Humanoids making humanoids
Motion Technology Company Schaeffler has opened a state-of-the-art lighthouse factory for humanoid robotics in Taicang, China. It houses an intelligent assembly line, a training and data acquisition center, a platform for digital twins, and a data center across approximately 7,500 square meters of floor space. The building covers the entire process from testing of individual robot skills to application in the actual manufacturing environment, showing what “humanoids making humanoids” looks like in practice: humanoid robots assembling key joint modules – including actuators – for the next generation of humanoid robots. The lighthouse factory marks the start of mass production of these components for Schaeffler and offers customers and partners the opportunity to train and test physical AI systems in actual industrial conditions. It therefore serves to drive adoption of humanoids in industry.
Schaeffler’s business also reflects the booming demand in this growth field: The company recently announced the acquisition of two new customers from the Greater China region in Q3 2026. With this, global incoming orders for humanoid robotics rose to some 400 million euros.
“Schaeffler wants to shape the production of the future and become a leading supplier and preferred technology partner for humanoid robotics.”
Dr. Jochen Schröder, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, says: “With the lighthouse factory in Taicang, we are creating something that has never before been seen in Schaeffler’s global network: a closed manufacturing loop where humanoids assemble components for humanoids. In the lighthouse factory, we combine decades of manufacturing expertise with physical AI and digital twins. With it, we are expanding our capabilities for key robot components and taking humanoid robotics from theory to industrial practice.”
From component manufacturing to industrial application
At the heart of the lighthouse factory is an assembly line developed by Schaeffler for key components of humanoid robots, including linear and rotary actuators. Six humanoids work together at five stations. They stage and sort parts, join them, and inspect, label, and package them. A digital twin acts as a virtual replica that mirrors the actual line processes in real time. Sensors record parameters such as assembly accuracy, individual work step duration, energy consumption, and asset condition. Changes can be digitally tested and optimized before being implemented in the actual manufacturing processes. This leads to significantly shorter development times and more stable and reliable production.
At the same time, Schaeffler trains humanoid robots for industrial tasks in the training and data acquisition center. Tasks include visual inspection of parts, packaging, material handling/transport, container moving, and line-side material replenishment. The training environments are oriented toward the actual conditions in Schaeffler’s approximately 100 manufacturing plants. This means that the learned skills can be tested and fine-tuned right on the assembly line. Robot performance is continuously improved through the use of linked data from training, simulation, and production.
Dr. Yilin Zhang, Regional CEO Greater China at Schaeffler, says: “China’s humanoid robotics industry is entering a fast growth period. As a motion technology company, Schaeffler is accelerating the development of China’s humanoid robotics ecosystem by leveraging its local capabilities in research and development, manufacturing and industrial collaboration.“
“The opening of the Taicang lighthouse represents another important move in Schaeffler’s long-term commitment to China and business development in humanoid robotics.”
Dr. Yilin Zhang, Regional CEO Greater China at Schaeffler
