The exoskeleton is easy to use and highly flexible, making everyday work much easier for our employees.∼ Dominik Bittmann, Operations Manager, Brecht Spice Mill GmbH
Exoskeleton Enhances Workplace Ergonomics at Brecht Spice Mill
Brecht Spice Mill needed ergonomic support for the regular handling of heavy bags and cartons. With the upper-body exoskeleton MATE UTA, employees now have a reliable assist system that noticeably relieves strain on the upper body, simplifies work processes, and significantly improves daily material handling.
Characteristics of the success story
| Industry | Food product |
|---|---|
| Workpiece | Bags |
| Product group | Exoskeleton |
| Type of handling | Manual Handling |
With Schmalz
30
percent
less strain on the muscles
The Customer: Brecht Spice Mill GmbH
Brecht Spice Mill GmbH is a manufacturer of high-quality organic spices and spice blends. At its production site in Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, just a few kilometers north of Karlsruhe, the company produces, grinds, and packages its product range. Brecht supplies both retail and commercial customers and employs 34 people who handle a wide variety of raw materials each day, including herbs, spices, and blends. Operational tasks include lifting, transferring, sieving, dosing, and moving bags, cartons, and plastic drums. Guided by the values of quality, naturalness and transparency, the company processes its products in accordance with clearly defined and traceable organic standards.
The Challenge
The daily handling of raw materials at Brecht Spice Mill required an exceptionally wide range of movements: lifting, carrying, dosing, mixing, scooping, removing ingredients from bags and barrels and transferring them into larger containers. This multitude of different handling tasks – spread over several locations – required a high level of flexibility and resulted in repetitive movements, some of which placed significant physical strain on the body. The new solution therefore focused on ergonomics and healthy movement patterns. The employee previously responsible for these handling tasks was already experiencing shoulder and back discomfort, clear indicators of the need for an ergonomic support solution. In addition to ergonomic relief, flexibility was a key requirement: due to spatial conditions, frequently changing working positions and the wide range of dynamic movements involved, a stationary vacuum lifter with crane system from the Schmalz portfolio was not a viable option. What was required was a mobile, highly flexible solution that could be seamlessly integrated into the various activities and reliably support the employee across all movement profiles.
Schmalz's Solution
With the upper-body exoskeleton MATE UTA, Brecht Spice Mill found an ergonomic solution that noticeably eases physically demanding tasks. Designed for work performed at chest height and overhead, the system supports the arm, shoulder, and neck muscles. Its lightweight carbon‑fiber structure allows for long, comfortable wear without restricting movement. Adjustable straps and flexible size adaptation ensure that MATE UTA can be optimally fitted to each employee. The exoskeleton promotes a natural, upright posture, relieves strain on the entire upper body, and stabilizes the lower back. This enables a wide range of tasks to be performed ergonomically over a full shift, such as lifting bags and cartons, filling containers, or manually scooping and measuring materials. Repetitive movements can be carried out in a more controlled and effortless manner. EAWS analyses show a reduction in strain on the shoulders and upper body of up to 30 percent. At the same time, handling speeds increase by around 10 percent, while cycle times are reduced by at least 5 percent. As a purely mechanical system, MATE UTA requires no external power source and integrates seamlessly into a variety of work processes. Shortly after its implementation, workflows became smoother, movements more precise, and repetitive tasks significantly easier. Improper strain was noticeably reduced—clear evidence of the exoskeleton’s long-term effectiveness. The employee who previously suffered from shoulder and back discomfort can now work pain-free and without limitations.
Customer benefits through the Schmalz solution
ErgonomicsPhysical relief throughout the entire handling process
Process speedFaster processes and smoother movements
Easy to useQuick to deploy and intuitive to use