The First Exoskeleton is Tested at the Aksu Ferroalloys Plant

The Company’s Mechanical Repair Shops Block is the testing proving ground for the first exoskeleton. The work at its sites is characterized by highly repetitive physical activities. These cyclical manipulations during a shift quickly lead to the fatigue, distracted attention and reduced work efficiency. The use of exoskeletons will redistribute the load on the musculoskeletal system, which will have a positive impact on the plant workers' health.

- “We constantly seek the ways to lighten the physical load of our employees as much as possible,” says Valentin Chikhichin, Director of Aksu Ferroalloys Plant. - Nowadays, exoskeletons are a prospective trend in the field of industrial safety and they can make a significant contribution to occupational safety and health. Once we are successful in using exoskeletons at the pilot site, we will consider introducing them at other production sites as well.

The exoskeleton made by the EXORISE Russian Company is capable of reducing the load on the human spine by more than a third, as well as ensuring correct posture and safe work performance. It is a slip-on made of an innovative lightweight material, weighs only two kilograms, and is easy and comfortable to use.

- It takes just one minute to put on an exoskeleton, without any help, and is somewhat like a mountaineering equipment," shares his impressions the Electric and Gas Welder Alexander Volkov. - Elastic bands, which connect the main frame with bindings on arms and legs, make bending and straightening of arms a bit complicated, but make it much easier to straighten. In general, it is much easier to perform any loading and unloading operations in the exoskeleton.

In the case of positive feedback on the use of the new equipment in different areas of the Mechanical Repair Shops Block, we shall consider an issue on purchase of exoskeletons for other plant specialists, which could benefit from them.