Schaeffler, a leader in motion technology, has secured a spot in the final round of the prestigious Hermes Award 2025 with its innovative double-row angular contact needle roller bearing, XZU. The Hermes Award, presented at the opening ceremony of Hannover Messe by Deutsche Messe AG, is one of the industry’s most esteemed honors, recognizing products that showcase exceptional technological innovation, industry benefits, and cost-efficiency.
The XZU bearing is designed to meet the evolving demands of industries such as robotics, automation, and future technologies like humanoid robots. Combining a compact form, high efficiency, and low weight, the XZU sets new standards for rotary joints across various applications.
Sascha Zaps, CEO of Schaeffler’s Bearings & Industrial Solutions division, expressed pride in the company’s recognition, saying, “Being a finalist for the Hermes Award 2025 is a huge honor. Our XZU bearing demonstrates Schaeffler’s commitment to driving technological advancements while remaining cost-effective. We’re excited to contribute to the progress of future industries by delivering solutions that create long-term value for our customers.”
With the growing number of robots and collaborative robots (cobots) globally, the demand for high-performance rotary joints is rising. These components must meet strict precision, positioning accuracy, and vibration standards. Traditional crossed roller bearings, with their near-square rolling elements, often lead to torque fluctuations, unstable motion, and potential leakage due to changing rotational directions.
In contrast, Schaeffler’s XZU needle roller cages deliver smooth, stable motion, preventing skewing. The specialized cage design also retains lubricant, ensuring it stays in place and reducing the risk of leakage. Additionally, the XZU features the same mounting dimensions as conventional crossed roller bearings, making it a direct replacement that improves performance without requiring major system adjustments. Notably, the XZU outperforms traditional bearings in tilting rigidity by over 30%, addressing many of the limitations of crossed roller bearings.
Testing on a six-axis cobot revealed that replacing a crossed roller bearing with the XZU reduced trajectory deviation by 40% at a speed of 800 mm/s, without the need for control parameter adjustments. This result demonstrates how the XZU enhances motion accuracy and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for high-precision gearboxes and industrial spherical plain bearings, such as those used in humanoid robots.
The XZU’s needle roller cage ensures exceptional internal load distribution, promoting consistent, low frictional torque. This translates into longer bearing life and extended maintenance intervals. In industries where hygiene is critical, like food and medical technology, the XZU also offers an excellent alternative to traditional bearings, with its roller cage design preventing contamination.
Schaeffler will showcase the XZU bearing and other future technologies at Hannover Messe from March 31 to April 4, 2025, in Hall 5, Booth D18. The company will also feature a hydrogen solutions exhibit at Hall 13, Booth E41/1, where the focus will be on innovations related to hydrogen generation and utilization.
For over 75 years, the Schaeffler Group has been at the forefront of innovation in motion technology, pioneering groundbreaking developments. With cutting-edge solutions for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis systems, and renewable energy, Schaeffler is a trusted partner in making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable throughout its entire lifecycle.
The company’s diverse offerings are organized into eight product families, including bearing solutions, linear guidance systems, and services for repair and monitoring. With around 120,000 employees and over 250 locations across 55 countries, Schaeffler stands as one of the world’s largest family-owned companies and one of Germany’s most innovative enterprises.
