Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.
The Hilti EXO-01 Overhead Exoskeleton is designed to reduce the stress of overhead work on the wearer’s arm, back, and shoulder muscles. The 4.4-pound system straps around user’s waist, shoulders, and arms to distribute the weight while providing lift support. The passive device does not require any external power source to operate, either, so it will work for as long as you wear it.
Hilti will offer the EXO-01 to its customers in one of two ways: a one-time fixed cost or a monthly fee. The fixed cost price is $1,599 which is on the lower end of some exoskeletons on the market, but more in-line with the lighter weight category it falls in.
For those interested in a maintenance free solution for their fleet, each EXO-01 will cost $60 per month with repairs included in the cost.
Hilti’s core clients are in the commercial construction industry and I expect this exoskeleton to be largely purchased by employers on larger construction projects, rather than individuals. The $1,600 price tag may sound expensive for a tradesperson, but can be viewed as PPE by the employer, with the potential to reduce long term muscle injuries, as well as fatigue.
Is this something you’d like your company to try? Let me know in the comments.
For more information and to see the EXO-01 in action, check out the video below:
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.