Schaeffler, a motion technology company, has been awarded the prestigious Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed for humanoid robots. The award, presented during the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on April 19, recognizes outstanding innovations with significant industrial benefits. This year's focus on mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence aligns with Schaeffler's platform, which integrates efficient production processes, modularity, and advanced technologies specifically for humanoid robot joints.
Actuators account for approximately 50 percent of the total cost of humanoids, making them a critical factor in achieving competitiveness. Schaeffler's platform addresses this by combining decades of experience in automotive and industrial supply with scalable, cost-effective solutions. The company plans to begin series production of components this year, leveraging its 12 core manufacturing technologies, including highly automated winding and chipless metal forming for roller bearing rings as thin as 1 mm.
The actuator platform includes rotary actuators for key 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 configuration with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears. An innovative architecture integrates the bearing into the rotor, reducing installation footprint by 20 percent and weight by up to 500 grams, achieving a design up to 10 mm more compact than other solutions while delivering high continuous torque.
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." Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO, added: "There’s barely any other technology at Schaeffler that illustrates more effectively the immense potential behind this concept than actuator technology, which enables energy to be converted into mechanical motion."
The award underscores Schaeffler's key role as a component supplier in humanoid robotics. The platform will be showcased at Hannover Messe from April 20 to 24 at Booth E60 in Hall 13. More information is available at Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026.
