Schaeffler has received the prestigious Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed specifically for humanoid robots. The award, presented during the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on April 19, 2026, recognizes the platform's innovation and industrial benefits, particularly in integrating mechanical engineering with artificial intelligence. The platform's modularity and efficiency position Schaeffler as a key component supplier in the rapidly growing humanoid robotics segment.
Actuators account for about 50% of the total cost of humanoid robots, making them a critical factor for competitiveness. Schaeffler's platform includes rotary actuators for joints like shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural movement. The design integrates bearings into the rotor, reducing installation footprint by 20% and weight by up to 500 grams, while maintaining high continuous torque. The company plans to begin series production this year, leveraging its 12 core manufacturing technologies, including automated winding and chipless metal forming.
Georg F. W. Schaeffler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, stated, "With our highly integrated actuator platform, we are setting new benchmarks in this growth area by combining our decades-long technology expertise with our excellent track record in industrialization." CEO Klaus Rosenfeld added, "There’s barely any other technology at Schaeffler that illustrates more effectively the immense potential behind this concept than actuator technology."
The platform's flexibility allows configuration with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears, depending on customer requirements. This combination of space-saving design, high efficiency, and modularity makes it a key technology for humanoid robot drive systems. Schaeffler will showcase the platform and other innovative components at Hannover Messe from April 20 to 24 at Booth E60 in Hall 13. More information is available at Schaeffler's website.
The Hermes Award, chosen by an independent jury chaired by Fraunhofer President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, underscores Schaeffler's role in advancing humanoid robotics. The company's focus on cost-effective, scalable solutions is expected to accelerate the industrial adoption of humanoid robots, addressing labor shortages and automation needs across industries.
