Motion technology company Schaeffler has been awarded the Hermes Award for its highly integrated actuator platform designed 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. The Hermes Award, chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, recognizes outstanding products with high innovation and significant industrial benefits, with this year's focus on integrating mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence.
The actuator platform specifically targets the joints of humanoid robots, where actuators account for about 50% of total costs, making them a critical factor in competitiveness. Schaeffler's solution combines innovative technologies, efficient production processes, and extensive modularity. The platform includes rotary actuators for precise and powerful rotational movements in 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. An innovative architecture integrates the bearing into the rotor, reducing installation footprint by 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.
Georg F. W. Schaeffler, family shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, 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... there’s barely any other technology at Schaeffler that illustrates more effectively the immense potential behind this concept than actuator technology.'
Schaeffler plans to begin series production of components as early as this year, leveraging its 12 core manufacturing technologies, including highly automated winding technology for coils and chipless metal forming for roller bearing rings just 1 mm thick. The close integration of development, production, and supply chain enables a fast and flexible ramp-up. The company's actuator platform is expected to be instrumental in readying humanoid robots for large-scale industrial use. More information about Schaeffler's participation in Hannover Messe 2026 can be found on their website: Schaeffler at Hannover Messe 2026.
