In Episode 27 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics Podcast, we sit down with Gregory Galarneau of The Exoskeleton Store for a grounded discussion on what occupational exoskeleton adoption actually looks like in the field. Rather than staying at the level of theory, this episode digs into how Gregory entered the space through industrial automation, why he saw exoskeletons as a practical answer for tasks that could not easily be automated, and how The Exoskeleton Store grew into a major North American distributor focused on matching real workplace problems with real wearable solutions.

The conversation then moves into the realities of implementation: why exoskeletons often need a “try before you buy” approach, how worker feedback can make or break adoption, and why success depends on much more than just a product spec sheet. Gregory shares lessons from customer trials, the personal nature of body-worn technology, and the differences between top-down deployments and demand driven by real worker need. By the end, the episode becomes something close to a field report on the current occupational exoskeleton market, including where adoption is working, where it stalls, and what trends may shape the next phase of growth.

Thank you to all of my Patreon supporters for making this possible. Your support is both financial and moral, and it helps me continue producing podcast episodes, transcripts, and independent coverage of exoskeletons and wearable robotics. I really do appreciate it, and I hope that if you enjoy this content you would consider becoming a Patreon supporter as well: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport/membership

Main Topics:

00:00 Introduction to Episode 27 and Gregory Galarneau of The Exoskeleton Store

02:23 How Gregory Galarneau got into occupational exoskeletons from industrial automation

04:46The first customer story that changed the mission of The Exoskeleton Store

08:30 Why exoskeletons need to be tried before they are bought

13:05 Why exoskeleton implementation is different from traditional automation

16:37 A successful exoskeleton rollout: trial, buy-in, and safety award

24:54Cautionary tales: why some exoskeleton projects fail

28:32 Hunting elephants vs. helping small businesses adopt exoskeletons

32:54 Culture, Japan and Europe, and why North America may be adopting more slowly

55:39 Where the industrial exoskeleton market is heading in the next 5 to 10 years

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In Episode 26, we’re joined by Dr. Karl Zelik, a biomechanical engineer and Vanderbilt University professor whose work sits right at the intersection of research, real-world deployment, and industry translation. Karl is also Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at HeroWear, an industrial exosuit company, and a board member of the American Bionics Project, giving him a rare “full-stack” view of how wearable robotics has evolved from early lab prototypes to products and programs used in the field. In this conversation, Karl draws on that cross-sector perspective to unpack what’s truly changed in exoskeletons over the last decade: what progress is real, what misconceptions are finally fading, and what still needs to happen next.

For more, see:
HeroWear: https://herowearexo.com/
Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com
Wearable Robotics: https://wearablerobotics.com

If you enjoy my videos, please support me and the Exoskeleton Report on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/exoskeletonreport/membership

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Thrilled to have our first guest who is an integrator of ocuppational and industrial exoskeletons, Andre Jutel, from Stanley Handling Ltd. Andre has worked for an exoskeleton producer before becoming a full time division head. He accutely understands the importance of education, communication, setting expactations and matching the correct device and solution to the ergonomic concern at a job site.

0:00 Episode 25 kickoff: implementor's perspective (Stanley Handling)
1:38 Meet Andre Jutel: how he got into exoskeletons + what Stanley does differently
10:54 WearHealth + “warehouse app”: matching the right exo to the right use case
25:45 Real-world impact story: “the surgeon who kept operating” (lung transplant)
38:07 Why people resist exoskeletons (and why PPE gets accepted) — change management
47:24 Education & ROI: turning “I don’t want this” into informed adoption (standards matter)
1:03:00 Implementers vs. resellers: why deployments fail (aka the “dusty cupboard” problem)
1:15:33 Wrap-up + community call-to-action

For more, see:
Exoskeleton technology used in worlds first double lung transplant at Harefield Hospital https://stanleyhandling.co.uk/exoskeleton-technology-double-lung-transplant-harefield-hospital/
Stanley Handling: https://stanleyhandling.co.uk
Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com
Wearable Robotics: https://wearablerobotics.com

If you enjoy my videos, please support me and the Exoskeleton Report on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport

Support the show