Exoskeletons for maintenance & repair work

The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector faces the same challenges as manufacturing industries: an aging workforce and a lack of skilled workers. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are a major cause for lost workdays and one of the greatest burden for the global economy when measured by compensation costs, lost wages, and lost productivity. Maintenance workers are exposed to the highest risk rates of WMSDs.

Our portfolio of exoskeletons offers various innovative devices to face this challenge in the shipbuilding, rail & rolling stock as well as aviation industry. Ottobock develops state-of-the-art wearable technology that helps people protect their health over the long term as they carry out their demanding everyday working routines. 

Shoulder exoskeletons for overhead and above-shoulder work

The focus in this sector is on the Shoulder exoskeletons, an exoskeleton for overhead work and work on or above-shoulder height. The personal assistive system, which is worn on the body, supports employees globally during maintenance, repair and even overhaul work and when carrying out demanding activities such as overhead and welding work. In addition, the Paexo Neck can provide relief to the cervical spine during overhead work, e.g. installations or inspections. It can be worn in combination with the both Shoulder systems. Using exoskeletons reduces physical strain and protects the musculoskeletal system.  This is also confirmed in several studies and analyses.

Have a look at the different applications below and ask us about your specific use case!

Use cases for shipyards and shipbuilding
Use cases for the transport industry
Use cases for MRO in aviation
Use cases for exoskeletons in other industries

Exoskeletons for shipyards and shipbuilding

• Welding of metal frame/ ship compartments 
• Interior work: Mechanical and electrical on ceilings
  

Exoskeletons for the transport industry:
rail, rolling stock, trams & busses

Our Shoulder exoskeletons supports employees globally in all kinds of transport-related industries, such as rail, rolling stock, busses, metros and trams. It is used by employees during maintenance intervals and repair work, such as:

• Underbody work, e.g. bogie overhaul, engine repairs or paint work
• Breaks exchange   
• Mechanical installations & Mounting: e.g. underbody/ underframe, pipes, traction looming, structural assembly  
• Electrical installations: either within the cars, at doors or ceiling level and underneath the covers

• Maintenance/ change of doors or air flow systems 
• Paint shop (sanding/ pretreating the surface, painting) 
• Welding of metallic framework + grinding of welding structures 
• Foil application inside waggons, ceiling, walls and stairs

Exoskeletons for MRO in aviation (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul)

Our exoskeleton can support in every stage of light and heavy maintenance and has been used during various A, B, C and D-Checks. Some example for use cases in the aviation MRO industry within the different stages are:

Use cases for exoskeletons in other industries