Humanoid Secures Major Manufacturing Deal With Schaeffler to Deploy Thousands of Robots

Humanoid and Schaeffler have signed a major deal to deploy thousands of wheeled humanoid robots across Schaeffler’s German factories by 2032, beginning in late 2026. The partnership marks a transition from pilot projects to large-scale industrial use, with initial deployments planned at Schaeffler’s Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt facilities. In Herzogenaurach, robots will handle box tasks in active production, while Schweinfurt will focus on integration testing before scaling up. The agreement includes a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, where customers pay for ongoing robotic operations instead of purchasing robots outright. This includes fleet management, maintenance, updates, and performance optimization. Schaeffler will also serve as a preferred supplier of actuators, which control the robots’ joint movements and account for roughly 50% of their total cost. Schaeffler’s compact planetary gear actuators, designed for continuous industrial use, will power over half of Humanoid’s joint actuator demand through 2031. The partnership reflects broader industry trends, as manufacturers increasingly turn to humanoid robots to address labor shortages and repetitive tasks in structured factory environments. Unlike many humanoid robotics projects confined to labs, this deployment requires integration with Schaeffler’s existing factory architecture, IT systems, safety standards, and cybersecurity protocols. The collaboration underscores Schaeffler’s push to position itself as a key infrastructure supplier in the growing humanoid robotics market.