THE
MTE STORY
Magna-Tech electronic company has its
origins in the early stages of development of Analog Magnetic Recording for
the Post-Production of Motion Pictures.
Many of the staff and original ownership of the
company came of the "Reeves" Corporation of New York City in the Early 1950's.
One of the engineers was Otto Kopelka. Otto was a genius when it came to mechanics. He
founded Magna-Tech in a small loft in Manhattan, and built the company on a reputation for
quick delivery of a quality product made in accordance with client's exact requirements.
They remained a small company with basically a New York Client base until the late 1960's.
Norman Prismant was employed by
MTE. When Otto
decided to retire he put together a purchase agreement for the purchase of the company in
the early 1970's. Norman was an astute marketing and businessmen. He propelled the company
into a worldwide position. RCA and Westrex had been the dominant force in the manufacture
of Post Production equipment. These companies began to lose interest in this field, and
finally both withdrew from it.
Magna-Tech embarked on an aggressive program of
research and development of new products for the Film Post Production Industry. They
developed the world's first successful combination 16/35mm all electronic projection
system for post production along with a looping system and Bi-Polar interlocking
technique. All this led to a very large market share, and finally recognition by the
Industry, that MTE was the leader in this segment of the business. MTE received an Academy
Award for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture arts and Sciences and,
on several occasions, has received certificates and technical awards from the Academy.
The client base expanded and included every major
Hollywood studio along with the usual New York based accounts. Magna-Tech then began to
market overseas and expanded its market penetration into Western Europe, Canada,
Australia, the Far East and finally today into the Middle East and the new emerging
countries in Eastern Europe.
The company was sold in 1986 and continued
successfully for several years under the supervision of a well-seasoned and loyal staff.
Then in the early 90's, Hollywood went through a contraction in production of features.
This resulted in a fall in demand for MTE Products made for domestic consumption. The
sales volume started to fall.
In the late 1980's Hollywood production resumed
full force. However new technologies were on the horizon. Digital Sound techniques were
being developed. The demand for traditional analog products now finds itself focused in
the Middle East, the Far East, archive work and with special venue requirements. MTE still
continues to support the major Hollywood studios with major equipment purchases, parts
support, service, design, and installations.
MTE was acquired in 1994 and moved to new
headquarters in Miami Florida. It continues to grow and expand. As MTE enters the new
millenium it has broadened its marketing to include total design installation, supply and
support for new studios. A full line of Projection Systems, Digital and Analog Recorder,
Reproducers, and support, Sound Systems and Consulting are included in a program which
will insure MTE's future well into the next century.
Yours very truly,
Steven H. Krams, President & Chairman
