Japan start-up Innophys seeks to expand exoskeleton business abroad

Japan start-up Innophys Co. is expanding overseas in nations that have aging populations to offer its wearable exoskeleton to support heavy lifting.

Set up by Tokyo University of Science professor Hiroshi Kobayashi, Innophys Co, hopes its products will be used in the care and farm fields in Europe, China, and South Korea, where similar age-related social issues occue.

Innophys Executive Officer Masaru Yoda said that with demand for assistive suits getting greater as populations age, they have a chance at being top in the world.

The firm has a domestic market share of about 70 percent. It sold around 20,000 Muscle Suit in April 2021 since launching it in 2014.

The exoskeletons support the arms and back.

They employ artificial muscles that are composed of rubber tubes covered in nylon mesh that expand when compressed air is added, creating a strong pulling force that can help with physically demanding manual activities and lessen back strain when lifting large goods.

The suit, which is worn like a backpack, can greatly reduce stress when performing heavy factory work, caregiving, and agricultural duties. It is also a useful tool for averting potential workplace mishaps.

Each item costs about 150,000 yen and weighs about 4 kg.

In 2020, Innophys began to expand into Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. Currently, the company has sales representatives in 17 nations and areas, including China, South Korea, Germany, and France.