Motion technology company Schaeffler has been awarded the globally renowned Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed for humanoid robots. The award, presented during the official opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on April 19 by Federal Minister of Research, Technology, and Space Dorothee Bar in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, recognizes outstanding products with high innovation and significant industry benefits. An independent jury chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, selected Schaeffler from among three nominees.
The actuator platform integrates innovative technologies, efficient production processes, and extensive modularity, specifically for the joints of humanoid robots. As actuators account for approximately 50 percent of the total costs of humanoids, they are a critical factor in achieving competitiveness. Schaeffler's platform is expected to be instrumental in readying humanoid robots for large-scale industrial use. The company plans to begin series production of components this year, leveraging its decades of experience as an automotive and industrial supplier to offer cost-effective solutions with high reliability and scalability.
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 and would like to thank the jury most sincerely. For 80 years, our company has been the embodiment of innovative strength and pioneering spirit, qualities that we apply consistently in both our core business and growth segments like humanoid robotics." 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."
The actuator platform includes rotary actuators that deliver precise and powerful rotational movements in key joints like shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural movement sequences. Based on highly efficient electric motors with integrated power electronics and high-precision encoders, the platform can be configured flexibly with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears. An innovative architecture integrates the bearing into the rotor, reducing the installation footprint by about 20 percent and weight by up to 500 grams, resulting in a design up to 10 mm more compact than other solutions while delivering high continuous torque.
Schaeffler's focus on actuators highlights their importance in the humanoid robotics segment. The company's 12 core manufacturing technologies, including highly automated winding technology for coils and chipless metal forming for roller bearing rings just 1 mm thick, support fast and flexible production ramp-up. The actuator platform, along with other key components for humanoid robots and industrial intralogistics solutions, will be displayed at Booth E60 in Hall 13 from April 20 to 24 at Hannover Messe. More information is available at Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026.
