FRT Robotics (CEO Jang Jae-ho) is a leading company in the development and manufacturing of industrial wearable robots in Korea. Founded in 2015 by researchers from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the company provides innovative solutions to improve worker safety and efficiency.

The flagship product, the 'Step Up' series, is a wearable robot focused on preventing musculoskeletal disorders in workers. It supports posture correction and muscle strength required during work and reduces fatigue caused by repetitive tasks. In particular, it distributes the burden on the waist and legs, significantly reducing the risk of injury.

CEO Jang Jae-ho emphasized, “Step Up is the world’s first commercialized modular, task-tailored wearable robot,” and “It is an innovative product that matches the industrial trends of ESG management and aging.” In fact, this robot is being supplied to various industrial sites, including large domestic battery material companies and global distributors, and is currently being tested as a muscle support robot for caregivers at a municipal nursing home under the Seoul Metropolitan Government through the 2023 Testbed Seoul demonstration support project. In addition, it has been registered as an innovative procurement product of the Public Procurement Service, and a pilot operation project is underway by supplying products in large quantities to the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency.

The company's technological prowess is recognized in many ways. It was selected for the robot sector of the '2024 Ultra-Gap Startup 1000+ Project' by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the '2024 Robot Flagship Project' by the Korea Robot Industry Advancement Institute. In addition, it has been recognized for its achievements, including winning the Prime Minister's Award Gold Prize for Excellent Design in 2022 and the Innovation Award from the Minister of Science and Technology at the 'World IT Show 2024'.

“Our goal is to enter the global market and become the world’s number one company in the exo-skeleton industry,” said CEO Jang. “We are developing customized control algorithms using AI technology and conducting research on various wearable technologies to prepare for a super-aging society, and we are aiming for an IPO in 2026.” He added, “The future of the exo-skeleton market is a fusion of the strengths of robots that use force and humans that perceive and judge.” In addition, the company provides comprehensive solutions that integrate IoT functions and is also pursuing continuous technological innovation to keep pace with the wearable robot market, which is expected to grow even further in the future.

The secret to FRT Robotics’ success lies in its long-term research experience and field-oriented approach. After about 10 years of research and verification, it has developed a practical and universal product model, and has drastically reduced the time and cost required for customization through modularization technology.

“We have been researching wearable robots for a long time, and through this, we want to provide 4050 workers with technical support and safety guarantees, as well as opportunities to participate in social activities as much as they want,” said CEO Jang.