Schaeffler, a motion technology company, has been awarded the prestigious Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed for humanoid robots. The award was presented during the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe on April 19 by Dorothee Bar, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The independent jury, chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, selected Schaeffler from three nominated companies, recognizing the platform's high level of innovation and significant benefits for industry.
The actuator platform integrates innovative technologies, efficient production processes, and extensive modularity, specifically for the joints of humanoid robots. Since actuators account for approximately 50% of the total costs of humanoids, Schaeffler's platform is pivotal in making humanoid robots competitive and ready 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.
Georg F. W. Schaeffler, family shareholder and 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." CEO Klaus Rosenfeld 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 platform includes rotary actuators that deliver precise rotational movements in key joints like shoulders, elbows, and knees, enabling natural movement sequences. It is based on highly efficient electric motors with integrated power electronics and high-precision encoders, configurable with two-stage planetary or strain wave gears. An innovative architecture reduces the installation footprint by around 20% 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 actuator platform will be on display at Booth E60 in Hall 13 during Hannover Messe from April 20 to 24. More information about Schaeffler's participation can be found at Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe 2026.
