Interview with Samuel Corgne, President and CEO of ErgoSanté, Pic Magazine, November / December 2022
How was ErgoSanté born?
During the creation of my first company, I had the opportunity to meet disabled people, most of whom had difficulty finding a job. This observation led me to think about the "technical" means that would allow these people to find a job or to be maintained in employment. It was in 2016 that the project concerning ErgoSanté was born. Since then, the company has developed well - proof of the relevance of our vision of exoskeletons - and now has its own distribution network via its eight regional offices and thirty points of availability in France. We are also present in 18 countries. We have our own factory, adapted to allow disabled people to work there. In our production workshop, 80% of our employees are disabled.
When did you launch your first exoskeleton?
ErgoSanté first produced ergonomic chairs. In 2015, we started working on exoskeletons with the idea of offering a really usable one, at a reasonable cost. Because too often on this market, the proposed solutions are either overpriced or too complex, therefore almost unusable or not adapted to their user. They are "technological showcases" that do not correspond, in my opinion, to what an exoskeleton should be: a postural assistance tool that is simple to use, that does not provoke rejection and that must therefore be accepted. All this at a reasonable price: about 1,000 euros. The first version of our consumer exo Hapo came out in 2019 and was a real success because it really brings something to the person who uses it. Studies prove it.
For example, Ford, which uses our exoskeletons, conducted a study that shows that several months after their deployment, our solutions are still used in 86% of cases. The United States is an important market for ErgoSanté. Our exoskeletons are a real success there. We will have our own manufacturing unit there starting next year.
You have just launched the second version of Hapo. How is it different from the previous one?
Hapo 2 is more discreet, lighter and easier to handle than the previous one. It is also easy to use (40 seconds to put on, 15 seconds to take off), available in three or four sizes and fits 98% of body shapes. Like the previous version, the new Hapo is dedicated to assisting workers in a standing position whose postural or articular constraints contribute to work fatigue. It relieves the back and helps maintain a good posture, whether in full flexion or standing. By partially redirecting the efforts of the upper trunk - pectoral support - towards the thighs with the help of the springs and by maintaining - without restraint - the lumbar vertebrae with the help of its belt, the Hapo participates significantly in the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This new product completes our range of Hapo products, enriched by the Hapo MS (dedicated to the upper limbs) and the Hapo SD (without unlocking) released in 2021.