Humanoid, a UK-based AI and robotics company, has signed a binding, phased deployment and supply agreement with Schaeffler, a leading motion technology company, to integrate humanoid robots directly into live manufacturing operations.
The first systems go live in Germany before the end of 2026. Humanoid will also purchase actuators from Schaeffler as a preferred supplier.
The agreement is one of the largest disclosed humanoid robot rollouts ever announced and positions Humanoid, founded by Artem Sokolov in 2024, among the youngest companies to secure a large-scale contract at this level. It targets deployment of a four-digit number of wheeled units across Schaeffler’s global facilities by 2032.
The agreement follows a series of successful proof-of-concepts and a strategic partnership announced in January 2026 between the two companies.
The initial deployment phase, running from December 2026 through June 2027, will take place across two Schaeffler sites in Germany.
In Herzogenaurach, the focus will remain on advancing box handling use case within a live production environment.
At the same time, operations in Schweinfurt 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.
A core principle of the collaboration is economic viability at scale: Humanoid will support Schaeffler in integrating its robotic systems into existing production environments.
This includes meeting Schaeffler’s requirements for system architecture, safety, and IT infrastructure, as well as aligning with standardized rollout processes and security-by-design principles.
The agreement is structured around a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. Under this model, Humanoid provides the robotic systems together with the related services required for end-to-end deployment and operation, including connection to the fleet management software, maintenance, 24/7 technical support, updates, and ongoing performance management.
In addition to the deployment contract, Humanoid has also signed a 5-year supply agreement with Schaeffler for supply of actuators.
Under this agreement, Schaeffler will become Humanoid’s preferred supplier, covering more than 50 percent of the company’s demand for joint actuators for its wheeled-based platforms through 2031. This partnership is expected to translate into the supply of a seven-digit number of actuators.
“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.
“We have already seen strong results from our proof of concept together, and now we are taking the next step to staged deployment. Moving into real-world operations is where the true value of humanoid robots is proven.”
Dr. Jochen Schroeder, chief operating officer at Schaeffler, said: “The partnership with Humanoid underscores Schaeffler’s position as a trusted technology partner in advanced robotics.
“By supporting the phased deployment of humanoid systems in real manufacturing environments and serving as a preferred supplier of actuators, we are contributing to the industrial scaling of this technology while further strengthening our role in future-oriented motion solutions.”
Following the initial stages, both companies will continue to assess performance, expand deployment across the whole value stream including dexterous tasks as assembly and packaging in the future.
