Automation has long ceased to be an efficiency-related subject – it’s a response to the structural industrial challenges. Companies around the world are under pressure: increasing production volumes and continuing skills shortage meet with production environments that are becoming increasingly faster and complex. The market for industrial automation solutions is growing accordingly. Worldwide, it’s going to record nearly ten-percent annual growth by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.

At CES 2026, Schaeffler is showcasing what industrial automation looks like when mechanical systems, sensors, and electro-mechanical technologies fuse. The portfolio of products and solutions combines advanced mechanical, electromechanical, and mechatronic components with smart senor technologies and digital services to enable manufacturers the transition to highly efficient, AI-supported production environments.

The highlight: An autonomous forklift truck

A highlight to be showcased by Schaeffler at CES in Las Vegas is an autonomous forklift truck that redefines hauling materials in constrained factory floor and logistics areas.

Due to the combination of compact steering and drive systems, smart sensors, precision lift mast rollers, and modern battery technologies, the vehicle can maneuver autonomously – even in areas that are hard to access for conventional forklifts or manual pallet trucks.

“Our autonomous forklift demonstrator illustrates the integration of our mechanical precision with smart sensors and electromechanical actuation. In that way, we enable manufacturers to achieve higher productivity combined with lower maintenance costs and reduced dependency on increasingly scarcer skilled personnel.”

Jeff Hemphill, CTO of Schaeffler Americas

… a compact drive module: Schaeffler combines steering and driving functions in a compact module. Permanently magnetically excited synchronous motors, efficient gearboxes, and active cooling deliver high torque levels and rotational speeds while integrated safety functions like parking and emergency-off braking and precision sensors ensure maximum safety.

… an advanced battery solution: It ensures reliable continuous operation. Smart management systems monitor state of charge (SoC), state of health (SoH), and current limitations on cell level. Lightweight housings and innovative cooling concepts ensure performance even under challenging industrial conditions.

… precision lift mast rollers for forklift trucks: They guarantee uniform and precision movement of heavy loads. High load-bearing capacity enables compact designs and enhances operational safety in dynamic production environments.

Electrical actuators instead of hydraulic drives

In addition, the replacement of hydraulic systems by electromechanical actuators is a central trend in automation. In this case, Schaeffler emphasizes solutions such as EMA-100 that operates in oil-free, low-maintenance, and highly precise ways, resulting in benefits like higher energy efficiency, simple programming, and fewer downtimes.

Read more

Goodbye hydraulics!

Humanoid robots are becoming more powerful, nimble, and agile. Electric motors instead of the previous hydraulic units increasingly operate in their arms and legs. That’s a clearly discernible trend in other industrial applications as well. Read more

In addition, Schaeffler is showcasing at CES how smart technologies raise industrial production to a new level, centered on the OPTIME eco-system (see picture gallery): Connected sensors, cloud-based analyses, and real-time monitoring enable continuous monitoring of machine conditions and early detection of problems. That makes systematic planning of maintenance, minimization of downtimes, and more efficient processes in robotics, machine tools, packaging lines, or semi-conductor production possible.

Conclusion

At CES 2026, Schaeffler demonstrates what the next generation of industrial automation looks like: compact, autonomous, energy-efficient, and smartly connected. The technologies offer tools to manufacturers for addressing skills shortage, cut maintenance costs, and to significantly enhance productivity and operational reliability and safety on the factory floor and in logistics.

Industrial automation: Further products & solutions from Schaeffler

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