SafeLift™ Exosuits Expand Hy-Tek’s Automation Portfolio to Protect Frontline Workers, Offload Lower Back Strain by 40%, and Elevate Facility Productivity Ahead of NBWA 2026
Erlanger, KY – Oct. 6, 2026
Hy-Tek Intralogistics, a trusted leader in supply chain strategy, systems integration, automation, software, and lifecycle support, today announced a strategic partnership with Verve Motion, a leader in wearable robotics for industrial and warehouse fulfillment. The collaboration integrates Verve Motion’s SafeLift™ soft robotic exosuit into Hy-Tek’s comprehensive intralogistics portfolio, equipping distribution leaders to mitigate severe ergonomic strain, enhance worker retention, and boost operational throughput.
The announcement comes ahead of the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) Annual Convention, where Hy-Tek will showcase the SafeLift exosuit at Booth #216. In addition, Hy-Tek has integrated the SafeLift wearable robotic systems into its 20,000 sq. ft. Innovation Lab in Erlanger, KY, enabling enterprise operators to evaluate, simulate, and stress-test the technology within a live, operating warehouse environment.
In high-velocity fulfillment environments — such as beverage wholesale, retail distribution, grocery, 3PL, and manufacturing — frontline selectors routinely lift and lower tens of thousands of pounds per shift. Traditional manual pick lines subject workers to acute fatigue, driving elevated turnover and soft-tissue injury claims.
By deploying the SafeLift exosuit, facilities offload 40% of the strain on a worker’s lower back during every lift or lowering operation, delivering up to 240N of adaptive assistance force. Field usage studies show the technology cuts lower back and hip injury rates by up to 85%, increases facility productivity by 2% to 8%, and provides battery capacity for up to 3,000 lifts (10–12 hours of operation) across a single shift.
“At Hy-Tek, we build our solutions around what creates the greatest long-term value for our customers and that starts with protecting and empowering their people,” said Stephen Dryer, Director of Product Management at Hy-Tek Intralogistics. “Adding Verve Motion’s SafeLift exosuit to our automation portfolio bridges an essential gap between human-centric operations and advanced automation. Whether an operator is retrofitting a brownfield facility or optimizing high-velocity beverage picking, wearable robotics ensure teams can handle intensive physical demands safely while driving measurable ROI.”
Weighing less than 7.5 pounds and wearing like a comfortable backpack, the SafeLift exosuit takes just 30 seconds to put on and features eight points of adjustment to fit operators from 5’0″ to 6’6″ (sizes XS to XXL). Built-in inertial measurement units (IMUs) automatically identify motion profiles, delivering assistance only when lifting or lowering while remaining completely unobtrusive during walking or forklift operation.
The system pairs directly with Verve Logic™, a cloud-based safety analytics and coaching portal.
Embedded sensors collect 3D motion and force metrics, transmitting data via a network-agnostic cellular IoT gateway to provide operations and safety leaders with actionable insights on ergonomic risks, lift counts, and worker posture without placing demands on internal IT networks.
“Partnering with Hy-Tek means deploying our wearable robotic SafeLift system into the facilities that need it most,” said Christopher Buck, Head of Product at Verve Motion. “Hy-Tek’s unique approach of looking at a company’s whole operation, from network strategy and warehouse software to hands-on testing in their Innovation Lab, makes them the right partner to help us scale. We’re looking forward to working together to help warehouse and distribution centers protect their workers and keep their operations running smoothly.”
Through Hy-Tek’s vendor-agnostic systems architecture, the SafeLift solution can be deployed independently across existing manual pick tunnels or integrated alongside automated buffering, goods-to-person robotics, and IntraOne® warehouse execution software (WES). SafeLift systems are available immediately for live client testing and validation at the Hy-Tek Innovation Lab.
For more information about the Hy-Tek and Verve Motion partnership, or to schedule a hands-on trial at NBWA Booth #216, visit www.hy-tek.com.
About Verve Motion
Verve Motion is a wearable robotics technology company committed to improving the lives of industrial workers across grocery, package distribution, third-party logistics, retail, and manufacturing. Spun out of Harvard University’s Biodesign Lab, Verve Motion combines soft robotic exosuits with advanced IoT motion analytics to power and protect the industrial workforce. Its flagship SafeLift™ exosuit has aided workers in lifting hundreds of millions of pounds while drastically cutting workplace injuries. For more information, visit www.vervemotion.com.
About Hy-Tek Intralogistics
Hy-Tek Intralogistics orchestrates the future of automation by seamlessly connecting people, products, and software across a complex supply-chain ecosystem. From network consulting and facility design to the proprietary IntraOne® full-stack software platform, advanced robotics, automated material handling systems, and 24/7 lifecycle support, Hy-Tek delivers vendor-agnostic solutions that minimize operational disruption and accelerate ROI. Headquartered in Greater Cincinnati with more than 500 employees, Hy-Tek serves enterprise clients across North America from facilities in Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Learn more at www.hy-tek.com.
Press Contact:
Erik Koenig
Hy-Tek Intralogistics | hy-tek.com | (513) 351-6500
351 Kenton Lands Rd Ste 300, Erlanger, KY 41018
Vice President of Marketing, Hy-Tek Intralogistics
Erik.Koenig@hy-tek.com
614-654-4246