Since the dawn of the first industrial revolution, man and machine have worked together as one - but closer than ever since the fourth revolution took hold. This increased proximity is down to the rise in popularity of exoskeletons, which bring humans and technology right up close. These external frameworks fuse human intelligence with mechanical strength by supporting or augmenting the wearer’s movements and thus sustainably lowering the risk of work accidents and complaints caused by excess strain. They are used first and foremost in areas where human intervention is essential, such as industrial production processes, heavy-duty work on construction sites, logistics tasks and in the care sector. Current studies predict the demand for wearable robots will grow significantly over the next few years, with BIS Research forecasting a market volume of USD 4.65 billion for 2026.

With impressive figures like that, now seems like a good time to launch onto the market. And indeed, after six years in development at specialist robotics firm German Bionic Systems, the first exoskeleton to be developed and manufactured in Germany is entering series production. "After the successful completion of a comprehensive test program that we undertook last year with leading German industrial companies, the first series model from German Bionic Systems is now ready for delivery. Based on exceptional feedback and a full order book, scaling and technological development are now a top priority for us, underpinned by an aim to be the leading German provider of active exoskeletons for use in production applications," says Dr. Peter Heiligensetzer, CEO of German Bionic Systems.

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