forth is online editor for CCI Media. He also writes news and feature stories in FDMC Magazine, in addition to newsletters and custom publishing projects. He is also involved in event organization, and compiles the annual FDM 300 list of industry leaders. He can be reached at [email protected].