Lightweight exoskeletons win BouwBelang MKB Trophy 2023

BouwBeurs
BouwBeurs
February 09, 2023
3 min

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On Feb. 7 at the BouwBeurs, the Swiss company Auxivo received the BouwBelang MKB Trofee 2023 from Riek Siertsema, president of the Aannemersfederatie Nederland Bouw en Infra. Auxivo wins the innovation award for SME construction with two innovations: the Liftsuit and the Carrysuit. The Liftsuit is a mechanical exoskeleton that supports lower back and knees when lifting materials and bending the back. The Carrysuit helps users carry materials.

Jury chairman Arie Grevers, editor-in-chief of BouwBelang, the relationship magazine of the Contractors' Federation Netherlands Construction and Infra: "The application possibilities of both exoskeletons are construction-wide and offer opportunities for better working conditions on the construction site."

Less strain on the body thanks to a lightweight supportive exoskeleton, that's the idea behind the Liftsuit and the Carrysuit. Both exoskeletons were developed by students at the ETH in Zurich. The Liftsuit consists of robust and durable textiles that are also used in mountaineering. Elastic straps in the exoskeleton help with lifting by storing and releasing motion energy. The Carrysuit features an aluminum harness, tailored to relieve strain on the body when carrying heavy objects.

Auxivo is widely introducing the Liftsuit and the Carrysuit to the Dutch construction industry at the fair. The Liftsuit has already been used in several European countries since 2019. The Carrysuit is a new product.

The jury of the BouwBelang MKB Trofee praised the simplicity and wide applicability of both innovations. Jury chairman Arie Grevers: "These products contribute in their own way to the sustainability of construction. The exoskeletons help builders who have to do physically demanding work every day and thus contribute to a healthier working environment - with possibly less sick leave and lower health and safety costs in their wake."
The jury additionally praised the accessibility of both products. Grevers: "The pricing makes these innovations accessible to the entire SME construction industry."

Honorable mentions as part of the BouwBelang MKB Trophy went to the Raimondi Levmatic, a battery-powered electric levelling pliers for the tile industry, and the manmade fiber fall protection from Hütter Safety and Keepr.

The BouwBelang MKB Trophy

The BouwBelang MKB Trofee is a press award and was established in 2011 as an award for an innovation that benefits SMEs. The prize is awarded biannually at the international BouwBeurs in Utrecht. The jury consists of professional journalists. The innovation must be practical and immediately applicable on the building site, the construction site, in the office or in the company bus. Furthermore, it must not require a high investment or long learning curve.

BouwBelang is the relationship magazine of the Aannemersfederatie Nederland Bouw en Infra (AFNL), the umbrella for construction industry organizations in the SME segment. The production of the magazine is in the hands of NHU Mediagroep.

Photo:
The two people from Auxivo, Fabio Gobbo (l) and Joël Bonsafo Bawua, flanked by AFNL president Riek Siertsema and Arie Grevers, editor-in-chief of BouwBelang and chairman of the jury.[/column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2″][button button="url:https%3A%2F%2Fbouwbelang.com%2F|title:Website|target:%20_blank|"][button button="url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fbouwbelang%2F|title:LinkedIn|target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_column][vc_column][google_ad][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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