About us
History
Estech is a world leader in magnetic bracketing design and fabrication. Supported by multiple US Utility and Design Patents, Estech continuously evolves the capability of high strength magnetics in the wireless industry. We have internationally served the wireless market for over a decade with an expanding product line of tower solutions and custom design/fabrication offerings.
Company Founder, Eric Stechmann, combined his civil and environmental engineering degree with his passion for mechanical problem solving to create his first magnetic system in 2010. These systems were used to fasten cables and conduit to water tower structural steel, and with great success. As time progressed further, innovations have led to the Talon magnetic bracketing system that matches the curvature of the bracket to the underlying steel curvature. This ensures maximum magnetic contact with the steel. These Talon brackets are used as magnetic cable trays to hold cable and conduit and custom formed, per order, on a hydraulic press to match steel tangency. This method of attachment was effective, however, required measuring all of the tower steel in advance. To alleviate the “custom pressing” of the Talon series, Eric designed and prototyped the Talon-FLEX system which allows the distal magnetic pads on either side of the magnetic bracket to independently pivot to the steel curvature. This provided an instant tangency match without any measurements or installation tools. A new capability was created with the Talon-FLEX brackets because they can be stocked in bulk inventory at the customer’s location or installation truck and be available for immediate ad-hoc installation, when and where needed.
Estech had many inquiries to design and fabricate high strength antennae management structures which resulted in the creation of the sidewall, tripod and roof corral systems; all of which have been successful in strenuous environmental conditions.
As the scale of our magnetic systems increased, so was the need to greater control the installation, adjustment and mechanism of release. This challenge was solved with the new Hoverbolt system which uses a series of strategically placed bolts in proximity to the magnetic pads. These bolts are raised and lowered with a cordless driver to render the magnetic system in a raised “off position” and when ready for full placement, the bolts are unthreaded giving an easy method of lowering the magnetic system into full magnetic contact. Hoverbolts supplied with nylon tips mitigate marking the coated surface.
Estech provides several sizes of magnetic tripods, with the largest one called the “Tripod-MAX”. The HaloMAG magnetic roof corral systems, moved past the design and engineering stages in early 2022. These roof corrals are not only custom designed to fit each water tower, but engineered to meet the loading for each carrier. Estech’s HaloMAG system currently comes in two diameters; 25’ diameter and 35’ diameter , with the latter supporting the build of two carriers. The HaloMAG system is able to provide ample colocation real estate on every water tower, making welding a process of the past.
Estech strives to educate on the OSHA Code of Federal Regulations for unencumbering access ladders from prior cable and antennae installations. Many of these poor installations were made directly to the ladder structure or ladder stand-off tab which must maintain an effective 7 inch obstruction free clearance zone for the safe use of the ladder. Most of these existing obstructive installations can be retrofit with the use of the Estech Talon systems, alleviating OSHA violation hazards.
Many conduits installed onto ladders are simply the electrical supply for the aviation obstruction warning lights on the top of water towers. Having researched and discovered a new capability, Estech brought solar powered LED aviation lights to the water tower market, combining them with a FLEX magnetic base. This eliminates the need for electricity on the tower roof and renders the entire electrical conduit obsolete in the 15 minutes that it takes to install on of these magnetic base solar LED lights. This has allowed customers to save time and money by not having an electrician, who is also certified for climbing, to diagnose any sort of problem that arises with grid powered lights.
Primarily focused on telecommunication bracketing, Estech also excels at fastening methods for the wind turbine, petroleum, and electrical grid industries. A rich history of mechanical innovation and fabrication has positioned Estech to also offer custom design and production on request.
Estech is a Missouri-based company solely owned by husband and wife Kaylee and Eric Stechmann. Established in the spring of 2012, Eric already had more than a decade of experience in engineering in the water tower industry. Climbing almost 1000 towers, Eric was frustrated with being caught up and scratched by cables and conduits that were directly attached to the water tower access ladders. After some investigating, Eric discovered that these installations violated a number of federal OSHA occupational hazard laws, and also, no economic remedy existed. Eric designed a set of prototype magnetic brackets that proved to be shockingly capable of holding these fugitive installations in an instantaneously attachable remedy. OSHA sets a minimum of 7 inches of clearance for any obstructions away from an access ladder, and it must not be directly connected to the ladder or the ladder welded stand-off bracket. This prototype led to the creation of the original Talon cable fastening magnetic bracket and onward to the endless array of subsequent products. Since 2012 Estech magnetic products have deployed across countless tower sites in the US and internationally and endured rain, snow, multiple tornados, and hurricane winds.
Eric Stechmann
CEO, Founder, Engineer
Kaylee Stechmann
Vice President