Flexible, human-centered automation designed to seamlessly integrate into real industrial environments: Schaeffler unites advanced robotics with motion technology to drive the next generation of humanoid robot applications – AI‑powered, high‑efficient, and designed to add value across a wide variety of applications such as the factory floor. Fueled by data from real production, our solutions deliver high industrial performance that meets customer requirements across the globe.
As a leading Motion Technology Company and partner, our team helps move from research and development to scalable integration and long‑term service. We are proactively adopting humanoids across our factories; continuous learning from these deployments, combined with Schaeffler’s broad motion technology portfolio, make us a trusted partner for humanoid OEMs.
Explore industrial humanoid robot use cases
Humanoid robots are being developed for use in dynamic environments where skills such as dexterity, perception, and mobility are crucial. At Schaeffler, humanoid robots are already being proactively used in multiple plants to meet real production requirements. This increases their performance, enhances reliability, and accelerates implementation processes. The practical experience gained provides continuous feedback to the development teams, which is used for the ongoing optimization of our product portfolio for humanoid robots.
Watch the video to see how these robotic systems deliver across applications and generate measurable customer value:
How we partner across the humanoid ecosystem
We support the full journey – from design to service – with four complementary roles:
- System & Component supplier
Grounded in Schaeffler’s motion technology heritage, we design and build bearings, rotary gearboxes, linear transmissions, sensors, actuators, and control electronics for industrial performance in human like robotic applications. - Humanoid user
We already deploy humanoid robot systems in real factory environments. Thanks to deep vertical integration – from component design and manufacturing to operations – we tap production data across our global footprint, close the loop between research and the shopfloor, and scale what works for customers. This proactive adoption accelerates skill development and product refinement, turning production insights into better components and systems for customers. - Integrator & Industrialization partner
Our individual production and automation solutions combine hardware, software, and process knowledge for the integration of humanoid robots. Our modular and scalable production concepts enable the demand-oriented increase of humanoid production up to series production. - Lifetime solution provider (REPXPERT)
Global service, condition monitoring, and digital tools maximize uptime and extend system life with fast, data‑driven support.
Digital twin training and humanoid simulation
NVIDIA Omniverse platform - physics‑based training and transfer to physical robots
We train humanoid robots in a digital twin environment within the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. This physics‑based and AI‑powered simulation enables diverse robotic models to master complex tasks like flexible product kitting. Knowledge generated in the virtual platform is transferred to physical robots, optimizing workflows across plants and accelerating development toward industrial‑grade performance across the company.
Data‑driven simulation - mission profile optimization and energy‑efficient actuators
We translate actual factory use cases – like unloading boxes or special pick and place operations – into our humanoid simulation model. This approach derives precise component requirements and optimizes mission profiles early alongside physical prototypes. Vertical integration closes the loop: insights gained from real world use case simulation steer actuator and component design, while shopfloor data continuously retrains models – driving efficient, reliable robots.
System & Component supplier – Integrated motion portfolio
The integrated motion portfolio from Schaeffler includes eight product families, which are used in various areas, including humanoid robotics and production environments.
Guide Motion
Bearings and linear guides minimize friction for precise motion.
Transmit Motion
Gearboxes convert torque and speed for reliable joints and end‑effectors.
Control Motion
Sensors and ECUs measure and regulate robotic systems for safety and efficiency.
Generate Motion
Actuators turn signals into force, pressure, or torque for human‑like manipulation.
Power Motion
Power electronics route energy efficiently from storage to motors.
Drive Motion
E‑drives deliver mechanical motion for mobile platforms and dual‑arm setups.
Energize Motion
Clean‑energy solutions (hydrogen, electricity) power robots sustainably.
Sustain Motion
Digital services and condition monitoring extend product life and uptime.
Actuators in the focus of humanoid robots
Actuators represent about 50% of the total value of the bill of materials (BOM) in many humanoid robots. Schaeffler offers state-of-the-art, smart actuators that are based on decades of experience from the series and vertically integrated production of high-quality products such as rotary and linear drives, BLDC motors, sensors, and control electronics.
The home of our motion technologies is our factory floor and research & development centers. As deployments scale across plants around the world, our company advances research, applies robotic intelligence in production, and transfers proven applications to customers - shaping the future of industrial humanoid robotics.
Integrator & Industrialization partner
Whether you want to manufacture humanoids or integrate them into production, we also support you as an Integrator and Industrialization partner by offering two pathways:
- Humanoid manufacturing
As an innovative industrialization partner, we support the development and production of humanoid systems and their key components through modular and scalable production concepts. - Humanoid integration (special machinery)
Our goal is to strategically integrate humanoids into industrial automation solutions. With our expertise in special machinery and automation, we actively shape the next generation of intelligent and scalable manufacturing.
Technology partner with industrialization expertise
In twelve core manufacturing technology classes, we group more than 90 processes that matter for Schaeffler:
- Hot forming
- Cold forming
- Machining
- Heat treatment
- Injection molding
- Coating
- Winding technologies
- Assembly & Inspection technologies
- Surface mounting technologies
- Electronics protection technologies
- Interconnection technologies
- Additive manufacturing
This combined expertise underpins our motion technology platform, vertical integration, and industrialization capability and is reviewed on an ongoing basis for technical relevance, state of the art maturity, and cost efficiency.
Contact our team
Ready to integrate? Contact our humanoid robotics team to explore our component and system solutions, use cases, platforms, and services tailored to your environment. We’re here to help - let’s design and build the next era of intelligent, human‑like automation together.
Dave Kehr
President Humanoid Robotics
Schaeffler Group USA Inc.
1750 East Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48083
USA
