Live from the Foshan Seminar: Exoskeleton Technology Trial and Exchange
Original by Chen Xi, Sino-Cooperation Platform
July 21, 2025, 11:11
In manufacturing logistics, real technology often isn’t about “showy gimmicks” but about the experience of wearing it firsthand.
The German-Chinese Seminar on Exoskeletons and Robot-Assisted Automation in Logistics, held on July 18 at the Foshan China-Europe Center, focused not only on in-depth technical exchanges but also on a hands-on and testing phase, which became one of the highlights of the event.
01丨Opening “With an Exoskeleton on Stage”: Technology Is for Use, Not Show
Yu Yijun, founder of the Sino-Cooperation Platform, took the stage wearing the SoftExo exoskeleton throughout his speech, allowing the audience to observe the technology from a “non-intrusive” perspective. This approach of “treating the product as a body extension” built anticipation for the subsequent trial session.
Later, Jonas Mast, founder of German company HUNIC, shared a personal anecdote while introducing the exoskeleton’s design philosophy: during German winters, his company burns wood for heating, and the task of moving heavy logs often falls to him as the “boss.”
It was from such daily physical labor that he began exploring ways to reduce the burden, ultimately shaping SoftExo’s design direction. On stage, he demonstrated with exoskeleton components, emphasizing its “passive design” that requires no motors, relying purely on structural mechanics. He also shared application cases in German manufacturing and logistics industries.
Unlike common “active exoskeletons” on the market, the SoftExo series uses a completely passive mechanical structure with no motors or batteries. This means it requires no electronic controls or power units, providing effective support without increasing system complexity, and fundamentally avoiding practical obstacles like charging, overheating, or maintenance.
SoftExo’s patented BackSplint™ technology simulates dynamic spinal behavior to create a highly conforming support path.
It combines elastic components with mechanical structures, enabling wearers to decouple lumbar pressure and guide posture during bending, lifting, and weight-bearing actions. This reduces muscle fatigue and lowers the risk of chronic strain from poor posture.
In contrast, motorized exoskeletons, while capable of active drive, are often limited in manufacturing settings due to their weight, short battery life, and cumbersome wearing processes.
SoftExo’s passive system enables “wear-and-use” functionality and adapts in real-time to body movements, effectively balancing lightness, stability, and durability. It is already widely deployed in German manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare fields.
02丨Trial Experience: Technology Becomes a Dialogue with the Body, Not a Demonstration
After all speeches concluded, the trial session officially began.
SoftExo exoskeletons were adjusted on-site by technicians to fit participants’ body sizes, ensuring comfort and proper fit.
The Sino-Cooperation Platform and HUNIC teams provided explanations, helping guests quickly understand wearing methods and core support structures.
“The lower back doesn’t collapse—you can feel the support,” one trial participant remarked after performing a bending motion, prompting nods from surrounding observers.
A logistics company representative, after wearing the device, simulated lifting a box and confirmed that it provided effective lower back support and reduced muscle strain without restricting range of motion. He commented, “The movement feels natural, but the way force is applied has changed.”
During the trials, Jonas Mast repeatedly used core exoskeleton components to explain force transmission paths, elastic unit principles, and spinal protection logic.
He frequently crouched to demonstrate how the exoskeleton’s force mechanism works in different postures. Participants from manufacturing, logistics, and academic institutions gathered around, asking about durability, wearing duration, and suitability for different job roles—the atmosphere was lively yet orderly.
03丨From Experience to the First Step Toward Collaboration
Although the trials were brief, several enterprise representatives expressed preliminary interest in pilot collaborations and exchanged contact information with technicians on the spot.
This signals that exoskeleton products are transitioning from “future concepts” to “factory validation,” with potential to explore practical implementation paths in frontline logistics operations.
This trial was not just a technology demonstration, but rather a “body-participatory discussion.” It relied not on exaggerated features, but rather on reducing fatigue and protecting workers’ health. This opens another interface for Sino-German industrial collaboration.