Wearable back-assist technology to reduce back injury
Back injuries and workplace musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the largest health problems faced by the workforce globally. HeroWear exosuits help mitigate these risks by providing effective back support, reducing muscle fatigue, and improving lifting posture. HeroWear exosuits are designed to reduce back muscle strain and fatigue, spinal compression forces, and overall discomfort. The exosuits are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use, making them practical for various industries. Many industries/jobs can't be redesigned or reconfigured and with an ageing workforce, these workers are vulnerable to back injury.
Industries susceptible to back injury include: • Warehousing and Logistics • Construction and Manufacturing • Health Care • Agriculture and Food Production • Mining and Energy • Defence
HeroWear works by using elastic bands that act like an extra set of back muscles. Elastic bands stretch as your muscles extend during movements, then recoil as your muscles contract, returning energy and assisting with every bending motion. The bands comfortably move with the user and reduce forces on the spinal muscles and discs each time the wearer bends forward or squats down - all with no motors or batteries. Herowear reduces muscle fatigue and strain by 40% and takes off up to 40% of back strain with every lift. Herowear is comfortable, lightweight and simple to use making it usable and practical for multiple industries. Herowear is the most heavily researched and independently validated exosuit in the world. Over 30 academic research studies and hundreds of industry field studies corroborate the effectiveness, user acceptance, and safety benefits of the back-assist device.
Industries that benefit from this solution
Logistics
Manufacturing
Construction
Agriculture
Step Into the Suit - Easily
The HeroWear Apex is a back-assist exosuit that blends comfort, ease-of-use, and accessibility for all. The textile-based exosuit design was built for maximum range of motion. It is quick to put on. Quick to take off. Comfortable to leave on all day. Enabling you to jump into a forklift, relax on your lunch break, and walk across an entire site — all without your exosuit getting in your way. Simply put: The unique design provides strength when you need it, and gets out of your way when you don’t.
DESIGN
Working men and women have one message for exosuit technology, and they’ve had it for years: Comfort should be standard. Wearable technology should be wearable. Exosuits are worn by living, breathing people who have better things to do than hurt.
For HeroWear, comfort is a science. We’ve focused on human factors, like increasing comfort and maximising ease-of-use.
We’ve also put exosuits on hundreds of workers — seen their thrill at assistance and listened to their real frustrations. Now we’ve designed an exosuit that finally combines the features they need most with transformative science — all to help sustain their strength.
The Apex is here — born from rigorous science and ready for all.
- It’s lightweight, weighing just 1.2kg.
- It’s strong and can take over 23kg of strain off the back.
- It’s passive, without motors or batteries.
- It’s agile, allowing a greater variety of motion than any other device.
Suited for All
EXOSUIT EQUALITY STARTS NOW
Women Lift Every Day
Women make up just over 50 percent of the workforce. Every day they are hauling, lifting, bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling more than their weight around the globe. Any exosuit that intends to fit an entire workforce must fit the female form. Which is exactly what the HeroWear Apex does.
For women, unisex exosuits and exoskeletons often don’t meet their human standard: comfort. To be a true exo for all, an exosuit must be customisable, wearable, and comfortable. The Apex meets those criteria with thoughtful design factoring the key variables necessary for a custom fit. For women and for men.
Working women worldwide are ready for the change.
Progressive Design for Female Workers
It’s a fact that the average female body is extremely different from the average male. The Apex introduces exosuit design that was engineered from day one specifically for women, and conforms components to the female frame. These include:
Curvilinear Straps
The curvilinear shape of the Apex’s straps differs for women, who in general have narrower shoulders, a shorter torso, and need a more dynamic curve to allow space for the bust.
Open-Chest Design
Occupational exoskeletons with chest plates and rigid torso structures can compress very sensitive tissues for women. The Apex resolves this with an open-front exosuit design.
Greater Q-Angle
On average, women have a greater Q-angle (between the pelvis and thighs) than males. The Apex offers a greater variety of motion than any other exosuit device, allowing women to move more naturally.
Perspiration
Ask any woman where she sweats first, or where she sweats the most, and she will often point to her chest. The lightweight, open design of the Apex allows the body to breathe and sweat without discomfort.
Equip Your Team
EXOS TO PROTECT, SERVICE TO SUPPORT
Making Work Stronger and Safer
The HeroWear Apex sustains strength and maintains health of working men and women, giving them a reliable device to fight fatigue that’s comfortable to wear. Lightweight and comfortable, the Apex weighs just 1.5kg. and can reduce over 23kg of strain on the back. All without motors or batteries.
The need for back support is undeniable in warehousing, logistic, industrial and construction sectors.
Back injuries compromise worker health, wages, and productivity — and they happen to be the most common injuries. Overexertion is the leading cause for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) that contribute to claims and escalating medical costs. In fact, according to one study, back pain costs our healthcare system over $100 billion a year for medical care, workers compensation payments, and time lost from work. Globally, lower back pain is the single leading cause of disability.
The struggle is unnecessary.
HeroWear can equip your force — men and women, short and tall. Comfortably helping your team increase safety and help mitigate risk of injury due to repetitive forces.
Testimonials
Beach Road Wines
The introduction of the HeroWear Apex2 Exosuit into our sparkling wine tirage line has been a genuine game-changer for our team at Hill-Smith Family Estates. The repetitive nature of lifting and twisting as part of the tirage de-binning and binning process has always presented a workplace health and safety challenge, particularly around lower back fatigue and injury risk. Since implementing the Apex2, we’ve seen a significant reduction in strain-related issues. Our operators report feeling more supported and less fatigued at the end of a shift, which not only improves performance but also contributes to overall morale and retention. The support from SA2050 throughout the process has been first class. From initial assessment through to training, fitting, and follow-up, their team ensured that the implementation was seamless and tailored to our unique production environment. This initiative has reinforced our commitment to workplace safety and innovation. The Apex2 is helping us protect our people while maintaining the high standards of efficiency and quality that Hill-Smith Family Estates is known for. We’re very proud to be among the early adopters of this technology in the Australian wine industry.
Line Manager – Bottling
I discovered the Herowear Apex exo suit by chance whilst searching online for a mobile back support. I was looking to manage my risk exposure in my seasonal work field grafting grapevines which involves bending forward multiple time per day. The Apex 1 has been perfect for supporting my lower back whist also being comfortable non restrictive for work movement. It also had the flow on effects of allowing me to work longer days and have less fatigue and pain from day to day. The Apex 2 adopted some improvements which I was pleased to suggest mainly some stronger components, lighter weight and better comfort in hot conditions. I cannot recommend this technology highly enough for anyone who relies on their back for their income. It's a great investment and paid for itself many times over.