Participants at an SVTL event at the Aarau warehouses had a good opportunity to learn about the possibilities offered in intralogistics by the use of so-called "exo" skeletons, based on an informative "live" demonstration.

“Don’t think you’ll suddenly become Superman or Arnold Schwarzenegger,” says MAPO Managing Director Marco Hubeli, who, along with two employees, was on hand in Schafisheim to help visitors try out the power “suits” on site. Warehouse technology provider MAPO now offers a whole range of different versions from various manufacturers, but one thing is clear: without careful training of the warehouse logistics staff and their interest in the product, it’s hardly worthwhile. On the other hand, even skeptics who initially had reservations about the somewhat unusual “rack” and the several minutes it took to put on and adjust the device had the opportunity to change their minds.

“The exoskeleton,” says Hubeli, “only ever supports a specific bodily function.” “Flying,” as comic book characters like Batman perform in fantasy novels, therefore seems to be out of the question. In fact, the manufacturers' versions function quite differently. Some use gas pressure or pre-tensioned springs to assist in lifting boxes, crates, or pre-packaged materials, while others work with electric motors controlled by the whirring sound of servos familiar from movies. “But these are still relatively rare,” Hubeli explains to the approximately 20 attendees at this intensive demonstration. So far, the active devices are primarily in demand by the military, i.e., in the defense industry and by manufacturers of combat suits. But the automotive industry is also reportedly using some of these power assist devices for repetitive movements and order picking processes – especially when lifting operations "overhead" are required, which can put considerable strain on the human spine and, over time, cause significant damage. Elastic versions belong to the more passive segment, but these can nevertheless provide considerable relief to the intervertebral discs.

A truly astonishing lightweight among the new developments that Hubeli brought to the Aarau warehouses was one that makes sitting easier for employees by replacing chairs that are usually just in the way. At the touch of a button, the "Chairless Chair"—weighing only 2 kg itself—locks in a squatting position at workstations where the user frequently has to move between them, but this position can be quickly adjusted. A heel rest provides surprising stability. "So that the work is done in the evening—and not you," reads one of the slogans.

A muscle-building device called the Mate-XT stands out due to its "arm" design, which is almost reminiscent of a bird's wings. Without the "flapping" motion we almost instinctively expected when putting on the suit, the artificial skeleton can be donned within a minute with a little practice, adjusted to eight different resistance levels, and subjected to loads of up to 50 kg. Another model from a different manufacturer provides valuable support to the upper body via a gas spring (140 bar).

An almost inconspicuous lifting aid called "Bionic Back", which weighs only 1.3 kg, supports the spine during frequent bending and lifting, and even has a "booster".

While all support structures do indeed take some getting used to and should be properly adjusted by a qualified professional, an "aha" moment often occurs relatively quickly, even after only a short trial period: The chance of causing further damage due to incorrect adjustment or existing disc sensitivity appears to be low.

MAPO Managing Director Marco Hubeli wouldn't mind a "hype" or rush on the Kraft constructions. However, he believes that monotonously repetitive movements in precisely defined sequences are sometimes better performed by robotic arms, such as an automated vacuum lifter, than by valuable human labor. In a discussion round, event attendees had the opportunity to debate what they had seen and tried out themselves. Organizer and SVTL Managing Director Georg Burkhardt also believes that the lifting aids have likely overcome their initial teething problems. 

At the Aarau warehouses, explains host CCO Eloy van der Sman, such exoskeletons are not yet in standard use, but are still being tested – for example, in co-packing. A tour of the warehouses of the family-owned company, founded in 1873 and now operating at four locations (Schafisheim, Hunzenschwil, Spreitenbach, and Buchs), followed. The Aarau warehouses, founded in 1873 and specializing in logistics, transport, co-packing, customs, and international freight forwarding, operate with 120,000 pallet spaces, 71 trucks, and 340 employees in the food and non-food sectors. From this location, 340 employees and 60 vehicles handle 2.45 million delivery kilometers, 170,000 shipments, and 160,000 customs clearances annually. Eloy van der Sman explains that the warehouses in Aarau, located at the strategically advantageous transport hub on the motorway, also offer themselves as a potential partner for cooperation with «Cargo sous Terrain» (CST). 

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