A bridge to the future - IKEA loves SUITX by Ottobock
The future of warehousing has just begun: The global home furnishing titan IKEA enhances employee health and safety with innovative exoskeletons from SUITX by Ottobock.
At IKEA, every logistics employee lifts and carries up to 500 products each day. Tasks might include transferring boxes of furniture from high shelves onto pallets, laying out heavy rolls of carpet in the stores or loading containers with furniture packages right up to the roof. Strenuous work that can lead to back pain.
The introduction of SUITX by Ottobock’s exoskeletons is a strategic move to relieve employees worldwide, maintain their health, and motivate them in their daily work. More than 400 exoskeletons are used daily in 14 countries to literally take the weight off employees' backs and shoulders.
Enthusiasm at the sites
The employees have taken to the personal assistance systems very well. Hassan from a customer distribution center in Itingen, Switzerland, has been using the IX BACK exoskeleton for over 6 months now. He says: “It's super easy to use. It only takes me ten seconds to put it on and then it's as if someone is helping me with my work.” In Hannover, Germany, Stefan's story echoes this sentiment. He particularly appreciates the flexibility, “I can get on the forklift with it. I can move around the store normally with the exoskeleton.” Shqiprim started using the IX SHOULDER AIR exoskeleton 12 months ago to load containers. His testimonial speaks volumes, “since then, I've had no more shoulder pain, no more back pain. And when I get home in the evening, I pick up my children as if I hadn't been carrying anything at work all day.”
Scientific Validation: 56% relief for the back
This isn't just anecdotal magic. Prior to the global introduction of exoskeletons, IKEA carried out a feedback form and sensor-based pilot study: with the help of 42 employees in four units in Germany and Switzerland, around 30 movement situations were analyzed at real workstations at the beginning and end of a threemonth duration. The sensor measurements were carried out for the same tasks with and without exoskeletons and the results stand testament to the exoskeletons' efficacy.
With the support of an exoskeleton, the load on the lumbar spine dramatically drops by up to 80 kilograms for a work task, cutting the strain by as much as 56 percent. In addition to the measurements, the logistics employees involved answered questions about their experiences with the exoskeletons. The subjective feedback reflects the objective results; employees report marked improvements in post-work vitality.
A global movement:
Encouraged by the success of this initiative, IKEA is expanding the rollout of SUITX by Ottobock solutions globally, aiming to keep their employees fit and healthy.
IKEA has deployed 400+ exoskeletons across 14 countries, marking a major milestone in its commitment to creating a better everyday life – not only for customers, but for its co-workers too. IKEA is set to expand the program further, with India, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Japan, and China joining soon.
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