Schaeffler Germany Opens 7,500-Square-Meter Robot Joint Factory in China

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 20, German Schaeffler Group officially opened an embodied intelligent robot digital-intelligent factory in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, China. The factory covers an area of approximately 7,500 square meters and integrates intelligent assembly lines, a robot training and data collection center, a digital twin platform, and a computing center. The factory simultaneously launched mass production of core components such as humanoid robot joint modules and actuators. The first production line is equipped with 6 humanoid robots, completing component assembly and related production operations at 5 workstations.

The assembly line was independently developed by Schaeffler and mainly produces linear actuators, rotary actuators, and joint modules for humanoid robots. The robots involved in production handle processes including parts preparation, sorting, assembly, inspection, labeling, and packaging. The digital twin system maps the operating status of the production line in real time, while sensors continuously collect data on assembly precision, process time, energy consumption, and equipment status. Production process adjustments can first be tested in the virtual environment before being applied to the actual production line.

The factory's supporting training and data collection center has set up industrial training scenarios including component visual inspection, material handling, packaging, container transfer, and production line material replenishment. The training environment is designed with reference to the actual production conditions of Schaeffler's approximately 100 manufacturing plants worldwide. After training, robots can undergo skill testing on the on-site assembly line. Training, simulation, and actual production data are interconnected for subsequent optimization of production tasks.

In February 2026, Schaeffler announced the establishment of Schaeffler Embodied Intelligent Robotics (Taicang) Co., Ltd., whose business covers the research, development, and manufacturing of core components and key subsystems for humanoid robots, as well as providing robot training, data collection, and industrialization application services. In the third quarter of 2026, Schaeffler added two new humanoid robot business customers in Greater China, bringing the cumulative global order intake related to humanoid robots to approximately 400 million euros.