Exoskeleton in action: How to revolutionize the work in Reutte!

Exoskeleton in action: How to revolutionize the work in Reutte!

Reutte, Österreich - On June 5, 2025, the event “University of Goes Reutte” was held in the ballroom of the Reutte Chamber of Commerce. Here the researchers Lennart Ralfs and Oliver Ott from the Institute of Mechatronics convinced with their knowledge of reducing physical stress in the industrial context. Their focus was on physical assistance systems, especially exoskelets, which are increasingly in demand in industry to support employees in physically exhausting work. According to uibs.ac.at, the results show that specific technical solutions are necessary for each area of ​​application.

The demand for exoskelettes is growing steadily, especially in industries such as the metal, electrical and pharmaceutical industry, where employees are often exposed to monotonous movements, forced stops and intensive lifting activities. These conditions lead to high absenteeism and muscle skeleton diseases (MSE), which now cause over 25 % of the disease-related absenteeism in many industrialized countries. If one believes fraunhofer.de, undeveloped working conditions are the main cause of these health problems.

The versatility of the exoskeleton

exoskeletons are external support structures that mechanically support the body and contribute to relief through improved posture. There are two main types: passive exoskeletons that do without electrical energy, and active exoskeletons that use sensors and engines to support the movement in real time. As the kraiburg-blog reports, the advantages for companies are obvious: healthier employees and increased efficiency help to save long-term costs.

By integrating exoskelets into the workflow, physical complaints can be specifically reduced. They offer ergonomic support, especially for overhead work and the lifting of heavy loads. This is particularly important because a quarter of all employees in Germany suffer from such problems. Studies have shown that the implementation of these systems not only minimizes the risk of injury, but can also significantly reduce the costs of working failures.

practical application and training

The participants of the event was not only conveyed theoretical knowledge; They could also try out different exoskeletons and assistance solutions themselves. Aspects such as wearing comfort and integration into existing workflows were discussed. The corresponding solutions aim to improve ergonomics at work and at the same time support older employees. According to uibs.ac.at requires the successful implementation of these technologies, a comprehensive training, adaptation of the organizational processes.