Musculoskeletal disorders cost U.S. businesses more than $13 billion annually and rank as the number-one cause of serious workplace injury for 25 consecutive years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now, a major partnership between PPE leader HexArmor and Harvard spinout Verve Motion aims to make powered exosuits as standard as hard hats on industrial floors across North America.
The Partnership: Distribution Meets Deep Tech
Grand Rapids-based HexArmor will distribute Verve Motion's SafeLift powered exosuit through its established industrial safety channels, initially targeting distribution, manufacturing, and construction sectors. The deal brings together Verve Motion's wearable robotics expertise with HexArmor's frontline knowledge of industrial work environments. Separately, International Airlines Group has invested in Verve Motion, bringing total funding since 2020 to more than $55 million, with trials planned for baggage handlers at British Airways.
What SafeLift Actually Does
SafeLift is a soft, lightweight, powered exosuit designed for the lower back. Motion sensors detect when a worker lifts and a small motor provides real-time assistance, reducing the physical load of every lifting or lowering motion by up to 40%. Unlike rigid exoskeletons, the flexible design allows natural bending and twisting, making it practical for full-shift use in warehouses and distribution centers.
The Analytics Edge: Verve Logic
Beyond the hardware, the partnership includes the Verve Logic analytics platform, giving safety managers a real-time dashboard to track how and when SafeLift is used. Instead of waiting for injury reports, EHS teams can see where physical demands are highest, identify patterns over time, and make data-driven decisions before problems compound. For managers tasked with justifying safety investments, this visibility has traditionally been out of reach.
Exosuits will become a standard part of the industrial safety toolkit, as essential as hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves.
The Takeaway for EHS Leaders
For operations leaders evaluating wearable ergonomics, this partnership signals a shift from pilot-stage novelty toward scalable deployment. The combination of a proven device (40% load reduction), established distribution channels (HexArmor's industrial network), and real-time analytics (Verve Logic) addresses three of the most common barriers to exosuit adoption: access, practicality, and ROI measurement. If your facility has high-volume manual material handling, SafeLift warrants a structured evaluation pilot.
Sources: DBusiness Magazine; Exoskeleton Report; Bureau of Labor Statistics