What is the Préventica trade fair?
If you work in occupational health, safety or quality of working life, the name Préventica will certainly ring a bell. It is the leading event in France for professionals looking for practical ways to prevent occupational risks and improve working conditions. And for several editions now, one word has been on every visitor's lips: exoskeleton. Préventica has indeed become the reference meeting point to discover these physical assistance devices in action, test them and understand how they are reshaping workplaces over the long term.
An unmissable event for occupational health
Préventica pursues a clear objective: to promote the prevention of occupational risks and genuinely improve working conditions. The trade fair brings together manufacturers, distributors, training organisations, consultancies and public institutions under one roof. The idea is simple: to enable professionals to compare solutions, exchange views with experts and leave with actionable ideas they can apply in their own companies.
The target audience is broad and complementary:
- QHSE managers (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment)
- Ergonomists and prevention specialists
- Occupational physicians and occupational health nurses
- Business owners, HR directors and production managers
- Employee representatives and works council members
The figures speak for themselves: each regional edition generally brings together more than 400 exhibitors and attracts nearly 20,000 visitors, with a packed programme of conferences, workshops and round tables. It is this combination of commercial exhibition and scientific content that makes Préventica unique.
Dates and locations of upcoming editions
Préventica operates on a regional trade fair format, which allows it to cover the whole of France. The 2024-2025 calendar includes several major stops:
| City | Indicative period | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Lyon | Autumn 2025 | Major edition, strong presence of exoskeletons |
| Paris | Spring 2025 | The largest edition, innovations previewed |
| Nantes | 2025 | Focus on the industrial and logistics sectors |
| Other cities | According to calendar | Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg in particular |
Each edition keeps the same format: an exhibition area, themed conferences, practical workshops and demonstrations under real conditions. The 2025 edition promises to be particularly rich, with increased attention paid to technological innovations and physical assistance at work.
Key themes
Préventica covers the full range of prevention issues, but certain themes come up systematically and attract the largest number of visitors:
- Prevention of MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders), the leading cause of occupational illness in France
- Ergonomics and workplace layout
- Safety in the broadest sense: machinery, chemical risks, falls
- Quality of working life and prevention of psychosocial risks
- Technological innovations: exoskeletons, connected objects, virtual reality, artificial intelligence
Company feedback also plays a central role. Round tables allow manufacturers, SMEs and local authorities to share their successes, but also their difficulties, which is a valuable source of information for those considering taking the plunge.
The place of exoskeletons at Préventica
For several editions now, exoskeletons have become one of the main attractions of the trade fair. It has to be said that the subject fascinates: between technological promises, ergonomic challenges and questions of return on investment, professionals want to understand what lies behind these devices. Préventica offers them an ideal setting to move from theory to practice.
Exhibitors and demonstrations
Many exoskeleton manufacturers and distributors are present at Préventica. These include Exyvex, RB3D, Hilti, as well as other French and international players specialising in physical assistance. Each presents its latest innovations on its stand, but above all offers concrete demonstrations.
These demonstration areas are particularly popular because they allow equipment to be tested in realistic situations:
- Carrying heavy loads
- Repetitive movements (assembly, screwing, handling)
- Prolonged static positions (working with arms raised, crouching)
- Movement over difficult terrain
The opportunity to try an exoskeleton yourself and talk directly to manufacturers is a real asset. It allows you to form a precise idea of the comfort, ease of adjustment and real contribution of the equipment, far removed from simple technical datasheets.
Dedicated conferences and workshops
Beyond the stands, Préventica offers a programme of conferences and workshops specifically devoted to exoskeletons. Experts speak there to share their experience and analysis:
- Presentations on integrating exoskeletons into companies: where to start, how to train teams, how to measure the benefits
- Presentation of scientific studies on the real effectiveness of exoskeletons, particularly in reducing MSDs
- Practical workshops such as "how to choose your exoskeleton?", with criteria grids and feedback
These sessions are often full, a sign of companies' growing interest in these solutions.
Types of exoskeletons presented
The diversity of equipment presented at Préventica reflects the market's gradual maturity. Three main families are generally distinguished:
- Upper limb exoskeletons: they assist the arms and shoulders, particularly useful for overhead work or repetitive movements
- Lower limb exoskeletons: they support the legs and hips, such as the Exyvex, and are suited to roles requiring crouching, kneeling or prolonged walking
- Full or modular exoskeletons: they combine several assistance zones and adapt to a variety of sectors (industry, construction, logistics, healthcare)
This variety allows each company to find a solution suited to its specific constraints, whether it is a production station, a construction site or a care service.
The benefits of exoskeletons for MSD prevention
Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of occupational illness in France. Every year, they generate millions of days of sick leave and considerable costs for companies and society alike. Faced with this situation, exoskeletons appear as a complementary solution to traditional prevention approaches.
Reduction of musculoskeletal disorders
The principle is simple: by assisting movement or supporting part of the body, the exoskeleton reduces physical strain on joints and muscles. The result: less tension on vulnerable areas, less accumulated fatigue, and therefore less risk of developing a condition.
Studies carried out in equipped companies show encouraging results:
- A 30 to 50% reduction in MSDs in certain configurations
- A significant reduction in lower back pain, tendinitis and other conditions linked to repetitive movements
- A decrease in the mental burden associated with the fear of injury
These figures should of course be interpreted with caution: effectiveness depends on the type of role, user training and the overall integration of the equipment into a prevention strategy.
Improvement of working conditions
Beyond pure prevention, exoskeletons genuinely improve workers' day-to-day experience:
- Physical assistance for strenuous tasks: carrying loads, static positions, repetitive movements
- Reduced fatigue at the end of the day, which often translates into better productivity
- Better inclusion of ageing workers or those with disabilities, who can thus remain in their roles for longer
In a context of an ageing workforce and labour shortages in certain sectors, these benefits are far from trivial.
Company feedback
Several companies, particularly in the automotive and aerospace industries, have already taken the plunge and share their feedback at Préventica. The benefits observed are often multiple:
- A reduction in absence related to MSDs
- Improved wellbeing at work and workplace relations
- Better appeal for recruiting into strenuous roles
The key success factors identified are always the same: user training, change management support, workstation adaptation and ongoing monitoring. An exoskeleton that stays in the cupboard achieves nothing; it is its real, supervised use that makes the difference.
Focus on the Exyvex leg exoskeleton
Among the solutions presented at Préventica, the Exyvex leg exoskeleton attracts particular attention. It illustrates the new generation of equipment well: lighter, more ergonomic and suited to a variety of uses, from the professional world to hiking and rehabilitation.
Overview and characteristics
Exyvex is a leg exoskeleton designed to assist movement in the lower limbs. Its main characteristics:
- A lightweight and ergonomic design, intended not to hinder the user in their movements
- Motorised or passive assistance technology depending on the model, to support the walking or bending movement
- Custom settings that adapt to different body types and different needs
This adaptability is essential: an exoskeleton must fit its user's body shape to be effective and comfortable, without creating pressure points.
Hiking applications
One of the most surprising applications of Exyvex concerns hiking. On uneven terrain, the exoskeleton assists walking and reduces muscular effort, which makes it possible to:
- Extend endurance over long distances
- Prevent certain injuries linked to fatigue or repeated strain
- Make the mountains accessible to people who would have given up without assistance
Mountain professionals (guides, rescue workers) as well as knowledgeable amateurs are beginning to take an interest, although use remains marginal in this field.
Professional applications
It is in the world of work that Exyvex finds its most promising territory. The sectors concerned are numerous:
- Construction: work in a crouching position, carrying loads, moving around site
- Logistics: repetitive handling, order picking
- Industry: static or repetitive roles requiring leg assistance
- Agriculture: market gardening, harvesting, maintenance
The objective is always the same: to reduce the arduousness of repetitive tasks or heavy load carrying, and to integrate the equipment into a comprehensive MSD prevention programme. The exoskeleton does not replace workstation design, but it complements it effectively.
Rehabilitation applications
Another rapidly growing field: rehabilitation. After an injury or an operation (knee, hip), the exoskeleton can help the patient gradually regain mobility and recover motor function. Used in hospitals or rehabilitation centres, it enables:
- Personalised support of movement
- Earlier and safer resumption of walking
- Improved mobility and functional recovery
Medical teams see it as an interesting complementary tool, particularly for patients who lack muscle strength or who are apprehensive about bearing weight again.
Future prospects and innovations in exoskeletons
The exoskeleton market is undergoing major change. The equipment presented at Préventica five years ago now seems outdated compared with recent innovations. Several underlying trends are emerging.
Technological trends
Manufacturers are working on several fronts simultaneously:
- Miniaturisation and lightness: exoskeletons are becoming more discreet and more comfortable to wear over a full day
- Greater battery life: a crucial point for professional use outdoors or on shift work
- Integration of AI and sensors: assistance becomes adaptive, meaning it adjusts in real time to the user's movements and needs
- Soft and textile exoskeletons: a new generation of equipment without a rigid structure, closer to technical clothing than to a machine
These developments should make adoption easier for workers, who often remain wary of equipment perceived as bulky or stigmatising.
Issues and challenges
Despite rapid advances, several challenges remain:
- Standardisation and certification: the regulatory framework is gradually being put in place, but
