9 Power Assist Suit Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for power assist suits as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 power assist suit manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked power assist suit companies as of April, 2024: 1.NIDEC SANKYO, 2.Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., 3.INNOPHYS CO.,LTD..
Table of Contents
What Is a Power Assist Suit?
A power assist suit is a general term for wearable equipment designed to assist in lifting heavy objects and other tasks. These suits use motors, electric actuators, artificial muscles, and other devices to facilitate movement and distribute weight. They are known by various names, including power suits, robot suits, and assist suits, with variations in shape, assistance mechanism, and details based on the product. A key distinction in power assist suits is whether they include an exoskeleton or frame.
Power assist suits with frames are usually electrically powered and offer strong support, with controllable power output based on movement. Frameless suits, often powered by air pressure or rubber, are less expensive and compact but offer less support.
Uses of Power Assist Suits
Power assist suits are used in a range of fields, from industrial sectors like military, medical care, and logistics, to hobbies incorporating amusement elements. They are gaining attention in agriculture, helping with heavy lifting tasks, supporting an aging workforce, and aiding female workers. The selection of a suitable power assist suit is important, given the varied work conditions in agriculture.
Features of Power Assist Suits
Advantages
1. Reduces the burden on the operator: Power assist suits significantly lessen the physical strain on workers, especially in fields like nursing care, agriculture, and construction, where heavy lifting is common. They typically offer a maximum assistive force of about 25kg.
2. Increased work efficiency: These suits can improve efficiency, enabling one person to do a job that previously required multiple people. They also enable women and older individuals to handle heavy loads.
3. Reduced risk of accidents: By reducing fatigue, power assist suits help prevent accidents. They also mitigate long-term bodily damage from continuous heavy labor, thereby improving the work environment and reducing accident risks.
Disadvantages
1. Time-consuming to wear: Putting on and taking off most power assist suits takes about a minute, which can be cumbersome if done frequently. Air pressure suits also need daily inflation.
2. Bulky and heavy: Although they reduce strain, the suits themselves are heavy, averaging around 5 kg. Their width can also be an obstacle in confined spaces.
3. High cost: Power assist suits are expensive, and regular maintenance is required for safe, long-term use, adding to running costs.
Types of Power Assist Suits
Power assist suits can be classified into three main types based on appearance and support methods.
1. Supporter Type (Without Power):
These are inexpensive and easy to use, offer freedom of movement, and are effective in tasks requiring complex movements.
2. Exoskeleton Assist Suit (Without Power):
These suits provide high support capability without drive time concerns, using springs and air pressure to mimic muscle action.
3. Exoskeleton Assist Suit (Powered):
These have the highest assistive power due to motor drives and sensors, offering adjustable power but limited by battery life.
How to Select Power Assist Suits
Choosing the right type of power assist suit based on the intended use is crucial. Consider the specific situations in which the suit will be used before making a purchase.
1. Supporter Type (Without Power):
Suitable for tasks like lifting and transporting harvested crops, offering support mainly to the lower back.
2. Exoskeleton Assist Suit (Without Power):
Ideal for long hours of repetitive work or handling moderately heavy objects, like line work and transshipment at logistics sites.
3. Exoskeleton Assist Suit (Powered):
Best for environments where additional strength is required, enabling even elderly people to carry heavy items and aiding in maintaining posture during long-duration tasks.
How to Use Power Assist Suits
1. Assistive Suit Without Power:
Adjust the suit to fit the body using the shoulder belts and, if required, inject air into the artificial muscles.
2. Powered Assistive Suits:
Fit the suit to the body, adjusting the belts as necessary. Turn on the power, and set the assist force and type before starting work. Refer to specific product instructions for precise fitting and operation steps.
List of 9 Power Assist Suit Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- Japan
-
-
-
INNOPHYS CO.,LTD.
Muscle Suit Power
Manufacturer Overview
Innophys Co., Ltd., founded in 2013 with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of specialized garment-like back support devices for lifting and carrying heavy objects. The company's product line includes a range of wearable devices known as Muscle Suits and wearable balancers offering varying characteristics, including lift assist forces for humans handling materials in a variety of situations. These products are used in workplace environments to assist workers with heavy and difficult labor, as well as for rehabilitation after severe injuries and illnesses, and are suitable for farming work, nursing care support, construction work, and factory work.
-
-
-
-
-
NIDEC SANKYO
Power Assist Suits
Manufacturer Overview
Nidec Corporation was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1973 and is a conglomerate with over 200 subsidiaries. Primary products are hard-disk drive motors and automotive parts, and specializes motors ranging from miniature to gigantic. Nidec’s products are used in robotics, automotive, home appliances, agriculturel equipments well as molding, cutting, and machining equipment and sensors.
-
-
-
-
-
Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd.
Power assist suit
Manufacturer Overview
Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., established in 1918 and based in Nagano, Japan, is a manufacturer of horsepower motors, D.C. motors, and custom assemblies. The company also manufactures other products, such as motors and circuits that are used in medical equipment, appliances, CD-ROM drives, and water heaters, and has 1681 patents. With the ISO9001 accreditation, the company makes the products meeting the quality standards. All its production bases in different locations are also accredited to ISO9001. The companies to which the products are catered are automation, health and wellness, automotive and environmental sectors.
-
-
-
-
-
Mizuno Corporation
Power Assist Suit
Manufacturer Overview
Mizuno Corporation, a company established in 1906, is based in Osaka, Japan, as an athletic wear manufacturer. It specializes in manufacturing baseball shoes and gloves, hickory skis, running shoes, leaf springs for prosthetic legs, and Mizuno GX competition swimsuits. Its manufactured products are made of Breath Thermo, a heat-generating fabric equipped with a thermal insulation mechanism to absorb body moisture and use it to generate heat. The company acquired ISO 14001 certification and partnered with Volleyball World to develop functional volleyball shoes, apparel, and equipment to support athletes' performances. Its manufactured products are utilized for sports and athletics industries across Japan.
-
-
-
-
-
NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
Power Assist Suit
Company Overview
Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd. - IKO is based in Japan and was established in 1950 as a manufacturer of bearings. The company designs Linear Motion Rolling guides and Mechatronics series and they were the first to produce Needle Roller Bearings. These products have vast applications in various industries as they are used in Electronics-related Devices and Equipment like semiconductors and for precision devices that are used in laboratory measuring instruments and medical equipment. Textile, printing, construction, transportation, and robotics are also on the list of industries that benefit from IKO products.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TOAMEC Co., Ltd.
Power Assist Suit
Distributor Overview
TOAMEC Co., Ltd., founded in 1951 and based in Tokyo, Japan, distributor specializing in household appliances, electrical and electronic goods, and a range of industrial components. Its product line includes dynamic drives for machinery control, motor gears for torque transmission, hydraulic electronic controls for hydraulic system management, sending wind equipment for air flow control, and test equipment for performance assessment. Its products plays a vital role in the distribution of various equipment and components.
-
-
Power Assist Suit Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NIDEC SANKYO |
17.9%
|
| 2 | Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd. |
14.3%
|
| 3 | INNOPHYS CO.,LTD. |
14.3%
|
| 4 | Daiya Industry Co., Ltd. |
11.9%
|
| 5 | Mizuno Corporation |
11.9%
|
| 6 | NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD. |
9.5%
|
| 7 | Panasonic Holdings Corporation |
8.3%
|
| 8 | OK Robotics Corporation |
6.0%
|
| 9 | TOAMEC Co., Ltd. |
6.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the power assist suit page as of April 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- NIDEC SANKYO: 114,371
- Mizuno Corporation: 3,782
- NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.: 2,673
Newly Established Company
- OK Robotics Corporation: 2013 (11 years ago)
- INNOPHYS CO.,LTD.: 2013 (11 years ago)
- NIDEC SANKYO: 1973 (51 years ago)
Company with a History
- Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd.: 1918 (106 years ago)
- Panasonic Holdings Corporation: 1918 (106 years ago)
- Daiya Industry Co., Ltd.: 1963 (61 years ago)
Global Distribution of Power Assist Suit Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
Japan
|
9 | 100.0% |
