Sharper, Safer, Smarter S The Story Behind BITEHARDER Products BY GLENN WELCH BITEHARDER PRESIDENT
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s snowmobilers we spend thousands of dollars on machines that can put out close to 200 HP, and can travel at speeds over 100 MPH. We ride these machines on some of the most challenging surfaces often times on the edge of misfortune, as we negotiate down winding tree lined trails. Throw in another snowmobiler coming at you (on your side of the trail), a downed tree branch, or any number of creatures that call the woods their home (deer, moose, you get the idea), and you get a real recipe for disaster. Or a near disaster that happened to me back in 2011. The story behind BITEHARDER Products really starts back in 1989 when my wife Michele and I purchased a small five-person machining company located in the heart of New Hampshire’s lakes region. At 27 years old,
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we had taken a giant leap of faith with hopes that my mechanical engineering background, and Michele’s purchasing background, would be enough to jump start our role as manufacturing entrepreneurs. Almost as exciting as our new venture was the purchase of a matching pair of 1979 Ski-Doo Olympique 340’s, both with only 400 miles on the clock. After all, we were now living in snow country. Twenty-two years later in 2011, Welch Manufacturing Technologies, Ltd. had grown into a 25-person manufacturing company that specialized in the fabrication of complex machined components and assemblies for the military, satellite, and commercial aerospace industries. With a growing company, a supportive wife, two incredible daughters, a
JANUARY • 2022 • MICHIGAN SNOWMOBILER + ORV
comfortable home, a new 2011 Yamaha Apex four stroke, and a winter with that was providing for some incredible trail conditions. Life was good. Living in New Hampshire offers great trail riding. With Vermont to our west, Maine to our east, and the province of Quebec to our north. Bring it on! In mid-February of 2011, with over 1000 miles already on the Apex, me and the boys were heading to the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec for a three-day ride. I was going to swap out my carbide runners for the trip, as the prior gas stops, road crossings, and detours had put some significant wear on them. Unfortunately, I made the decision to get a few more days out of my current runners. I have always had a love/hate relationship with the degrading perfor-
