Summary:
SuitX by Ottobock has introduced the IX Back Volton, a lightweight, battery-powered exoskeleton designed to reduce physical strain for workers in demanding industries by providing adaptive lifting support while maintaining full mobility.
Key Takeaways:
- Advanced Ergonomic Support – The IX Back Volton offers up to 40 pounds of lifting relief per movement, helping reduce musculoskeletal injuries in physically demanding jobs.
- Lightweight and Adaptive Design – Weighing only 10 pounds, it adjusts in real-time to users’ movements, ensuring comfort and ease of use with minimal training.
- Sustainable and Workplace-Ready – With an eight-hour battery life and cross-brand compatibility, the exoskeleton enhances workplace safety, productivity, and employee well-being.
SuitX by Ottobock has introduced the IX Back Volton, an exoskeleton designed to reduce strain for workers in physically demanding industries like logistics and manufacturing. Frequent heavy lifting puts workers at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries. When traditional ergonomic solutions fall short, the company says the IX Back Volton can step in to provide critical support.
As the first powered exoskeleton in the SuitX by Ottobock portfolio, the IX Back Volton pairs high-performance battery power with precise motor technology to seamlessly adapt to users’ movements while remaining lightweight and easy to handle.
“The IX Back Volton marks a breakthrough in human-technology interaction,” says Samuel Reimer, managing director of SuitX Inc. “Rather than forcing workers to adjust their movements, it naturally responds to their patterns, delivering the right level of support while keeping muscles engaged. This makes work safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.”
The IX Back Volton will debut at ProMat and Applied Ergo in March 2025, where attendees can experience firsthand how it enhances workplace ergonomics without restricting mobility.
Lightweight Design and Adaptive Support
Designed for dynamic workplaces in industry, logistics, and retail, the IX Back Volton is made to be ideal for lifting, bending, and carrying tasks like order picking and loading/unloading. According to the company, it provides up to 40 pounds of lifting relief per movement, significantly reducing strain while maintaining full mobility.
With real-time adaptive technology, the IX Back Volton is designed to adjust seamlessly to different movement patterns—lifting, walking, bending—offering intuitive, natural support. This ensures quick and effortless adoption, minimizing training time.
Weighing just 10 pounds, it is the world’s lightest battery-powered exoskeleton, according to the company. Its single-drive power system is made to allow for all-day wearability without compromising performance.
Reliable, Sustainable, and Built for Health and Productivity
With a battery life of up to eight hours, the IX Back Volton provides full-shift support. Its Bosch Professional battery offers easy replacement and cross-brand compatibility through the AMPShare system, enhancing both convenience and sustainability.
Exoskeletons like the IX Back Volton aim to improve modern workplaces by reducing physical strain and preventing injuries. By minimizing musculoskeletal stress, they can protect employee health, lower absenteeism, and improve job satisfaction.
“Our mission is to make work both ergonomic and successful—always with employee well-being at the core,” says Reimer. “With the IX Back Volton, we’ve reached a groundbreaking milestone in exoskeleton technology.”
Global Expertise, Rapid Innovation
The IX Back Volton is the result of a global collaboration between development teams in Emeryville, California, and Germany. By integrating medical device know-how, award-winning biomechanics, advanced ergonomics, and high-performance materials, the team delivered a market-ready product in just 2.5 years.
Extensive real-world testing ensured that the IX Back Volton is precisely tailored to user needs, offering seamless integration into demanding work environments, according to the company.
Tests and Pilot Projects Begin in April
Starting April 2025, companies can book guided pilot projects with the IX Back Volton. SuitX by Ottobock’s ergonomics experts will assist in workplace selection, on-site employee training, and evaluation to ensure optimal integration.
The global market launch is scheduled for October 2025.
