Comau + Exoskeleton (case422)
MATErialising ergonomics
Comau’s MATE, the first and only exoskeleton to be EAWS certified, has been adopted at Pintarelli Verniciature Srl, a company specialising in the oven-cured powder coating of metal parts.
The exoskeleton has produced significant, measurable and perceivable benefits in terms of reduced muscle fatigue.
Process, man … and MATE
Pintarelli’s activity is unique for a great mix of products, different size lots, and parts of completely different shape, size and material. Jobs range from lots of small parts that can be finished in a few minutes to pieces of 7 metres in length by 2.5 metres in height that require a number of coating passes.
“A production scenario like this,” Plant Manager Mr. Ferrero comments, “not only requires a highly flexible organisation but also makes it very difficult to introduce automation systems. The heavier parts have to be moved by gantries, but the majority of parts weighing between 7 and 20 kg are moved manually by the operator who must also apply the coating while holding the spray gun. For this reason, we were extremely interested when we learned that exoskeletons could take the effort out of movements and reduce arm and shoulder fatigue in our operators".
AZETA SOLUTIONS SRL was formed in Limena near Padova in 2011 by four friends and partners with a great deal of experience in automation after twenty years of work with leading international companies.
The company has always collaborated with Comau’s robotics division, supporting end users and system integrators in their choice of the right products and offering not just sales but a complete assistance service from the product assessment stage to the offer and order stage and on to after-sales support.
Since 2019, Azeta Solutions has been distributor for the MATE exoskeleton in the Triveneto region, serving industry and small to medium companies.
MATE-XT at a glance
Comau’s MATE exoskeleton is the first and still the only exoskeleton in the world to be EAWS (Ergonomic Assessment Work-Sheet) certified.
Operators report a perceived reduction in effort of over 25%.
MATE offers 8 different levels of assistance that the operator can adjust on the basis of the effort needed, without having to stop work.
The slender and lightweight carbon fibre structure is now even slimmer and more compact, about 1 kg lighter and easier to wear.
The design is also more resistant to water, dust, UV and high temperatures.
About Comau
Comau is a leading company in the industrial automation field, at a global level. Combining innovative engineering solutions with easy to use, open automation and enabling technologies, Comau helps companies of all sizes - and across a wide range of industrial segments - leverage the full potential of digital manufacturing. Comau’s competency stems from over 45 years of field proven-experience and a strong presence within every major industrial country.