Innovative exoskeleton relieves muscular stress

Due to the nature of their work, tradies are often subject to muscular stress as they are required to lift heavy items or keep their arms raised for a long period of time fixing wiring overhead, for example.

Understanding this, German medical technology company, Ottobock, has come up with a wearable solution to increase workers’ capacity to deal with manual overhead labour safely and effectively.

The company is announcing the launch of its innovative body suit, the Paexo Shoulder exoskeleton in Australia, 18 months after its release in Europe.

Ottobock spent six years developing the body suit with the help of Volkswagen.

According to Ottobock, the exoskeleton is now being used in 500 plants and factories worldwide.

The company has designed the exoskeleton to relieve muscular stress for workers who specifically spend long periods of time working with their arms raised. Think plasterers, painters, electricians, builders, assembly line workers and the like.

When workers wearing the Paexo Shoulder raise their arms, pads around the biceps transfer weight to the hips thanks to mechanical cable pull technology. This has been designed to provide relief to the muscles and joints in the shoulder region, Ottobock said.

One of Ottobock’s first customers is Thor Industries GmbH & Co. KG, which provides qualified staff for the household, building and supply technology sector. The German company employs about 1000 staff and has been named one of the top 100 employers amongst German SMEs.

One of Thor’s primary objectives has been to keep staff turnover as low as possible, in part by ensuring the highest levels of health and safety.

“Our employees were delighted by the way the exo immediately relieved strain on their muscles, for example during overhead welding or electrical installations under ceilings,” said Thor CEO, Kersten Thor.

“Exoskeletons also make jobs in industrial assembly more attractive. They can increase employee loyalty and help us recruit new employees.”

The suit requires no energy supply and can be put on quickly. Workers wear the Paexo Shoulder close to their body, similar to a backpack. It provides mechanical support for individual body segments in certain postures and movements through the interplay of springs or elastic bands.

Ottobock said this will reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the shoulder region over the long term.

Ottobock Sales & Business Development Manager for Australia, Lotte Koenig, said the Paexo Shoulder has great potential to increase productivity and support workers in a wide variety of industries in Australia in addition to the construction sector; such as manufacturing, ship building, automotive, agriculture, food processing and engineering.

According to Safe Work Australia, 60 per cent of all serious claims between 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 were related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affecting areas such as the joints, vertebrae, muscles and tendons. Some 76 per cent of injuries relate to MSDs.

“Paexo Shoulder is especially lightweight – in fact, it is the lightest exoskeleton of its kind, weighing in at less than 2kg,” Koenig said.

“As the design is based on natural human movements, users can walk, sit and also pick up objects with it. The suit can be worn comfortably for an entire shift, or parts of it, while providing noticeable relief for shoulders and arms during overhead work.

“It also comes in an adjustable one size fits all model, so there’s no need to buy different sizes. This means each company has full flexibility when the exoskeleton is needed in different departments.”

The Paexo Shoulder retails for $6900. Ottobock will also be launching a back support exoskeleton in 2020.