Schaeffler plans to mass produce gearboxes for humanoid robots in 2027

Schaeffler Technologies is planning to begin mass manufacturing strain wave gearboxes designed for humanoid robots in 2027, following completion of validation testing. Strain wave gearboxes are critical components in robot actuators that account for roughly half of humanoid robot manufacturing costs, and they enable precise movement transmission with high torque capacity in compact spaces. Rather than using conventional precision machining, which is time-consuming and capital-intensive, Schaeffler will employ a forming technology that shapes components through high pressing forces in seconds, reducing manufacturing costs by more than 25 percent and material consumption by more than 75 percent compared to traditional methods. The company brings decades of experience manufacturing strain wave gearboxes for the automotive industry, having supplied over 2 million units globally in the past 10 years.