Hexagon Robotics and Schaeffler are planning to deploy at least 1,000 AEON humanoid robots across Schaeffler’s global factory network by 2032, marking a large-scale implementation of humanoid systems in industrial production. The rollout follows a joint pilot program completed in 2025 and is expected to expand across multiple manufacturing sites over a seven-year period. The companies aim to use the robots to support production processes by increasing operational flexibility, improving efficiency and reducing reliance on manual labor.
AEON humanoids were tested during the pilot in tasks such as loading, unloading and inspecting parts at a multi-machine station. The robots use a combination of sensor systems and wheel-based mobility to carry out precision manipulation in production environments.
As part of the arrangement, Schaeffler will supply high-precision actuators for the robots, contributing key components to the system as deployment scales. The companies also plan to extend the robots’ applications, including automated part inspection, with further rollout expected from the end of 2026.
Arnaud Robert, president of Hexagon Robotics, said the collaboration would enable the company to scale its humanoid systems in real production settings. Jochen Schröder, chief operating officer of Schaeffler, said the company is integrating the robots into its own facilities to support more automated and data-driven manufacturing.
The partnership includes a focus on collecting and using production data to accelerate the deployment of humanoid robots across additional use cases and factory environments.
