IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
ProGlove
ProGlove
ProGlove is a smart glove that connects the human worker with the industry 4.0
Product name and company
ProGlove – ProGlove
Description
ProGlove has developed an intelligent glove that enables employees in the manufacturing and logistics industry to work faster, safer and more ergonomically, therefore significantly increasing efficiency. ProGlove replaces the traditional scan gun. The smart glove scans 1D and 2D barcodes, each step can be documented hands-free and direct feedback from the smart glove is given to the user. The glove has an ergonomically optimized release button, which triggers the scan function by pressing it with the thumb. Through optical, acoustic and haptic signals, the worker knows about the process step, without having to look at the monitor. This avoids mistakes and saves time. With new ways to collect data, ProGlove helps companies in many industries to achieve greater levels of business intelligence in their production and logistics processes
Innovations
We realized the pain point of the industry as we analyzed the struggles workers had with scanning single components with the handheld scanning pistols. Working steps could not be changed since years, yet the need for scanning in the products remained. With a human centered design approach, ProGlove recognized this pain point and replaced the handheld scanner with a much more ergonomic and work efficient solution: The smart glove Mark, with an integrated scanning system. By integrating the scan engine into an already familiar tool, the glove, no new workflow has to be integrated by the worker. Furthermore, our Plug & Play is an easy and quickly implemented solution allowing our product to be ready to use immediately.
Market relevance
The ProGlove replaces the handheld scanner, one of the main tools in the industry. ProGlove has the advantage of saving time and ultimately money. Additionally, having the scanner integrated into the glove, employees can perform their tasks hands-free,therefore allowing them to work more safely and efficiently. Hence, ProGlove’s main industries are the manufacturing and logistics industry. The market potential there is major with approximately 300 million workers in the manufacturing industry. ProGlove is aiming to reach all of them. Scanning is needed wherever Barcodes exist. Our three key verticals are Automotive, Aerospace, and Retail with more than 250 customers like Ikea, BMW and Kuka.
Customer benefits
Ergonomics, Speed and precision. Thanks to these tributes ProGlove has a remarkable ROI: Our customer BMW saves up to four seconds per scan. Multiplying this by 1000 scans per car with 1000 cars a day, one can save a lot. With the ProGlove innovation, the worker has both hands-free – the barcode scanner is on his work-glove. The worker triggers the scanner by pressing thumb and forefinger together. Then aiming at the object and immediately getting a visual feedback. In this way, scans happens four to five seconds faster every time, for often a few thousand times a day. With ProGlove it is possible to work and scan at the same time, so hands-free scanning and thus a more ergonomic way of working are among the main functionalities of the product. By integrating currently separate functionalities into ProGlove, the worker saves time by not having to take up and put back individual tools, thereby eliminating process steps. In addition to the desire of making workers’ lives easier, more efficient and more ergonomic, ProGlove’s mission is to connect the human worker to the industrial IoT. We therefore provide a solution, how the human worker is still part of the IoT, that people are more flexible than robots. We do not want to replace the human worker with innovative technologies but want to integrate them.
Test report
ProGlove has developed an intelligent glove that replaces the conventional scanner and makes work in production or intralogistic environments faster, safer and more ergonomic: the MARK.
A compact scanner can be attached to the glove using a simple clicking system. With the combination, both barcodes and 2D codes can then be scanned immediately. The operator has both hands constantly free. And that can be a major advantage in many situations.
A variety of gloves are available – in several sizes and for both left- and right-handed scanning. The scan trigger is also available in several versions. For example, a version can be chosen where scanning is done by pushing the thumb against the index finger. But there is also a model where the scan is activated by pressing the fingertips in the palm of the hand.
According to the opinion of the IFOY Test team, the scanning is fast and enjoyable. The operator also receives direct feedback from each scan via the LED lights integrated in the scanner. The scanner also vibrates. It is a sign that the scan has succeeded.
From a hygienic point of view, the use of gloves could be seen as a downside. After all, it is not really fresh to start the working day with a glove that has just been used by a colleague for eight hours. ProGlove has overcome this by disconnecting the scanner from the glove. The scanner can be removed quickly and easily and clicked into a new glove. In this way, each employee can be provided with his or her own set of gloves, without the need for the same amount of scanners.
Because the scanners are easy to disconnect, they can also be charged easily. According to the supplier’s specifications, a complete battery can be used to work with up to two shifts (5,000 scans).
The smart glove is already used by customers in the automotive industry, among others. Here, hands-free scanning saves four seconds per scan, compared to a conventional scanning pistol.
For intralogistics purposes, ProGlove has further developed this scanner (which has been on the market since 2016) and, among other things, increased the scanning distance. On average, codes up to a distance of approximately two metres can be scanned. Depending on the size of the code, larger distances are of course also feasible.
What is missing in the eyes of the IFOY Test team is a display on the scanner. ProGlove says that experts are working on this. The company is also considering the possible integration of a camera. During the practical test, the MARK appears to function quickly and smoothly. Different codes are scanned easily. The exchangeability of the scanner itself makes the system flexible in use.
IFOY test verdict
With the MARK ProGlove brings an innovation when it comes to scanning various types of codes. The big advantage of the system is that the operator keeps his hands free to handle the goods, instead of grabbing a scanner. The basic design will be further expanded in the future and that promises extra possibilities for a wider use.
IFOY Innovation Check
Market Relevance
The ProGlove product from the company of the same name is a solution for applying the classic barcode scanner as a wearable directly to the workers’ protective clothing. The scanner is reduced to the size of a matchbox in order to minimise the gripping and movement restrictions of the users. During application, it projects a laser cross onto the target object and uses a camera with image processing to recognize the one- or two-dimensional code. In the current development stage one battery charge is sufficient for around 5,000 scans, which are usually sufficient for two shift durations in production logistics. The scanner is mounted in a holder applied directly to the glove manufactured by ProGlove or to the hand cuff.
The expectation of complete data collection and identification of load objects in the material flow continues to rise. Even though eyeglass-based and augmentation solutions continue to be the focus of innovation scouts, classic optical code readers still have their justification for robust and reliable solutions. The present solution is consistently geared towards minimising the obstruction of the order picker at work. This solution has a good market relevance.
Customer Benefit
The product benefit results from the less limited work of the users and their higher productivity. The prices do not appear to be an obstacle to the use of the system. And the performance data also meet the usual industrial requirements. Nowadays, ProGlove can be connected to common communication systems using simple interfaces. With the enhancements, the system has the potential to become a stand-alone data acquisition system.
Degree of Novelty
Technologically, the principle of the scanner with sighting and camera detection is well known. Outstanding is the miniaturized implementation in a very small and robust housing. In concrete terms, the unhindered gripping ability of the user is an important prerequisite for efficient work when it comes to picking. This is achieved with the gloves for the scanner application in an ergonomic way. The greatest innovation is for the user, who can become more efficient.
Functionality / Type of Implementation
From a purely technological point of view, the product works reliably in the test carried out. Only the aiming of the barcode over a longer distance is unusual with the scanner arranged on the back of the hand on the side, but with a little practice it works better and better. The offered carriers for the scanners, thus gloves and hand cuffs, seem to be well processed and the indicated service lives appear realistic.
| Functionality / type of implementation | + |
| Novelty / Innovation | + |
| Customer benefits | + |
| Market relevance | + |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
Videos
Playlist
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Playlist
3 Videos
Image/video credits: Workaround Gmbh (ProGlove)
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Statutes
In den Statuten sind die Grundwerte und die Standards des IFOY AWARD festgelegt, nach denen die Organisation handelt. Dazu gehören unter anderem Gremien, Wahlomodus, Bewertungskriterien sowie der Code of Conduct.
Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.