The automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler is expanding its business in humanoid robotics. The company, based in Herzogenaurach near Nuremberg, has entered into a partnership with Neura Robotics, headquartered in Metzingen near Stuttgart. Founded in 2019, Neura describes itself as the world’s only company that „develops and manufactures intelligent, cognitive robots entirely in-house.“ Together, the two partners plan to develop and supply key components such as actuators for robots modeled on the human form.

With capacity in its automotive division far from fully utilised amid the industry downturn, Schaeffler is seeking growth in other sectors such as defence and robotics components. „Core Schaeffler technology is needed especially for humanoids“, CEO Klaus Rosenfeld said in an interview with Börsen-Zeitung several months ago. As an example, he cited high-precision actuators that move knees, hips, and arms. Thanks to last year’s acquisition of drivetrain manufacturer Vitesco Technologies, Schaeffler can now offer complete product systems, Rosenfeld added. Precision mechanics and motion technology are combined within the group.

Schaeffler also plans to deploy Neura’s humanoid robots in its own production facilities. By 2035, the company aims to have a mid-four-digit number of such machines in operation. As a maker of robotics components, Schaeffler’s shares have surged recently, especially two weeks ago, after The New York Times reported that Amazon is pursuing major plans to automate its operations.

Last week the company reported solid preliminary third-quarter results: earnings before interest, taxes, and special items (Ebit) rose to 746 million from 697 million euros a year earlier. However, due to various special items, the net result plunged to a loss of 244 million euros after a profit of 218 million euros in the same period last year.

In the third quarter alone, the company posted a loss of 287 million euros. The largest portion of the special charges – 190 million euros over nine months – stemmed mainly from the transition of the SAP operating system to a cloud-based solution. Additional costs included restructuring expenses, which rose to 96 million from 18 million euros.

Schaeffler is cutting 4,700 jobs in Europe. The plant in Steinhagen near Bielefeld, which employs about 200 people, will close at the end of 2026. The reductions affect both the automotive and industrial divisions. The Ebit margin in the latter (Bearings & Industrial Solutions) rose to 7.9% from 7.4% in the same period last year, a reflection, according to Rosenfeld, of the ongoing restructuring. The company raised its margin target for the year by one percentage point to between 6% and 8%.

Despite semiconductor supply shortages from Dutch-Chinese manufacturer Nexperia, Schaeffler has so far met all its delivery commitments, the CEO noted. This has been possible in part by sourcing from other suppliers and by using components that Nexperia sends for further processing not to China, but to Malaysia.