ATOUN Introduces the Powered Wear "ATOUN MODEL Y" into the Food Recycling Business

Hyogo, Japan - ATOUN Inc. (headquarters in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, represented by Hiromichi Fujimoto) offers Powered Wear "ATOUN MODEL Y"(*1), a wearable robot for the waist designed to reduce work-induced burdens from the backs of workers and improve work efficiency. This product was recently introduced to one of the recycling centers of Hamada Kagaku Co., Ltd. (headquarters in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, represented by Kaichi Okano), a company engaged in environmental businesses such as the recycling of used cooking oil(*2) and food residue.(*3) Recycling food has been drawing a great deal of attention in recent years not only in Japan but also worldwide. The use of the powered wear at the recycling plant further promotes environmental actions; thus, it is a socially significant endeavor. It is also expected to create new demand for the powered wear in this business field. ATOUN will deliver a total of 12 units to all facilities operated by Hamada Kagaku.

The recently delivered Powered Wear ATOUN MODEL Y units are used by workers who remove collected meat fats (beef fat and pork fat) from containers. Since the containers of collected meat fats vary in type and shape, it is difficult to mechanize or automate the removal process. Meat fats in baskets are particularly heavy, so they place a severe burden on the backs of the workers. Use of the powered wear reduces the physical burden to the workers and also improves the work efficiency. The workers who use the powered wear said, "We were wearing waist supporters before, but once we started using the powered wear, we no longer need the waist supporters. The work is much easier to perform thanks to the powered wear."

While examining the effect of the powered wear in use, ATOUN and Hamada Kagaku plan to collaboratively propose "workstyle reforms" to the recycling and environmental business fields.

ATOUN's comment:
"Using the success of the powered wear by HAMADA KAGAKU as a springboard, we will address the dissemination of the product to the environmental business field. We aim to deliver 20 units to recycling companies in fiscal 2018."

Hamada Kagaku's comment:
"This machine alleviates the burden of lifting heavy items. In addition, we'd like to ensure fair evaluation of work performance by utilizing the sensing function so that we can create a worker-friendly environment. We hope that the use of the powered wear by our company will spur workstyle reforms in the recycling business field."

*1: Powered Wear "ATOUN MODEL Y" for the waist
A wearable robot which alleviates the burden to the backs of workers when lifting heavy objects placed on the floor to waist height.
URL: http://atoun.co.jp/products/atoun-model-y

*2: Used cooking oil
Used oils such as vegetable oil, lard, shortening and palm oil discharged from restaurants, supermarkets, food factories and others. They are recycled and delivered as oil and fat for feed, raw material for paints, industrial fuel, raw material for detergents, raw material for medicated hand soaps, etc.

*3: Food residue
Raw fats (beef fat, pork fat), oil cake (residue generated by the processing of oil), etc.

[For inquiries, please contact the following]

ATOUN Inc.
Fukui, public relations staff
Tel: +81-(0)742-71-1878
Contact Us page: http://atoun.co.jp/contact
Homepage: http://atoun.co.jp/

Hamada Kagaku Co., Ltd.
Public relations: Nakano, Commercial Department
Tel: +81-(0)664-09-1555
Contact Us page: http://www.hamadakagaku.co.jp/inquiry.php
Homepage: http://www.hamadakagaku.co.jp/index.php

About ATOUN

Established by using in-house venture system of Panasonic in 2003. ATOUN creates a new value and possibility to all workers by providing power assist products such as wearable robot "Power Assist Suit". ATOUN aims to achieve "Power-Barrierless Society" where the people can work regardless of their age and gender.

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