Schaeffler

Formerly known as Under Control Robotics (UCR), Sunnyvale-based Noble Machines has officially launched with a focus on heavy-duty, general-purpose industrial robots that prioritize payload and durability over biomimicry.

Industrial giant Schaeffler has signed its first Chinese humanoid partnership with Leju Robotics and opened a specialized innovation factory in Taicang, even as leadership prepares investors for a conservative 2026 fiscal year.

Industrial giant Schaeffler formalizes its humanoid ambitions by establishing "Schaeffler Embodied Intelligent Robotics (Taicang) Co., Ltd.," a move that integrates hardware manufacturing with a dedicated AI computing hub in the heart of China’s German enterprise cluster.

While pure-play humanoid stocks remain scarce, investors are flocking to component suppliers like Schaeffler, driving a 150% stock rally and highlighting a massive appetite for the "Physical AI" sector ahead of a wave of anticipated 2026 IPOs.

Ahead of CES 2026, the German industrial giant reveals a fully integrated planetary gear actuator, cementing its dual strategy as both a user and supplier of humanoid hardware.