Schaeffler has robots build joints for robots in China

At a new factory near Shanghai, robots are helping build their own successors. Their job is to assemble joints for other humanoids. Behind the factory is Schaeffler, a German supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors.

Schaeffler opened the new factory in Taicang on October 20. The site combines robot component production with training for the machines themselves.

From car parts to robot joints

A robot needs more than clever software. To raise an arm or grip a workpiece, it needs mechanisms that turn motor power into precise movement. Schaeffler supplies the drives inside those joints.

The business model is familiar from the car industry: a component supplier can earn money from many manufacturers. Schaeffler does not need to turn its own robot into the best-known brand.

In Taicang, six humanoids work across five stations. They sort and assemble parts, inspect them and package them. Alongside production, robots learn other factory tasks, such as replenishing materials and checking components.

Combining the two has a practical benefit: skills learned in training can be tested directly on the production line. Schaeffler measures factors including precision and the time taken for individual tasks.

€400 million in robot orders

Schaeffler's latest figures show how far the business has already come. Two new customers in Greater China have brought its global humanoid robotics orders to around €400 million. Those are orders, with revenue to follow as they are fulfilled.

Schaeffler operates on both sides of the business. It sells robot components and tests the machines for use in its own production. Together with Hexagon, it plans to deploy at least 1,000 humanoids in the coming years. Training for Hexagon's AEON model began at Schaeffler's training centre in Germany in August.

The machines still have to prove they are worth the investment in day-to-day production. Schaeffler has not disclosed unit costs or a payback period for the new line.

In tomorrow's car factory, Schaeffler could earn from both the parts in the car and the robots that build it.

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Leona Cheng joins Asiabits as Head of Partnerships in Shanghai. If you’re planning a China visit with us, you’ll soon get to know her.

She joins us from the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and previously founded NewMe. At Asiabits, she plans innovation visits and builds partnerships around robotics, AI and automation. She connects our clients with the right companies and makes sure each visit runs smoothly.

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Companies planning to test robots in their operations need to establish how they will work alongside people and which safety requirements apply. Humanoid Europe 2026 in Munich on November 5 and 6 brings together specialists from Unitree, Bosch and Fraunhofer. The programme covers functional safety, cybersecurity and applications in manufacturing and logistics.

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China remains by far the largest steel producer. In 2025, it produced 960.8 million tonnes of crude steel, almost twelve times Japan’s 80.7 million tonnes.

A Chinese company also leads the steelmaker rankings. China Baowu produced 124.8 million tonnes in 2025, according to worldsteel, followed by ArcelorMittal with 63.4 million tonnes.

RoboSelect360, Beyond the Demo: This English report examines 34 humanoid robots. It reconstructs component lists for 26; of 57 documented observations, twelve took place at customer sites and covered five robot models. None of these observations establishes recurring daily customer operation under the report's definition. Download the report as a PDF in English.

Our take: Before buying a pilot, ask for dated deployment evidence, the share of human remote control and ongoing operating costs. These questions can guide the preparation of our manufacturer visits in China.