THG News · Smart Wearables

German Construction Giant Hochtief Deploys 4,000 Powered Exosuits

June 18, 2026

Hochtief, Europe's largest construction firm, has signed a multi-year agreement with German Bionic to deploy 4,000 Apogee-Plus powered exosuits across its EU construction sites. The deal, announced on June 18, is the largest powered-exoskeleton purchase in industry history.

The Apogee-Plus is a lower-back exosuit weighing 7 kg that provides up to 30 kg of lift assist via AI-driven actuation. Pilot data across 12 Hochtief sites showed a 41% reduction in reported back strain incidents and a 17% productivity gain for lifting-intensive tasks.

The deployment is partly subsidized under Germany's "Arbeit 4.0" labor-tech program and is being studied by the Berufsgenossenschaft (German employers' liability insurance) as a potential standard for high-risk trades.