Two tool brands have come out with new exoskeletons designed to reduce workers’ fatigue.
Hilti and Festool’s new exoskeletons are both designed to take the load off users’ arms, but they approach this in different ways.
The Hilti EXO-S is an unpowered solution, while the Festool ExoActive is powered by an 18V cordless power tool battery.
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Hilti never sent any press materials, but we were able to find some information from their website and influencer reviews on social media.
The Hilti EXO-S, described as a shoulder exoskeleton, weighs less than 6 pounds. I couldn’t find any information about how much weight it takes off a user’s shoulders, or if there are any limits.
This is Hilti’s second exoskeleton, and looks to be replacing the EXO-01. The EXO-S retails for $1399.
Hilti’s new EXO-S exoskeleton resembles existing tech from other brands, such as Esko Bionics.
Esko has been around for a while, and has different exoskeletons designed for a range of user types and applications.
There are other passive exoskeleton solutions used in construction and other industries, such as by Levitate Technologies.
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It’s unclear as to if and how the Hilti EXO-S is different or better than existing solutions; their influencer partners’ TikToks didn’t exactly shed light on this.
There is also the new Festool ExoActive exoskeleton. It’s a powered solution, hence the “active” part of the name.
The Festool ExoActive is powered by an 18V cordless power tool battery pack.
The Festool ExoActive resembles the Agade Agedexo powered exoskeleton, which was designed for manual material handling tasks.
The ExoActive has 3 modes to adjust it for working at different heights – i) from the waist up, ii) from the chest up, and iii) overhead.
There’s a control pad attached to one of the shoulder straps, and Festool says they are working on making the ExoActive “individually adaptive to the respective use and requirement” via their smartphone app.
Users can also choose from 5 support settings. There is also a pause setting, such as for when the user might need to pick up a dropped screw or mix paint.
According to Festool, the ExoActive gives users “an added boost of up to 50 Newtons,” which is the “equivalent to reducing the load by approximately 5 kilograms [~11 pounds].”
It looks like the price is €2795 Euros, or a little over $3000 at the current conversion rate.
Festool USA has not provided any pricing or availability information.
Which is Better?
Exoskeletons and similar fatigue-reducing augmentations have been around for quite a few years now.
Hilti’s looks interesting, but why buy the EXO-S over existing passive exoskeleton solutions? I think it might come down to price. $1400 is a lot of money, but could make exoskeleton augmentation within reach – pun not intended – for individual users.
The Festool ExoActive looks more innovative, and is a powered solution at more than double the price.
Festool says:
[The ExoActive] is no less than a revolution for virtually all the trades in the construction industry, since, unlike the systems currently available on the market, the ExoActive exoskeleton actively supports workers under their arms to take the effort out of working on walls and ceilings.
But is it better than passive solutions such as Hilti’s?
How long does the Festool battery last, and what happens when you need to replace the battery? How often will you be reaching for the “pause” button throughout the day to perform unsupported tasks?
Exoskeletons are used in industrial settings by workers performing repetitive tasks. Construction professionals and tradesman also perform a lot about repetitive tasks, but many applications require a mix of tasks. How well do passive or active exoskeletons adapt to such motions?
Will these new exoskeletons be a good fit for users that move around and perform different tasks throughout the day?
It’s good to see brands like Hilti and Festool enter the space. Things will really get interesting when brands like Dewalt and Milwaukee join the party.
Eliot Truelove
The Exo S has been out for almost a year now, I inquired of Hilti back in the spring time about one. It’s passive design is evidently incredible once you get used to it.
John
That much closer to Tom Cruise’s movie Edge of Tomorrow.
Joking aside, I would seriously consider the Hilti unit. My shoulders are destroyed over the decades, even with surgery, more repairs are needed. I like to build things so something like these would help.
Saulac
Agree that to be adopted by construction industry, these must be able to allow full motion to support a variety of task. I may add add that it should integrate with other functions such as fall protection, tool belt. The best fall arrest harness out there are integrated with jacket and tool belt. They are big and heavy. But the workers only need to deal with one thing. Treat it like space suit.
MT
A load reduction of 11 pounds doesn’t seem like a lot for $3000. Not that I’d ever be in the market for any of these anyway.
Jared
I was thinking that too – but then again, what would it feel like to have 11lbs of help all the time?
Kent
When I’m on the jobsite and I pick a 14oz mig welded hammer over a traditional 24oz framing hammer to save the 10oz on my hips or shoulders over the course of the day then 11lbs of continuous help would be massive.
Koko The Talking Ape
Right, 11 pounds actually would be a big deal for some kinds of work.
But on the other other hand, that’s 11 pounds taken off your arms, but your legs still have to carry it PLUS the weight of the exoskeleton. So maybe it’s good for some kinds of work, and not for others.
Potato
Here’s a fun experiment, try picking up a 10lb weight and holding to your side at 90degrees for as long as you can.
MT
Okay. While I’m doing that I’ll also think about someone walking up and saying, “Hey, I can help you with that for $3000”.
Your example doesn’t make a lot of sense. But I can see where a better example would be a job with a lot of repetitive lifting, especially overhead. Something like installing a drop ceiling or ceiling lighting in a commercial space, or the like.
Joshwaaa
Are they going to help me day in and day out? Then $3k doesn’t sound like a whole lot.
Tyler
I use post pounders for setting pipes on greenhouses. They weigh about 40lbs. I’d love a 10-12lbs reduction. 25% Less workload would be amazing for lifting above my shoulders for hours.
PETE
I’m interested in these. When we do big jobs we have someone on a stake pounder and lifting that sucker up a couple hundred times a day is exhausting from ground level to about chest high.
I really hope that hilti sales reps will have them available for demo.
Jared
These are less money than I thought they’d be. Not so cheap that they’re likely to be my next tool purchase (or a purchase anytime soon), but still, not as much as I expected.
The comment about other brands joining – that doesn’t seem far-fetched either.
That_Guy
It would be nice to see such a product available for rent, I don’t see myself needing to buy one of these but would be curious and willing to rent one for trying out around the house from a professional tool rental company like a sunbelt or united rentals.
Gerald Harwood
As someone that has used hilti exoskeleton first gen .
I found it needing lots of improvements.
I think the materials are plastic coated for easy clean up for multiple person to use in same shift.
Adjust to most body types tall or short.
Adjusted to load types.
Add more help from tool .
Cost has been drop to be very competitive.
Overall it makes repetitive work easy period.
I would like to see the new gen. In person
John804
These are really going to shine when they’re accessible in terms of cost and access to regular homeowners. I can see a lot of use for older individuals that need help with tasks around their house or property; shoveling snow, moving firewood, raking, etc. are all jobs that get hard as you get older and could be made easier with this kind of technology.
That_Guy
100% in agreement with you in fact I think most if not all of the major Japanese & Korean auto/robotics companies have walking/mobility products in development & on the specialized market to assist older individuals (both countries face a fast growing aging population) & those with injuries …. Here in North America this problem is not far off as well as life expectancy increases.
I think having these products for Rent would make them more accessible and would result in more people possibly wanting to buy them …similar to how having some of the more expensive milwaukee tools for rent at select home depots does lead to sales ( or so I’ve been told)
Adam
I think when we get second or third generation of these , it will be very good, at the moment I think their to bully and the technology needs to be improved.
Tim
This, but for my legs please.
Most contractors wear their legs, knees and backs out before anything.
Nate
There are a bunch of “wearable chair” and “chairless chair” products now, which basically give you a squat-seat anywhere you want one. They’re fairly cheap, I might try one.
Terry B
For those of us who work at heights, I wonder how well this would integrate with a safety harness and lanyard?
Stuart
I don’t think either are recommended for use at heights.