A four-digit number of wheeled Humanoid robots will be deployed across Schaeffler’s global facilities, marking one of the largest disclosed humanoid robot rollouts announced to date. The agreement positions London-based Humanoid, founded in by Artem Sokolov, among the youngest companies to secure a large-scale contract of this magnitude with the leading Motion Technology Company. Beginning in December, Herzogenaurach, Germany will be the first site to advance a box handling use case within a live production environment, demonstrating immediate, real-world implementation. “Together with Schaeffler, one of our key industrial partners, we are taking an important step toward making humanoid robotics part of global manufacturing operations,” said Artem Sokolov, Founder and CEO of Humanoid, emphasizing the potential for these robots to prove their value in practical settings.
Schaeffler Partnership Enables Factory Floor Deployment of HMND 01
This undertaking signifies a major step toward widespread industrial adoption of advanced robotics, moving beyond controlled laboratory settings into complex, live production environments. The partnership, formalized through a binding agreement, establishes Schaeffler as a key player in scaling this emerging technology and positions Humanoid as a rapidly ascending force in the robotics sector. The initial phase of deployment, commencing in December, will concentrate on two Schaeffler facilities within Germany. Herzogenaurach will prioritize a box handling application within an active production line, while the Schweinfurt site will begin with a three-month capability demonstration and integration testing period, followed by a three-month on-site phase dedicated to validating stable, continuous operation approaching full production scale. This phased approach, according to the agreement, is designed to ensure stable, continuous operation at near-full production capacity.
Humanoid will operate under a Robot-as-a-Service model, providing not only the robotic systems but also comprehensive services encompassing fleet management, maintenance, 24/7 technical support, and ongoing performance optimization. Beyond deployment, Schaeffler will serve as Humanoid’s preferred actuator supplier, with a five-year agreement covering over 50% of the company’s demand for joint actuators through . This is projected to result in the supply of a seven-digit number of actuators, solidifying a crucial supply chain link for Humanoid’s wheeled platforms. Dr. Jochen Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer at Schaeffler AG, added that “the partnership with Humanoid underscores Schaeffler’s position as a trusted technology partner in advanced robotics.” Both companies plan to expand the robots’ capabilities beyond initial tasks to include more complex operations like assembly and packaging in future phases.
Robot-as-a-Service Model and Seven-Digit Actuator Supply Agreement
The increasing integration of robotics into manufacturing is defined by service-based models, shifting capital expenditure towards operational expenditure for companies like Schaeffler. This approach, exemplified by the recent agreement with Humanoid, allows manufacturers to access advanced automation without significant upfront investment, instead paying for robotic systems and associated services, including maintenance, software updates, and 24/7 support, on a subscription basis. Humanoid will provide these end-to-end services under the newly established Robot-as-a-Service model, a strategy designed to streamline deployment and ensure consistent performance within Schaeffler’s facilities. This phased implementation will begin with a three-month capability demonstration and integration testing period, followed by a three-month on-site phase dedicated to validating stable, continuous operation approaching full production scale. Dr.
Together with Schaeffler, one of our key industrial partners, we are taking an important step toward making humanoid robotics part of global manufacturing operations.
Artem Sokolov, Founder and CEO of Humanoid
