The Autonomous Factory: Inside Schaeffler's Industrial Metaverse
While many manufacturers are exploring the Industrial Metaverse, Schaeffler is already bringing it to life. Together with Wandelbots, Schaeffler is using digital twins and virtual robot simulation to optimize production processes before physical deployment, reducing commissioning risks and paving the way for more flexible, scalable automation.
Use Case Overview
Developing complex robotic production cells involves extensive testing, and many integration issues traditionally emerge only during physical commissioning, when changes become expensive.
Schaeffler uses Wandelbots NOVA and NVIDIA Omniverse to develop and validate a robotic packaging cell in a digital twin. Robot movements, layouts, and inspection processes can be tested virtually using the same automation logic intended for the physical system.
This approach reduces commissioning risks and creates a reusable foundation for deploying robotic applications across different production cells, facilities, and robot systems.
Schaeffler uses Wandelbots NOVA and NVIDIA Omniverse to develop and validate a robotic packaging cell in a digital twin. Robot movements, layouts, and inspection processes can be tested virtually using the same automation logic intended for the physical system.
This approach reduces commissioning risks and creates a reusable foundation for deploying robotic applications across different production cells, facilities, and robot systems.
ABOUT
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG is a global motion technology company and one of the world's largest family-owned businesses, operating more than 250 locations across 55 countries and driving industrial automation at scale.
OBJECTIVE
Shift process validation into simulation to identify potential risks before physical commissioning and enable faster, more reliable automation deployment.
SOLUTION
A shared development environment built with MHP and NVIDIA Omniverse, where Wandelbots NOVA connects virtual robot simulation with the control logic used in the physical production cell.
IMPACT
Reduced commissioning risks, less potential rework, and reusable automation logic that supports more efficient deployment across future projects, plants, and robot systems.
Challenges & process
Transforming complex manufacturing processes into reliable robotic applications requires extensive testing, validation, and coordination. Traditionally, many challenges only become visible during physical commissioning, when adjustments are more time-consuming and costly.
To address this, Schaeffler is using Wandelbots NOVA together with NVIDIA Omniverse to develop and validate a robotic packaging cell in a virtual environment before physical installation.
Within the digital twin, robot movements, cell layouts, and quality inspection processes can be simulated and tested. By using the same automation logic in both virtual and physical environments, the development team can identify potential collisions, refine workflows, and validate processes before deploying them on the shop floor.
This approach brings software development and physical automation closer together, allowing Schaeffler to move from simulation to deployment with greater confidence.
In April 2026, Schaeffler received the German Innovation Award in the Large Companies category for its Industrial Metaverse: a digital ecosystem bridging the physical shop floor with a virtual simulation environment.
Impact & results
By shifting validation into the virtual environment, Schaeffler can identify potential process issues earlier, when changes are easier and less expensive to implement. The shared control logic between simulation and physical deployment helps reduce the need for repeated programming and supports a more efficient transition to the shop floor.
Beyond the individual packaging cell, the project establishes a reusable foundation for future automation applications. Validated processes and control logic can be adapted to new production cells, additional facilities, and different robot manufacturers, supporting Schaeffler's broader vision of an increasingly autonomous factory.
Explore the Full Story
Download the complete Success Story to learn how Schaeffler, MHP, NVIDIA, and Wandelbots combine digital twins, simulation, and robot automation to validate production processes before physical deployment and advance scalable industrial automation.
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