Schaeffler Targets Humanoid Gearbox Production in 2027

Single-source brief: Schaeffler says it finished gearbox validation and aims for scaled manufacturing in 2027.

What Changed

Schaeffler Technologies AG said it has completed extensive validation tests for formed strain wave gearboxes.

The company said it will be ready to make them at scale in 2027.

These gearboxes are designed for humanoid robot joints. They sit inside actuators, which create robot movement.

The Robot Report says actuators can account for about half of a humanoid’s manufacturing cost.

Why the Gearbox Matters

Strain wave gearboxes can provide high torque in a small space.

They also offer high accuracy and stiffness, according to Schaeffler.

Those traits matter for humanoid joints, where compact parts must move precisely.

Schaeffler plans to use forming rather than precision machining. Forming uses high pressing forces to shape parts in seconds.

The company said conventional machining can take minutes. It also said machining is time-consuming and capital-intensive.

Cost and Scale Claims

Schaeffler said its formed gearboxes match conventional parts in torque and efficiency.

It also claimed the process cuts manufacturing costs by more than 25%.

The company further claimed material use falls by more than 75%.

Production is planned first in Germany. Schaeffler said it would later expand to other regions.

Deployment Reality

This is a component manufacturing plan, not proof of humanoid robot deployment.

Schaeffler said it has supplied more than 2 million formed strain wave gearboxes over 10 years. That experience comes from automotive markets.

The supplied evidence does not include independent confirmation of the 2027 schedule. It also does not show production volumes, customer orders, or robot-level field results.