
From High-Cost Hardware To Hope: How ExoAtlet's New Rental Model Could Change Rehabilitation Forever
Powered exoskeletons can cost more than $100,000 and are prohibitively expensive for most. However, the medical technology startup ExoAtlet is trying out a well-known solution borrowed from the software world and will offer its wearable devices as Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS). This week, the European exoskeleton producer ExoAtlet announced a unique partnership with WeCare MedLease, launching a leasing program intended to make its medical walking assistance wearable robots more accessible to clinics, researchers, and individuals across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
While this is the first mass medical rental program, some consumer exoskeletons have already successfully introduced their powered devices as rentals (though not all attempts have succeeded). By adopting an alternative to direct sales and introducing a Hardware as a Service (HaaS) model to medical exoskeletons, ExoAtlet could be paving the way for the occupational/industrial and defense wearable technology markets to follow suit. The high upfront cost of the devices has repeatedly been cited as a barrier to mass adoption.
'People must walk in order to get back on their feet,' says Kate Bereziy, CEO of ExoAtlet. 'By combining our strengths with WeCare, we're making exoskeletons affordable…' The vision is to increase accessibility of this technology to adults, children, clinicians, and researchers alike. As of writing, the rental cost for professional facilities is €150 per day.
What ExoAtlet and WeCare MedLease pilot in healthcare can directly translate to all other exoskeleton applications. A well-developed HaaS program could have additional benefits, including the already mentioned reduction to the buyer's initial investment; it can allow for faster procurement and easier product lifecycle management.
Exoskeleton technology is an emerging solution at the intersection of ergonomics and mobility, characterized by a rapid product development cycle. New models are frequently released, making it challenging for buyers to keep pace. Similar to a car lease that allows the customer to always have the newest model on the road, a rental program can help keep only the latest models in use. The opposite is also true; changes to large manufacturing lines, like a new car model rolling through the assembly line, can make some ergonomic solutions obsolete. A HaaS model would resolve any risk to the buyer of purchasing exoskeletons that may not be needed in the future due to a production line change.
A hallmark of a true Hardware-as-a-Service model is that the exoskeleton vendor would be more involved with adopting, using, and maintaining the wearable devices. This would push the entire industry from a distribution model to an integrator one, which is not unusual for complex systems that must be integrated with processes and people. Distributors that don't have pilot, training, and maintenance capabilities will always have the option to hire third-party contractors and experts and bake their costs into the rental fees.
Only time will tell if the ExoAtlet and WeCare MedLease's agreement will be approached as a classical rental or a service. However, what is starting in the homes and clinics could create a brighter future across all exoskeleton technology applications.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
EU's Von der Leyen to Meet Trump in Bid to Clinch Trade Deal
(Bloomberg) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will travel to Scotland this weekend to meet with US President Donald Trump, as the two sides aim to conclude a trade deal ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline when 30% tariffs on the bloc's exports are otherwise due to kick in. Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Can This Bridge Ease the Troubled US-Canadian Relationship? Salt Lake City Turns Winter Olympic Bid Into Statewide Bond Boom Trump Administration Sues NYC Over Sanctuary City Policy After months of talks and shuttle diplomacy between Brussels and Washington DC, the two sides have been zeroing in on an agreement this past week that would see the EU face 15% tariffs on most of its trade. Limited exemptions are expected for aviation, some medical devices and generic medicines, several spirits, and a specific set of manufacturing equipment that the US needs, Bloomberg previously reported. Steel and aluminum imports would likely benefit from a quota under the arrangements under discussion but above that threshold they would face a higher tariff of 50%. 'We'll see if we make a deal,' Trump said as he arrived in Scotland on Friday. 'Ursula will be here, highly respected woman. So we look forward to that.' Trump reiterated that he believed there was 'a 50-50 chance' of a deal with the EU, saying there were sticking points on 'maybe 20 different things' that he did not want to detail publicly. Trump gave similar odds in Washington before leaving, but also said the EU had a 'pretty good chance' of reaching an agreement. Trump announced tariffs on almost all US trading partners in April, declaring his intent to bring back domestic manufacturing, to pay for a massive tax-cut extension and to stop the rest of the world from taking advantage of the US. He has also sought to remove what he describes as barriers for American companies to do business around the world. Alongside a universal levy, the US president has hit cars and auto parts with a 25% levy, and steel and aluminum with double that. He's also threatened to target pharmaceuticals and semiconductors with new duties as early as next month, and recently announced a 50% tariff on copper. The EU has been seeking quotas and a ceiling on future sectoral tariffs that the US has yet to implement but it's unclear if an initial agreement will shield the bloc from potential future levies at this stage. The agreement would also cover non-tariff barriers, cooperation on economic security matters and strategic purchases by the EU in sectors such as energy and artificial intelligence. The terms of any initial deal, which is expected to take the form of a short joint statement, would need to be approved by member states, according to people familiar with the matter. The statement is seen as a stepping stone toward more detailed negotiations. Because of the ongoing uncertainty, the EU has in parallel put together countermeasures in the event of a no-deal scenario, which would see it quickly hit American exports with up to 30% tariffs on some €100 billion ($117 billion) worth of goods — including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whiskey — in the event of no-deal and if Trump carries through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug. 1 or in future. The package also includes some export restrictions on scrap metals. In a no-deal scenario, the bloc is also prepared to move forward with its anti-coercion instrument, a potent trade tool that would eventually allow it to also target other areas such as market access, services and restrictions on public contracts, provided that there is a majority of member states backing its use. (Updates with Trump remarks in paragraphs 4-6.) Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash Confessions of a Laptop Farmer: How an American Helped North Korea's Wild Remote Worker Scheme It's Not Just Tokyo and Kyoto: Tourists Descend on Rural Japan Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China's Border ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
3 Consumer Stocks We Approach with Caution
Retailers are overhauling their operations as technology redefines the shopping experience. But many seem to be moving too slowly as their demand is lagging, causing the industry to underperform the market - over the past six months, retail stocks have shed 5.8%. This performance is a noticeable divergence from the S&P 500's 5.8% return. A cautious approach is imperative when dabbling in these companies as many will light cash on fire by opening new locations without the proper justifications. Keeping that in mind, here are three consumer stocks we're passing on. Lithia (LAD) Market Cap: $8.06 billion With a strong presence in the Western US, Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) sells a wide range of vehicles, including new and used cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury vehicles from various manufacturers. Why Do We Think Twice About LAD? Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand Widely-available products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 15.9% that must be offset through higher volumes High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens Lithia is trading at $309.78 per share, or 8.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than LAD. Petco (WOOF) Market Cap: $1.06 billion Historically known for its window displays of pets for sale or adoption, Petco (NASDAQ:WOOF) is a specialty retailer of pet food and supplies as well as a provider of services such as wellness checks and grooming. Why Are We Out on WOOF? Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new locations Earnings per share have dipped by 41% annually over the past four years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term 8× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings Petco's stock price of $3.89 implies a valuation ratio of 27.4x forward P/E. If you're considering WOOF for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Walgreens (WBA) Market Cap: $10.03 billion Primarily offering prescription medicine, health, and beauty products, Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) is a pharmacy chain formed through the 2014 major merger of American company Walgreens and European company Alliance Boots. Why Are We Hesitant About WBA? Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 3.8% over the last six years was below our standards for the consumer retail sector Commoditized inventory, bad unit economics, and high competition are reflected in its low gross margin of 17.7% High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate At $11.58 per share, Walgreens trades at 7.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why WBA doesn't pass our bar. Stocks We Like More Donald Trump's April 2024 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities. The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don't miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NS&I to deploy SBS' cloud-native core system
The National Savings and Investments (NS&I), a government-owned savings bank in the UK, has partnered with global financial technology firm SBS to upgrade its core banking and payments systems. This initiative is part of NS&I's Transformation Programme, which includes a contract with Atos, a digital transformation company. In this context, SBS cited a report by Celent, which forecasts that European retail banks will increase their cloud investments by 57.5% by 2030, reaching a total of $12.6bn. NS&I's internal infrastructure supports more than 24 million customers and manages changes to savings rates while addressing customer interactions. The implementation of SBS's digital, cloud-native core banking platform is expected to enhance operational efficiencies, as well as improve product and service delivery for NS&I. SBS CEO Eric Bierry said: 'NS&I's transformation program is evidence that it is possible for banks to execute this transformation—and doing so sets them up to drive otherwise unattainable efficiencies and experiences.' In collaboration with Atos, IBM, and Sopra Steria, NS&I is working to digitise its retail banking operations. The new SBP Digital Core platform from SBS will replace the existing core system, providing a cloud-native infrastructure for all retail banking and payment services. The SBP Digital Core is a cloud-native, composable banking solution that utilises latest technology and data to enable banks to deliver personalised banking experiences while adhering to regulatory standards. Transitioning to the SBP Digital Core will allow NS&I to leverage the flexibility and scalability of AWS's cloud environment, facilitating frequent adjustments to data storage and infrastructure as required. Unlike traditional core systems, which are often difficult to update, SBS's cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution provides regular automatic updates, according to the tech company. NS&I chief operating officer Matt Smith said: 'NS&I's transformation programme will help to deliver the digital experiences that our customers expect, while still ensuring there is help and support for those who need it.' The SBP Digital Core is part of a comprehensive suite of retail banking solutions offered by SBS. These are utilised by more than 1,500 banks across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. "NS&I to deploy SBS' cloud-native core system" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤