Schaeffler Wins Hermes Award for Humanoid Robot Actuator Platform

Schaeffler, a leading motion technology company, has been honored with the prestigious Hermes Award for its groundbreaking scalable actuator platform designed specifically for humanoid robots. The award, presented during the Hannover Messe opening ceremony by Federal Minister Dorothee Bar in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, recognizes the platform's high innovation level and significant industrial benefits. An independent jury chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka selected Schaeffler from three nominated companies, highlighting the integration of mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence as this year's focus. The platform comprises highly integrated actuators that account for approximately 50% of humanoid robot costs, making them crucial for achieving competitive pricing and enabling large-scale industrial adoption.

The award-winning actuator platform represents Schaeffler's strategic entry into the humanoid robotics segment, leveraging the company's 80-year history of innovation and its extensive experience as an automotive and industrial supplier. Georg F. W. Schaeffler, family shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, emphasized that the platform sets new benchmarks by combining decades of technology expertise with proven industrialization capabilities. CEO Klaus Rosenfeld noted that the award recognizes both the engineering team and Schaeffler's Motion Technology Company concept, highlighting how actuator technology demonstrates the immense potential of converting energy into mechanical motion, especially when enhanced by AI capabilities.

Schaeffler's platform features rotary actuators that deliver precise, powerful movements in key joints like shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural motion sequences. The innovative architecture integrates bearings into the rotor, reducing installation footprint by 20% and weight by up to 500 grams while maintaining high continuous torque. The platform's modular design allows flexible configuration with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears, and Schaeffler will begin series production this year using 12 core manufacturing technologies, including automated winding and chipless metal forming. Visitors can explore this technology and other innovations at Booth E60 in Hall 13 during Hannover Messe 2026, where Schaeffler's participation showcases their commitment to pioneering motion solutions. Learn more about Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026 through their dedicated information portal.