The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has joined an international initiative to accelerate the adoption of exoskeletons in construction.

The European project, Exskallerate, aims to turn the North Sea region into a leading adopter of exoskeletons.

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Exskallerate partners estimate that passive exoskeleton use
could alleviate 10-40% of muscle peak loads, with active systems promoting up
to 80% alleviation.

As part of the initiative, a webinar on 25 June will hear from Dr Michiel de Looze of Dutch reserach organisation TNO, who will explain how exoskeleton adoption could benefit companies and address their potential power to reduce workload.

Anton Duisterwinkel, coordinator of Exskallerate at InnovationQuarter at The Hague in the Netherlands, said: “People have to work for longer periods in our ageing society. We strive to help people in the manufacturing and building industries to do that in a healthy and happy way by accelerating the uptake of exoskeletons. Once established in these industries, we expect that other industries, such as logistics and agriculture, will follow rapidly.”

CSIC’s director of innovation and engagement Lucy Black said:
“Innovative wearable technology like exoskeleton devices have the potential to
transform the construction and manufacturing industries by improving safety and
efficiency, and reducing the long term costs associated with poor employee
health and sickness.  It can support workers to increase their quality of
life at work by decreasing the number of musculoskeletal injuries where heavy
physical work can lead to severe health issues, reducing costs for a company in
the long run.”