Body repair equipment supplier Pro Spot showcased several cutting-edge machines at its booth — along with a rather unique contest.

Russell Duncan, Director of Sales and Marketing for Canada at Pro Spot, first addressed a particularly interesting topic: the ergonomics of the equipment developed by his company.

“We offer precision equipment designed to meet the most exacting specifications,” he explained. “We’ve also noticed a growing interest from shop managers in the safety and well-being of their workers.”

To that end, the Ergo Lift Assist system — a motorized arm mechanism originally designed to support spot welding systems — is now available to help handle riveters. This accessory significantly reduces the weight of the tools while maintaining great mobility.

The Pro Spot booth also featured a showdown between man and machine, where a collaborative robot (or cobot) built by the manufacturer to perform repetitive welds went head-to-head with a human competitor to test dexterity. According to Bob Hamilton, who organized the event, there was no clear winner — the real goal was to demonstrate how automation can take over precise yet repetitive tasks.

This cobot is already used in some assembly operations at Pro Spot’s manufacturing plant.