Humanoid-Schaeffler Deal for 1,000-2,000 Robots by 2032

A British robotics startup, Humanoid, has signed a major agreement with German industrial supplier Schaeffler to deploy between 1,000 and 2,000 wheeled humanoid robots across the company's global manufacturing sites by 2032, marking one of the largest planned rollouts of such technology in factories.

The initial phase begins between December 2026 and June 2027 at two Schaeffler facilities in Germany. In Herzogenaurach, the robots will handle boxes within live production lines. In Schweinfurt, operations start with a three-month demonstration and integration test, followed by three months of validation for stable, near-full-scale production. Humanoid will support integration into existing lines and provide services under a robots-as-a-service model, including fleet management software, maintenance, round-the-clock technical support, updates, and performance monitoring.

The deal builds on a technology partnership announced in January, following successful proof-of-concept trials for tasks like material handling in production and warehouses. It also includes a separate supply agreement through 2031, designating Schaeffler as Humanoid's preferred provider for more than half of its...