Exoskeleton for the trade
Whether wiring overhead or lifting heavy materials - physically demanding tasks are part of everyday life in the skilled trades. Long-term strain on muscles and joints not only has an impact on employees' health, but also on productivity and operating costs.
Exoskeletons offer a flexible and effective solution here: they specifically reduce physical strain, improve ergonomic conditions and increase the attractiveness of the workplace - a clear advantage in the competition for skilled workers and to ensure long-term performance.
BRIEFLY EXPLAINED
What are exoskeletons? Body-compatible support for manual work.
Exoskeletons are wearable aids that reduce physical strain during manual activities - for example when lifting and carrying heavy materials or working overhead. Active models react to movements and support specific muscle groups while allowing freedom of movement. They improve ergonomics and relieve pressure on specific areas of the body. For more relief and sustainable health prevention in everyday working life.
BENEFITS
Exoskeletons in the skilled trades: more strength, less strain for physically demanding activities
It is almost impossible to automate physically demanding tasks in the skilled trades - unlike in industry. In the construction industry in particular, heavy lifting, carrying and working in awkward postures are part of everyday life. Whether lifting and carrying sacks of cement and buckets of paint or working overhead, these strains have a direct impact on employees' health.
Challenge: Physical overload in the skilled trades
Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common causes of sickness-related absences. In the construction industry, these complaints account for around 24% of days of incapacity to work - the highest figure in the industry.1 Companies have a responsibility to take preventative action in order to ensure the long-term performance of their workforce.
1Source: Absenteeism Report 2024 Badura/Ducki/Baumgardt/Meyer/Schröder (ed.) Focus: Retention and health - attracting and retaining skilled workers.Springer-Verlag Berlin2024
Skills shortage exacerbates the situation
At the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit new skilled workers. Many training positions remain unfilled. The existing workforce is getting older and not every job is feasible for all employees in the long term. This increases the pressure on companies to design workplaces ergonomically and to relieve employees in a targeted manner.
Exoskeletons: mobile, individual, economically viable
In the skilled trades, physically demanding tasks - such as overhead work, bending down or lifting heavy loads - are combined with activities that require precision and concentration. Exoskeletons offer a flexible solution here: they provide targeted relief for muscles and joints, can be individually adapted and provide support where conventional aids reach their limits.
Blog
Enthusiastic about the relief
Read the field report to find out how the S700 shoulder exoskeleton relieves the strain on Rene Cybala, a maintenance technician for sanitary, heating and air-conditioning technology.
Back at work: How the exoskeleton relieves Rene Cybala from overhead work.
Read the field report and find out how the shoulder exoskeleton makes work easier for maintenance technicians.
Active exoskeleton
Discover our products
Active shoulder exoskeleton S700
Easier working overhead and at chest height: with the S700 active shoulder exoskeleton
- More power, less load.
- Up to 15 kg active power assistance
- Relieves the neck and shoulder muscles
- Facilitates activities at chest height and overhead
- For more power at work!
Active back exoskeleton B900
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Active back exoskeleton B900: The right tool for noticeable back relief
- For logistics, production and trade
- 30 kg active support
- Maximum freedom of movement
- Ready for use in seconds, adapts to you
- Take the strain off your back, strengthen your workforce
Flexible and effective:
Exoskeletons in the skilled trades: ergonomics that pay off
Is it difficult to recruit new employees? Are employees complaining about physical complaints? Is your workforce getting older? Then it's time to make targeted improvements to working conditions. Exoskeletons offer a flexible, economically viable solution: they reduce physical strain and increase the attractiveness of the workplace.
Advantages of exoskeletons from exoIQ
The power support can be flexibly adapted to different activities and users. For maximum relief with minimum effort.
Our exoskeletons maintain optimal, natural movement sequences and do not restrict movement.
Thanks to tool-free size adjustment, the systems can be put on and taken off in seconds. Ideal for flexible use in everyday working life.
The app supports ergonomic workplace analysis and visualizes the relief provided by the exoskeleton - for well-founded decisions and transparent results.
references
A look into practice: what others say about our exoskeletons
"As deputy production manager and welding supervisor, I am confronted with physically demanding work processes on a daily basis. The exoskeleton from exoIQ has proven to be a very effective aid in our company, especially for longer periods of overhead work.
When welding, grinding, and adjusting our stairs, as well as when working at shoulder height, it provides noticeable relief for the shoulder and arm muscles and contributes to more ergonomic working conditions in production.
Vadzid Redzepi (METALLART Treppen GmbH)
Deputy Production Manager and Welding Supervisor
"When the exoskeleton is adjusted correctly, it's really comfortable—like a good hiking backpack. I was surprised at how comfortable and intuitive the S700 is to wear."
Fiete (Wildwuchs Brewery)
Founder of the Wildwuchs brewery
"If you have a job where you have to do a lot of difficult repetitions, it helps a lot."
Franziska Meis (Mrs. Meis)
Founder of Frau Meis GmbH
"An exoskeleton is not a miracle cure. But when used sensibly, it ensures the performance of employees—regardless of their age group—and prevents work-related sick leave."
Tobias Baumer (KRONES AG)
Production Engineering
"The S700 takes the strain off my shoulders and makes my work much easier"
Rene Cybala
Maintenance fitter for sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology
"It has helped a lot, especially with static overhead work. You can certainly hold out much longer and there is less strain on your shoulders. After a while, the exoskeleton becomes part of you and it supports your movements well."
Martin Androwitsch
iSi GmbH, Trade fair summary
"A really cool thing! Could really make everyday work easier for us in production. You really notice the difference. It's definitely a relief and ergonomically very valuable."
Franziska Lehmon
Hager Group, trade fair summary
"Could lead to a huge simplification for us. It works with me. I also really like the design and user-friendliness."
Ahmat Coskun
Hager Electro GmbH, Trade fair summary
"The S700 was like putting on a hiking rucksack. It was super easy to put on and adjust correctly. Handling was also a piece of cake."
Benedikt Schmaus
Student of materials science, trade fair summary
"The S700 adapts very well to the body and is very easy to adjust."
Christian Scharpf
Process engineer in the mechanical engineering sector, trade fair summary
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"The active shoulder exoskeleton was eye-opening for me: this is the future! I am pleased that we are well on the way to offering more support to physically active people."
Carsten Thieme
Physiotherapist at the m&i specialist clinic Bad Liebenstein
Contact
Get in touch today and make work easier
- Making it easier to work overhead and at chest height
- Maintaining employee performance
- Our experts will advise you personally
- On-site demonstration: test the exoskeleton directly in your company now
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FAQS
Frequently asked questions and answers
The user. The exoskeleton supports the user's movements. The user must carry out the movement himself. The force of the exoskeleton is always less than the muscle strength of the user. This means that the user always retains control.
Intelligent control and adjustable actuators weigh more than passive systems. As with a load backpack, this additional weight is transferred to the hip belt and supported by the strong leg muscles. In contrast to passive, mechanical aids, the S700 not only stores energy, but also provides the user with additional strength in the arms.
The exoIQ exoskeleton has been proven to reduce the muscle activity required when working at and above head height. This significantly relieves the shoulder and neck muscles and prevents discomfort, especially during long periods of work.
Our musculature needs a healthy level of load. The supportive force of the exoskeleton can be directed in such a way that it preserves positive training effects for the musculature while minimising negative effects on the joint apparatus.
No, on the contrary. Since the exoskeleton only removes the permanent overload, the muscles remain actively used and trained.
The exoskeleton can be used with most commercially available, hand-held tools such as drills, grinders or suction cups. As its support force interferes with the movement sequence, it is not recommended for use with safety-critical operations such as open electrical cables or cutting blades.
The advanced joint chain and flexible back suspension allow maximum freedom of movement with controlled support. This also applies to secondary activities such as tying shoes or reaching into trouser pockets.
On the contrary, short-term effects have already been proven to be positive and this is also expected for long-term studies. However, such studies are not yet available for this modern technology. In any case, the exoskeleton must be ergonomically correctly adapted for the user in order to unfold its positive effect.
Potentially yes. Overstrained shoulder and neck muscles can affect the back - also because unergonomic compensatory movements often occur. These strain the lower back in particular. This negative interaction can be avoided with the exoskeleton.
If one of our products does not work as expected, please contact our customer service: service@exoiq.com. We will respond to email inquiries within two working days.
Do you have any questions?
Our team is always at your disposal. Feel free to contact us - we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Areas of application
Discover other areas of application
exoIQ offers innovative exoskeletons that noticeably reduce physical strain in the workplace. With ExoIQ, you are investing in ergonomic workstations and the satisfaction of your team.
Automotive industry
Ergonomics meets efficiency: In automotive production, physically demanding activities such as overhead work are part of the daily routine.
Craft
Laying cables overhead, lifting heavy materials, working precisely under load - the trade requires full physical exertion.
Production
Relief that works: In manufacturing, physically demanding tasks such as overhead work or constant upper body positioning are not uncommon.
Logistics
Rethinking ergonomics: exoskeletons from exoIQ make physically demanding tasks in logistics noticeably easier.
Industry
Work ergonomically, stay productive: In industries such as mechanical and plant engineering, physically demanding tasks are part of everyday life.