Schaeffler, a motion technology company, has been awarded the prestigious Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed specifically for humanoid robots. The award was presented during the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on April 19 by Dorothee Bar, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The independent jury, chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, selected Schaeffler from three nominated companies, recognizing the platform's high level of innovation and significant benefits for industry.
The actuator platform is a critical development for the humanoid robotics sector, as actuators account for approximately 50% of the total cost of a humanoid robot. By offering a modular, scalable, and highly integrated solution, Schaeffler aims to make humanoid robots more cost-effective and ready for large-scale industrial use. The platform includes rotary actuators for joints like shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural movement sequences. It features highly efficient electric motors with integrated power electronics, high-precision encoders, and flexible gearing options such as two-stage planetary or strain wave gears.
One of the key innovations is the integration of the bearing into the rotor, which reduces the installation footprint by about 20% and weight by up to 500 grams. This results in a design that is up to 10 mm more compact than other solutions while delivering high continuous torque. Schaeffler plans to begin series production of components as early as this year, leveraging its 12 core manufacturing technologies, including highly automated winding technology and chipless metal forming for roller bearing rings as thin as 1 mm.
Georg F. W. Schaeffler, family shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schaeffler AG, expressed delight at receiving the award, stating that the company's 80-year legacy of innovation is now applied to growth segments like humanoid robotics. Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, noted that the award acknowledges the potential of the Motion Technology Company concept, emphasizing that actuator technology, combined with AI, is key to enabling the breakthrough of humanoid robots.
The demand for efficient actuators is growing globally, and Schaeffler's platform addresses this by offering cost-effective, reliable, and scalable solutions. The company's close integration of development, production, and supply chain allows for fast and flexible production ramp-up. The actuator platform, along with other key components for humanoids and industrial intralogistics solutions, will be on display at Booth E60 in Hall 13 at Hannover Messe from April 20 to 24. More information about Schaeffler's participation can be found at Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026.
This award underscores Schaeffler's key role as a component supplier in the humanoid robotics segment, positioning the company to be instrumental in readying humanoid robots for widespread industrial deployment.
