BERLIN, December 11, 2023 — German Bionic, the leading provider of electrically powered back exoskeletons for industry, logistics, and healthcare, continues to experience strong growth in demand for its smart power suits. Both the Apogee and the Apogee+, which was specially developed for the care sector, are the world’s first AI-based, fully-connected robotic wearables for the workplace. The self-learning e-exoskeletons amplify lifting movements, give walking assistance, and prevent poor posture. An integrated ergonomic early warning system also supplies real-time data collected during the course of the working day to simultaneously protect employees’ health, measurably reduce the risk of accidents, and improve work processes. The company is intensifying its collaboration with its industrialization partner, the German automotive supplier Mubea, to satisfy the escalating demand for smart occupational safety systems in the future. The scale-up will be accompanied by an extension of the Series A funding round in the amount of 15 million euros from lead investor Mubea as well as the existing investors Benhamou Global Ventures, Bayern Kapital, IT Farm, Kailua Ventures, Cumberland VC, and Family Office Klein.
“The strengthening of our partnership with German Bionic underscores Mubea’s commitment to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable mobility solutions,” says Dr. Thomas Muhr, Managing Partner of Mubea. “This is increasingly the case in the field of micromobility, which operates within the Group under the name Mubea U-Mobility. Our expertise in smart lightweight solutions coupled with a proven track record in successfully launching large-scale production projects and the global reach of the Mubea Group, align seamlessly with the shared growth objectives we are pursuing alongside German Bionic. With our investment in the technology leader for smart e-suits, we are supporting the upscaling of a revolutionary technology that not only increases the efficiency of human work in industry, logistics and healthcare, but also contributes to employee health and safety. Given the prevailing labor shortage, we identify a swiftly expanding market for e-exoskeletons in today’s landscape.”
“The emphasis on occupational safety is growing in workplaces around the world,” says Armin G. Schmidt, CEO of German Bionic. “Our aging societies can no longer afford to lose people due to illness or early retirement, and we must understand that sustainability starts with young employees. German Bionic is benefiting from today’s trend towards investing in occupational health and safety to ensure a resilient and motivated workforce of tomorrow. Anticipating this market shift alongside our industrialization partner Mubea, we took proactive steps to build the necessary capacities. We are excited to deepen our successful collaboration, now being strengthened through this strategic investment.”
Smart and connected e-exoskeletons for industry, logistics, and healthcare
German Bionic has been developing and manufacturing smart and connected e-exoskeletons for industry and logistics in Germany since 2018. Among German Bionic’s customers are global logistics companies including DPD, Dachser, and Fiege and large retailers such as Canadian Tire and the British CE retailer Currys, as well as major international airports.
During this past summer, the company presented a new product line specifically for the healthcare sector. The Apogee+, which provides active support for nursing staff in hospitals and care facilities when lifting and mobilizing patients, was developed based on the latest findings from nursing research. In contrast to non-electrically powered passive exoskeletons with exposed mechanical components, the Apogee+ features a closed unibody design that is not only easy to disinfect, but also ensures effective protection against the risk of injury. This makes it the only device of its kind that is truly patient-safe and suitable for use in hospital settings and other care environments. German Bionic works closely with renowned healthcare institutions such as the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the BG Unfallklinikum Murnau.
