Innovationen at Hannover Messe and LogiMAT
The Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons team participated in two international trade fairs this week: the Hannover Messe for industrial transformation (30.5.-2.6.) and the leading trade fair for intralogistics LogiMAT in Stuttgart (31.5.-2.6.), Germany.
“The direct exchange on site, personal product demonstrations, networking with people – all this shows that the ‘trade fair’ format is not dead, on the contrary,” says Dr. Sönke Rössing, CEO of the business unit. “Thousands of executives from all over the world took home our message: Empower your workforce with exoskeletons!”
Visitors of the trade shows were particularly enthusiastic about the new Ottobock Shoulder. Hundreds of people tested the exoskeleton for comfortable overhead work themselves, including many journalists. The German news channel n-tv reported in a live show from the Ottobock booth at the Hannover Messe about the innovation.
David Duwe, Vice President Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons Europe, explained on air how exoskeletons can help meet the current challenges of the industry. Our exoskeletons are also featured in the TV station’s final report on the Hannover Messe. For the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche, the Ottobock Shoulder is one of five new innovations that industry experts watch out for.
Another highlight at the booth was the visit of Bernd Althusmann, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour, Transport and Digitization in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. One of the topics discussed with the politician was how exoskeletons can contribute to maintaining health and productivity – as the backbone of the economy.
“A big thank you to the team, that went the extra mile this week, with great results,” says David Duwe. “Together we take our exoskeleton business to a new level. You rock!”
About a quarter (23.2%) of the days of incapacity to work in Germany are due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs, as of 2013). And this figure increases with age: among those over 55, they already account for more than 35%. MSDs thus cause considerable economic damage (loss of gross value added: approx. 20 billion euros, as of 2013). (cf. DGUV). There is a proven direct connection between overhead work and musculoskeletal disorders. The physical relief provided by exoskeletons can contribute to a reduction in work-related health hazards, downtime and accidents. Exoskeletons thus open up the possibility of making an important contribution to the preventive health maintenance of the workforce.
The textiles of the Ottobock Shoulder are removable, washable and reusable. The technology can be wiped with a damp cloth. It is possible to order a hygiene set for replacing the textiles.
We recommend personal assignment of the exoskeleton. This is the only way to ensure optimal effectiveness of the Ottobock Shoulder. Furthermore, for hygienic reasons, it should not be passed on to another user. However, if the Ottobock Shoulder changes users in the long term, it can be easily converted and hygienically reprocessed.
Ottobock Shoulder can be adapted to body heights from about 160 to 190 cm.
The Ottobock Shoulder can support the entire weight of the arms. It is also possible to take the weight off work equipment if necessary.
No, the Ottobock Shoulder relieves and supports the person. It improves ergonomics and can increase employee satisfaction, but it is not a performance-enhancing exoskeleton.
If there is a functional limitation or injury in the shoulder/upper arm area, which is particularly important in the workplace or leads to a limitation in the execution of work, Paexo Shoulder can, under certain conditions, support or improve the range of movement of the person. The way to get a prescription and thus to have the costs for Paexo Shoulder covered by the health insurance company can be as follows:
The effectiveness and suitability in the specific case should first be evaluated by the attending physician or within the scope of rehabilitation therapy (written recommendation/final report) and can then be confirmed by the attending professional association physician in the form of positive expert opinion. After contacting your responsible professional association, a second opinion by a specialist doctor/orthopedist will probably be required. If the second opinion is positive and a prescription has been issued, you can then contact us directly so that we can clarify the assumption of costs via the Berufsgenossenschaft contact person based on the Berufsgenossenschaft damage number and original prescription and then send the system to you.
All our products are designed to be used by both men and women. Especially the contact points of the products to the human body and in the biomechanical principle of action, they are designed in such a way that both men and women can wear our products and use them effectively.
After a period of familiarisation, putting on and taking off takes less than twenty seconds each.
The Ottobock Back is a passive exoskeleton, because the energy storage works without an external power source and therefore does not need to be charged.
