Technicians are increasingly taking advantage of exoskeletons, a technological innovation revolutionising the way they work and helping to reduce fatigue. We study the examples of Actemium Germany and VINCI Energies Building Solutions.
At Actemium Germany, they call it “Spinning Day”. Organised annually by the Industrial Solutions Mitte-Ost (ISMO) division, this is a day for developing innovations to accelerate Actemium’s growth over the next five to ten years. In 2023 for example, one of the ideas taken further was an exoskeleton designed to reduce fatigue and prevent musculoskeletal problems for technicians, which underwent initial testing in the ISMO division in early 2024.
“To begin with, three exoskeletons were deployed,” says Gerald Taraba, Executive Vice President Actemium Industrial Solutions Mitte-Ost at VINCI Energies Germany. “Since then, we’ve signed a framework contract with German exoskeleton specialists EPAR-Service GmbH which includes a 12-month trial and training for the ISMO division. We now have some 10 sites with several installers testing the exoskeletons.”
€2,000 to €18,000 each
Exoskeleton technology has advanced considerably in recent years and now offers a wide variety of solutions to ensure the maximum benefit to workers. Actemium technicians are using three types of exoskeletons, mostly for installation work, with prices ranging from €2,000 to over €15,000 per unit.
The first of these, Thorax, is a passive model that supports the spinal column – the lumbar vertebrae in particular – and improves posture. It is especially useful for technicians who spend long periods standing or have to lift heavy loads. “The manufacturer makes these from carbon fibre; they weigh just 690 grams and are particularly popular with workers aged 50-plus,” says Gerald Taraba.
Exoskeleton technology has advanced considerably in recent years
Another model, Mate, has spring-loaded sleeves to support the arms when working overhead for example drilling or fixing tasks. The third model, Agadexo, designed by AGADE srl is an active exoskeleton using artificial intelligence to detect and help raise and lower heavy objects. “It can be programmed for different tasks and save personalised settings,” explains Gerald Taraba.
Fire Protection Solutions (VINCI Energies Building Solutions) has also been using exoskeletons in Germany since November 2023. “We use them in our order picking department in the central warehouse from which we supply our construction sites,” says Sven Hintze, Senior Workplace Safety Specialist at Fire Protection Solutions.
The employees in the central warehouse of this division, which specialise in fire protection, use the Apogee active exoskeletons from the German company Bionic to relieve the pressure on the upper body, or more precisely the pressure on the spine, and to make lifting and walking easier. These cost 18,000apiece. “We currently have two systems in use, which are used by four of our employees, and the feedback on the relief and physical well-being is positive,” says Sven Hintze.
06/16/2025
