Mr. Robert J. Simmons

"We saw a need to diversify our market mix to better handle cyclical downturns in residential building activity," said ConXtech founder, Bob Simmons, in a statement from the company.

In fall 2000, Robert J. Simmons, a 30-year veteran of the structural concrete industry, developed a concept for constructing mid-rise residential structures using a steel moment space frame system.The system, called Simmons Moment Resisting Space Frame (SMRSF), is comprised of a proprietary bolted collar system for interconnecting columns and beams.From this concept, Simmons founded ConXtech, a company which completes all of its fabricating work in-house and then simply assembles column and beam components together on the construction site, bolting them into place.
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"Because of the large amount of welding required and the tight tolerances needed, our system would be economically unfeasible without the level of automation we've achieved in our shop," says Simmons.
...
According to ConXtech's Robert J. Simmons, these panels determined that the ConXtech SMRSF framing system qualified as an acceptable alternative to the special moment resisting space frame system and pre-qualified it for use in accordance with the 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions.

Another advantage to the ConXtech frame design is its architectural flexibility.According to Simmons, he knew he had to create something that was configurable to accommodate different designs within the architectural constraints."We couldn't have a system that always had to be 12 feet in height.We had to have a system that was infinitely variable, able to accommodate a variable number of floors and also floor-to-floor height changes," says Simmons.

"So it just came down to a joint.If we joined this whole thing together in a frame, we could have a framework that was able to do what we wanted to accomplish," notes Simmons.

Robotics Make the Difference
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"The quality of the Power Wave 455M arc is unmatchable, while the unit's Waveform Control capabilities ensure a consistent weld," explained Simmons.
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"The MC-6 has proven to be very clean and capable of high deposition and high quality welds with little or no rejection due to porosity or slag inclusion," noted Simmons."For flat and horizontal welds in a factory environment, I think the MC-6 is the most productive wire available.

ConXtech is using an argon blend shielding gas comprised of 84 percent argon and 16 percent CO2.The MC-6 wire is delivered in Lincoln Accu-Trak drum bulk packaging, which according to Simmons, works flawlessly in ConXtech's high volume application.

Other Welding at ConXtechFor now, columns and inner plates with the male dovetail are still MIG welded semi-automatically with Lincoln's DC- 655 power sources and LN-10 wire feeders, but Simmons hopes to move this operation into a fully automatic, robotic station in the near future.

For operational consistency, the MC-6 metal-cored wire is used throughout the semiautomatic welding stations as well."We are welding everything with a single type of wire to aid our quality control," notes Simmons.

Service and TrainingConXtech employees attended basic robotic training at Lincoln Electric headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.Lincoln personnel spent four days on-site during the installation and setup process to assist with the transition and assure that the ConXtech team was ready to ramp up productivity."Lincoln Regional Robotic Sales Manager Chuck Murray has been incredibly supportive and has helped us achieve the necessary technical expertise to be operational," notes Simmons.

FutureFor Simmons, ConXtech and the revolutionary bolted collar system is a dream come true.He hopes to expand the company worldwide as developers, builders and architects realize ways of integrating the steel moment space frame system into mid-rise residential building construction.

, Robert J. Simmons, ConX® System Inventor

Robert J. (Bob) SimmonsCEO, CTO, Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder

In addition to serving as the CEO, Mr. Simmons is the company's Chief Technology Officer responsible for ConXtech's product development strategy and R&D agenda.Self employed since the age of 17, Mr. Simmons has spent the last 30 years in the structural concrete industry, focused primarily on design-build parking structures, mixed-use and mid-to high-rise residential markets.His structural concrete company, RJS & Associates (RJS), has grown to employ over 400 full-time employees.Under Mr. Simmons' leadership, RJS has earned a stellar reputation in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as outlying areas working with most of the major national and regional developers operating in the Bay Area residential market.A successful serial entrepreneur, he conceived the ConXtech system in 2001, after working for nearly a decade to develop alternative structural solutions for the mid-rise market which RJS serves.In 2004, he led the spin out of ConXtech from RJS and Associates where he remains active as Chairman of the Board.
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Ms. Luttrell, who co-founded ConXtech with Mr. Simmons, manages the Company's business development, marketing, partnership and intellectual property activities.

"Integrity, efficiency, and exceeding client expectations are goals that influence everything we do," says ConXtech founder Robert J. (Bob) Simmons.For 20 years Simmons has dreamed of delivering an innovative and commercially viable alternative to traditional building methods to meet the needs for the urban infill and multi-family residential markets.Subsequent to development of the ConXR system for residential markets and industrial, he has recently developed ConXL, a long span system for commercial office, hospital, and parking.His unique ability to "think outside the box" toward mass customization has lead to three innovative steel connections as well as twenty five additional patent pending breakthroughs that make the system viable from a structural, fabrication and financial standpoint.

proven engineeringSimmons has worked with some of the brightest engineering minds to refine his original concepts and test our unique connectors.

Working with Fike's team, Kirk Welding Company's Andrew Latas (a local Lincoln distributor), and Lincoln sales representative Bob Simmons, Barton and McCall found themselves challenged to identify a solution that would drastically reduce or eliminate weld defects.

Working with Fike's team, Kirk Welding Company's Andrew Latas (a local Lincoln distributor), and Lincoln sales representative Bob Simmons, Barton and McCall found themselves challenged to identify a solution that would drastically reduce or eliminate weld defects.

In Fall 2000, Robert J. Simmons, a 30-year veteran of the structural concrete industry, developed a concept for constructing mid-rise residential structures using a steel moment space frame system.The system, called SMRSF, is comprised of a proprietary bolted collar system for interconnecting columns and beams.From this concept, Simmons founded ConXtech, a company which completes all of its fabricating work in-house and then simply assembles column and beam components together on the construction site, bolting them into place.
...
"Because of the large amount of welding required and the tight tolerances needed, our system would be economically unfeasible without the level of automation we've achieved in our shop," says Simmons.
...
According to ConXtech's Robert J. Simmons, these panels determined that the ConXtech SMRSF framing system qualified as an acceptable alternative to the special moment resisting space frame system and pre-qualified it for use in accordance with the 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions.

Another advantage to the ConXtech frame design is its architectural flexibility.According to Simmons, he knew he had to create something that was configurable to accommodate different designs within the architectural constraints."We couldn't have a system that always had to be 12 feet in height.We had to have a system that was infinitely variable, able to accommodate a variable number of floors and also floor-to-floor height changes," says Simmons.

"So it just came down to a joint.If we joined this whole thing together in a frame, we could have a framework that was able to do what we wanted to accomplish," notes Simmons.
...
"The quality of the Power Wave 455M arc is unmatchable, while the unit's Waveform Control capabilities ensure a consistent weld," explained Simmons.
...
"The MC-6 has proven to be very clean and capable of high deposition and high quality welds with little or no rejection due to porosity or slag inclusion," noted Simmons."For flat and horizontal welds in a factory environment, I think the MC-6 is the most productive wire available.

ConXtech is using an argon blend shielding gas comprised of 84 percent argon and 16 percent CO2.The MC-6 wire is delivered in Lincoln Accu-TrakÔ drum bulk packaging, which according to Simmons, works flawlessly in ConXtech's high volume application.

Other Welding at ConXtechFor now, columns and inner plates with the male dovetail are still MIG welded semi-automatically with Lincoln's DC-655 power sources and LN-10 wire feeders, but Simmons hopes to move this operation into a fully automatic, robotic station in the near future.

For operational consistency, the MC-6 metal-cored wire is used throughout the semi-automatic welding stations as well."We are welding everything with a single type of wire to aid our quality control," notes Simmons.
...
"Lincoln Regional Robotic Sales Manager Chuck Murray has been incredibly supportive and has helped us achieve the necessary technical expertise to be operational," notes Simmons.

FutureFor Simmons, ConXtech and the revolutionary bolted collar system is a dream come true.He hopes to expand the company worldwide as developers, builders and architects realize ways of integrating the steel moment space frame system into mid-rise residential building construction.

In Fall 2000, Robert J. Simmons, a 30-year veteran of the structural concrete industry, developed a concept for constructing mid-rise residential structures using a steel moment space frame system.The system, called SMRSF, is comprised of a proprietary bolted collar system for interconnecting columns and beams.From this concept, Simmons founded ConXtech, a company which completes all of its fabricating work in-house and then simply assembles column and beam components together on the construction site, bolting them into place.
...
"Because of the large amount of welding required and the tight tolerances needed, our system would be economically unfeasible without the level of automation we've achieved in our shop," says Simmons.
...
According to ConXtech's Robert J. Simmons, these panels determined that the ConXtech SMRSF framing system qualified as an acceptable alternative to the special moment resisting space frame system and pre-qualified it for use in accordance with the 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions.

Another advantage to the ConXtech frame design is its architectural flexibility.According to Simmons, he knew he had to create something that was configurable to accommodate different designs within the architectural constraints."We couldn't have a system that always had to be 12 feet in height.We had to have a system that was infinitely variable, able to accommodate a variable number of floors and also floor-to-floor height changes," says Simmons.

"So it just came down to a joint.If we joined this whole thing together in a frame, we could have a framework that was able to do what we wanted to accomplish," notes Simmons.
...
"The quality of the Power Wave 455M arc is unmatchable, while the unit's Waveform Control capabilities ensure a consistent weld," explained Simmons.
...
"The MC-6 has proven to be very clean and capable of high deposition and high quality welds with little or no rejection due to porosity or slag inclusion," noted Simmons."For flat and horizontal welds in a factory environment, I think the MC-6 is the most productive wire available.

ConXtech is using an argon blend shielding gas comprised of 84 percent argon and 16 percent CO2.The MC-6 wire is delivered in Lincoln Accu-TrakÔ drum bulk packaging, which according to Simmons, works flawlessly in ConXtech's high volume application.

Other Welding at ConXtechFor now, columns and inner plates with the male dovetail are still MIG welded semi-automatically with Lincoln's DC-655 power sources and LN-10 wire feeders, but Simmons hopes to move this operation into a fully automatic, robotic station in the near future.

For operational consistency, the MC-6 metal-cored wire is used throughout the semi-automatic welding stations as well."We are welding everything with a single type of wire to aid our quality control," notes Simmons.
...
"Lincoln Regional Robotic Sales Manager Chuck Murray has been incredibly supportive and has helped us achieve the necessary technical expertise to be operational," notes Simmons.

FutureFor Simmons, ConXtech and the revolutionary bolted collar system is a dream come true.He hopes to expand the company worldwide as developers, builders and architects realize ways of integrating the steel moment space frame system into mid-rise residential building construction.