Motion technology company Schaeffler has been awarded the prestigious Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed specifically for humanoid robots. The award was presented on April 19 during the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe by Dorothee Bar, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. An independent jury chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, selected Schaeffler from three nominees, recognizing the platform’s high level of innovation and significant benefits for industry, particularly in integrating mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence.
The actuator platform addresses a critical bottleneck in humanoid robotics: actuators account for approximately 50 percent of the total cost of a humanoid robot. By developing a modular, scalable solution, Schaeffler aims to make humanoid robots economically viable for large-scale industrial use. The platform includes rotary actuators that deliver precise, powerful rotational movements in key joints such as shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural motion sequences. It is based on highly efficient electric motors with integrated power electronics and high-precision encoders, and can be configured with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears to meet customer requirements.
An innovative architecture integrates the bearing into the rotor, reducing the installation footprint by about 20 percent 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. The close integration of development, production, and supply chain allows for fast and flexible production ramp-up, leveraging Schaeffler’s 12 core manufacturing technologies, including highly automated winding technology for coils and chipless metal forming for roller bearing rings just 1 mm thick.
Georg F. W. Schaeffler, family shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schaeffler AG, stated: “We are very delighted to receive the prestigious Hermes Award … 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 of Schaeffler AG, added: “Receiving the renowned Hermes Award is primarily an accolade for our engineers and product developers, but we also see in it an acknowledgement of the concept of the Motion Technology Company … actuator technology … is a key technology for facilitating the breakthrough of humanoid robots.”
Schaeffler plans to begin series production of components for the actuator platform as early as this year. The company will showcase the platform and other innovative key components for humanoid robots and industrial solutions for intralogistics at Booth E60 in Hall 13 from April 20 to 24. More information can be found at Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026. The award underscores Schaeffler’s role as a key component supplier in the humanoid robotics segment and its commitment to making humanoid robots ready for large-scale industrial use.
