SKF and Leaderdrive partner to build robot joints for humanoids

The partnership combines Leaderdrive’s specialized expertise in robotic automation with SKF’s established history in bearing manufacturing and global supply chain logistics. Operating out of China, the venture focuses on developing components capable of sustaining the high reliability required for continuous industrial operation. The companies intend to accelerate production timelines to meet the surging demand for humanoid hardware, with operations scheduled to begin by the end of 2026.

Henry Wang, President of SKF’s Industrial Region for China and North-East Asia, noted that the venture provides the agility necessary to keep pace with rapid market iterations in the robotics space. Beyond the domestic Chinese market, the venture plans to utilize SKF’s international sales network to export components to Europe, Japan, and the United States. Leaderdrive Chairman Yuyu Zuo emphasized that stable delivery of core transmission parts serves as a critical differentiator as the industry moves toward mass scaling.