April 30, 2008 10:00 AM Eastern Time 

ConXtech™ Introduces New Long-Span Structural Steel Framing System for Commercial and Industrial Applications

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ConXtech™ Space Frame Systems announces the introduction of a new long-span steel framing system, ConXL™, for commercial and industrial applications. The system – which uses the same “lower and lock” principle of the company’s signature ConX™ space frame system primarily used for residential construction – includes larger structural steel members and offers spans or bay spacing of up to 65 feet. The ConXL system makes this unique architecturally flexible building system now available for commercial applications like parking structures, hospitals and data centers, as well as industrial installations such as pipeline, pipe rack and refinery structures for the oil and gas industry.

“This process vastly reduces the requirement for field welding and subsequent inspections in what can be challenging field environments.”

ConXL’s market debut coincides with an increased demand for office, healthcare and data center facilities in California. ConXtech founder Bob Simmons adds, “We saw a need to diversify our market mix to better handle cyclical downturns in residential building activity. Scaling up from ConX to ConXL has created new opportunities and opens several growing market segments to us.”

Similar to the ConX system, ConXL allows for faster construction and is safer than conventional steel framing because it is precision manufactured, robotically welded and inspected in a quality-controlled factory environment.

Raymond Kitasoe, ConXtech’s vice president of engineering, says, “This process vastly reduces the requirement for field welding and subsequent inspections in what can be challenging field environments.”

The ConXL special moment frame (SMF) joint is a bi-axial moment frame connection that can be mass produced. The entire frame consists of standardized components for cost and design efficiency, while providing flexibility for varying beam spans, weight and depths. Additionally, the ConXL SMF joint meets special detailing requirements for high seismic areas, OSHPD (California’s Office of Statewide Planning & Development) testing requirements and U.S. Department of Defense anti-terrorism standards.

The company’s ConX and ConXL structures are highly sustainable. Technologies the company developed have enabled vast gains in efficiency when compared to conventional steel fabrication. Structural steel itself is typically 65- to 95-percent recycled content, but because ConXtech’s connections are simply bolted together in the field, components can be disassembled and repurposed multiple times in new applications.

ConXtech provides collaborative design integration, detailing, manufacturing and assembly of four- to 12-story residential and two- to 20-story commercial structures, as well as an array of efficient steel structures for industrial applications.

About ConXtech Inc.

ConXtech Inc. is a privately held Delaware Corporation based in Hayward, Calif. ConXtech designs and manufactures revolutionary structural steel building components for the high-density residential, commercial residential, office, parking, hospital, educational and industrial structure markets. ConXtech’s systemized approach utilizes three innovative structural connections which are mass-customized to deliver a precise structural “chassis” to which other systemized building components can be added.

Utilizing technology, design tools (software), robotics and other state-of-the-art component manufacturing processes, these highly configurable components drastically streamline the design, fabrication and on-site construction processes and reduce time, labor and overall project costs when compared to conventional structures. ConXtech offers a significant systemic change to the building process enabling owners and developers to safely build faster, more cost effectively and with better quality.

For more information about ConXtech Inc. and its innovative products and processes, visit www.conxtech.com or contact Kelly Luttrell, vice president of business development, at (650) 400-1236.