Trusted by automotive manufacturers and suppliers
In brief
Automotive material handling covers demanding operations: tool manipulation inside production machines, body panel handling, seat and windshield insertion, engine cylinder head verification, and support of heavy subassemblies up to 200 kg.
Neoditech offers two complementary solutions: the SCARA manipulator arm (PARTS 50 kg and TITAN 100 kg models) for precision and insertion operations, and the ERGO360° ergonomic positioner (100 to 200 kg) for holding and orienting heavy subassemblies.
Both pieces of equipment are available in mobile, repositionable versions without permanent infrastructure.
Financing support includes HSE improvement grants, accelerated capital allowances, and insurance premium reductions from reduced MSD claims.
Michelin, Renault, PSA, Renault Trucks, Heuliez Bus, Mecachrome, Pilote, Glenan, Ligier, Fruehauf, CNH, Hutchinson, Man and EMotors trust Neoditech.
The handling challenges of the automotive industry
Automotive manufacturing imposes constraints that few sectors combine: heavy and complex components (body panels, seats, windshields, engine blocks, cylinder heads), confined spaces inside production machines, sustained production rates, and zero tolerance for damage on painted or machined surfaces. Add to this a structural MSD risk linked to repetitive gestures and loads handled dozens of times per shift. Equipping your workshops means addressing all four constraints simultaneously, without compromise.
Zero damage on high-value components
Painted body panels, glazed windshields, machined cylinder heads and assembled seats share one critical point: any shock, scratch or misalignment generates costly rework or scrap.
Automotive parts handling tolerates no uncontrolled contact on finished surfaces. A manipulator arm maintains a controlled trajectory with a custom gripper adapted to each part’s geometry. The movement is reproducible, the part arrives at its exact position, without impact or stray contact.
Eliminate MSDs at workstation design stage
HSE data shows that musculoskeletal disorders account for 27% of all work-related ill health in the UK. In automotive context: repetitive seat and windshield insertion, tool handling inside production machines, heavy component positioning for inspection. Ergonomics and MSD prevention begins at workstation design, not after the first injury claim.
Workstations accessible to every operator profile
The automotive sector faces real recruitment pressures and an ageing workforce. A workstation equipped with a manipulator arm or ergonomic positioner requires no physical strength. Men or women, junior or senior operators maintain the same production rate without effort. This is a concrete attractiveness lever, beyond risk prevention alone.
Solutions that integrate into your lines without permanent infrastructure
Automotive lines combine fixed assembly stations, rotating inspection posts and maintenance zones. Equipment must integrate without modifying the line or imposing civil engineering work. Neoditech offers three mobility options suited to each configuration.
- Electric wheel base. The arm repositions autonomously between an assembly station and an inspection post. No manual intervention, no pallet truck required.
- Pallet truck base. Quick repositioning between production series or vehicle models. Ideal for workshops that change configuration according to volumes.
- Floor-fixed base. For high-cadence fixed stations: windshield insertion line, seat assembly post, dedicated quality control station.
No permanent infrastructure is required. Installation is completed in a few hours, without extended line stoppage.
Two solutions to cover all your automotive handling operations
SCARA manipulator arm
SWL up to
100Kg
Tool insertion and replacement in production machines, cylinder head handling and mechanical component manipulation.
ERGO360° ergonomic positioner
SWL up to
200Kg
Inspection, assembly, deburring, wiring and quality control operations on heavy parts (engine cylinder head, bus front panel).
SCARA Arm or ERGO360° Positioner: two complementary operating logics
| Equipment | SWL | Usage logic | Typical operations | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCARA manipulator arm | 50 or 100 kg | Precision and insertion: bringing a part or tool to its exact position, working in confined spaces inside production machines | Handling production tools inside machines, inserting seats and windscreens, handling body panels, replacing components in confined spaces | Compact design, millimetre precision, custom gripper, reproducible motion |
| ERGO360° ergonomic positioner | 100 to 200 kg (only Neoditech product rated at 200 kg) | Holding and orienting: keeping a heavy sub-assembly at any angle for assembly, wiring, deburring or quality control | Inspection of engine cylinder heads, sub-assembly fitting, wiring, deburring of machined parts, 360° quality control | 360° rotation via foot pedal, stable hold up to 200 kg, access to all faces, optimal working height |
Request a free workstation audit
Our account managers visit your workshop, review your constraints and recommend the right configuration.
Applications in your automotive workshops
Financing your investment
Protecting operators through ergonomic equipment is eligible for public support in the UK and internationally.
HSE improvement notice compliance: Accelerated capital allowances apply to equipment purchased to meet HSE improvement notices or to prevent work-related ill health.
Healthy Working Lives grants (Scotland): Grants available for equipment that reduces MSD risk and improves workplace health.
Insurance premium reductions: Reduced MSD claims and RIDDOR compliance lead to lower insurance premiums and improved health and safety records.
Capital allowances: Equipment qualifies under UK tax law for capital allowances, reducing the net cost of investment.
Occupational health improvement schemes: Depending on your jurisdiction, additional support may be available through occupational health and safety schemes.
Why Neoditech?
Why automotive manufacturers and suppliers choose Neoditech
Neoditech is both designer and manufacturer. The gripper is designed in-house by the engineering team, adapted to each part and each workstation. References in the automotive industry speak for themselves: Michelin, Renault, PSA, Toyota, Renault Trucks, Heuliez Bus, Mecachrome, Pilote, Glenan, Ligier, Fruehauf, CNH, Hutchinson, Man and EMotors. These companies impose strict requirements for precision, traceability and surface quality. Neoditech teams work discreetly, adapt to site constraints and provide complete documentation.
What you get concretely:
Free on-site workstation analysis, no commitment
Custom gripper designed by our engineering team
Manufacturing in France, controlled lead times
Installation in a few hours, operator training on site
CE marking, compliance with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
What our solutions do not cover
Let’s be direct.
Loads exceeding 100 kg for the SCARA TITAN: beyond this, the ERGO360° positioner (up to 200 kg) or a dedicated lifting system is more appropriate.
Loads exceeding 200 kg for the ERGO360° positioner: beyond this, an overhead crane or powered hoist is more appropriate.
Full automation without operator: our equipment keeps the operator at the heart of the process. For fully autonomous lines, a robotics integrator is better suited to this need.
Long-distance transfers: a manipulator arm works within a defined radius. For transfers of several tens of metres, our Mobile Order Picker, a conveyor or a is better dimensioned.
The SCARA manipulator arm is equipped with a custom gripper designed by the Neoditech engineering team: suction cups for glazed surfaces, mechanical gripper for seats. The trajectory is fully controlled, without impact or stray contact. The movement is reproducible at each cycle, which eliminates the risk of scratches linked to operator fatigue at the end of the shift.
The SCARA arm is designed to bring a part or tool to its exact position: insertion, machine loading, handling in confined spaces. The ERGO360° positioner is designed to hold a heavy component at any angle so you can work on it: inspection, deburring, wiring, quality control. The two pieces of equipment are complementary and can coexist on the same workstation for complex operations.
Yes. This is precisely one of its key strengths. Its compact articulated architecture allows it to access confined spaces inside production machines where conventional equipment cannot enter. The gripper is adapted to the geometry of the tool or component to be handled, and millimetre precision guarantees correct insertion without risk of damage to machine surfaces.
Neoditech equipment complies with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and carries CE marking. The millimetre precision of the SCARA arm and the reproducibility of movement meet the traceability and dimensional control requirements of automotive workshops. Complete technical documentation is provided at delivery. For requirements specific to IATF 16949 certification, our teams examine your workstation constraints during the free analysis.
HSE improvement notice compliance investment qualifies for accelerated capital allowances. Healthy Working Lives grants (Scotland) support equipment that reduces MSD risk. Insurance premium reductions follow from reduced MSD claims and improved RIDDOR compliance. Capital allowances under UK tax law reduce the net cost of investment.
Contact us
Conclusion:
take action
Your operators handle heavy parts, repeatedly, in confined spaces. This is the daily reality of automotive material handling. Neoditech visits your site, analyses your workstation free of charge and without commitment, then proposes the solution suited to your load, your space and your production rate. Contact our team to get started. Discover all our industry applications and download technical documentation for the SCARA arm and ERGO360° directly from the product pages.
Neoditech: your partner for automotive industry material handling
Since 2007, Neoditech has designed and manufactured assisted material handling equipment in France for industry. Our solutions combine ergonomics and production performance, without compromise between operator protection and sustained production rates. Present in France and across Europe, we support automotive manufacturers and suppliers from workstation analysis through to commissioning, with ongoing support. Protect your operators. Sustain your production rates.
We design solutions that combine ergonomics and productivity. Our equipment enables manufacturers to improve operator safety while optimizing their production processes. Neoditech is also :
Customers supported in France and Europe
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Manipulators sold in France and elsewhere
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Useful sources
HSE: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/: UK data on MSDs as a leading cause of work-related ill health, with automotive and manufacturing among the most affected sectors.
HSE: Manufacturing sector guidance https://www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing/: sector-specific guidance on hazards, risk assessment and control measures in manufacturing, including automotive.
IOSH: Ergonomics https://www.iosh.com/: professional guidance on ergonomics interventions, workstation design and MSD prevention in manufacturing environments.
HSE: Manual handling at work https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.htm: practical guidance on manual handling risk assessment and control measures, applicable to automotive assembly and component handling.