Fifty-three years ago, John E. Wilson launched a business manufacturing fiberglass tooling for Bell Helicopter and General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin).
After 20 successful years, he discovered an opportunity to develop a new product to meet a niche market, after finding that operators were in need of an alternative source for replacement helicopter windows — and one that offered a quick turnaround in supply.
Pursuing his vision using his strong background in tooling, Wilson sat down and designed windows for helicopters that were flying at the time. His company, Tech-Tool Plastics, started manufacturing them in 1983 in their Fort Worth, Texas, facility and he never looked back.
“It was something he really wanted to do,” said Grady Aldarondo, senior sales representative for Tech-Tool. “He enjoyed working with the materials and he had a vision for what he wanted to do with helicopters. He found his niche in designing windows that other companies didn’t offer at the time — and to this day still don’t.”
Wilson passed away in 2014, but the company continues on with his reputation for excellence, quality, customer relations and service. Tech-Tool’s extensive tooling expertise produces windows that fit well, requiring little or no trimming, with an extended transparency life. The company’s quality meets and exceeds that of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and results in significant savings in installation time and labor to customers.
The product line encompasses a full line of replacement windows for Bell, Airbus, Schweizer, MD, and Robinson helicopters. Tech-Tool sticks to what it has known best for over three decades — providing replacement windows — allowing it to focus all of its efforts on creating the best product available.
But the company’s products are not all standard designs. From the start, Wilson was innovative.
“Early on, for example, the Eurocopter [AS350] had a one-piece windshield,” said Aldarondo. “Johnny felt that it would be easier if it was made and priced in two pieces. So that was one of the things he started out with.”
He also designed windows that were made for comfort and space enhancement in the cabin, appropriately calling them “Cabin Comfort Windows.”
These wedge style windows offer increased pilot and passenger shoulder and elbow room, while allowing for improved visibility and a custom appearance.
“Today, we are the only ones who manufacture that particular design,” said Aldarondo. “And they’ve been very popular throughout the years.”
Tech-Tool has developed other specialty windows not offered by other manufacturers, including custom photography and observation windows. Reverse, horizontal and vertical slide camera windows allow ready access for photography and observation applications.
“They are ideal for a variety of missions, ranging from airborne law enforcement and news gathering, to air medical services, and feature a large opening for easy maneuverability,” said Gala Dubois, VP of operations.
Among Wilson’s more recently-designed specialty products are reinforced windows for the Airbus Helicopters EC120 and 130 models.
“Johnny felt that if the windows were reinforced they would last longer,” explained Aldarondo. “So he went about designing and etching, and they are today our most popular window for those models.”
Dubois described the origin of another Tech-Tool innovation–a bubble window for the AS350.
“We had a customer from Alaska come to us because the window wasn’t deep enough,” she said. “The pilot sits quite [far] forward so they asked Johnny if he could design a window with a deeper bubble at the front so the pilot can get his helmet in when he is looking down during line work applications, for example. Johnny was able to come up with that.”
That’s customer service. “We pay a lot of attention not only to our product, which we are very proud of, but also to our customers,” said Aldarondo. “We really take the time to [get to] know them and their needs; walking them through a solution and showing them a product that might be better for their requirements.”
Tech-Tool’s reputation has not only been built on superior quality, but also on service that is beyond compare. It is not a licensed maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, but will put a client in contact with the nearest MRO shop when needed. Having dedicated staff with years of experience in their positions helps client satisfaction: Tech-Tool has 20 employees, and most have been with the company between seven and 23 years.
Going forward, Wilson’s inventiveness and vision will continue as new helicopters hit the market. It’s personified in his approach, as recalled by Aldarondo: “Look at the new helicopter — how can we make it better?”
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