Schaeffler, a German automotive supplier, is opening a 'lighthouse factory' in China as a reference site for humanoid robotics. The plant is intended to demonstrate how machines built in the shape of people can be used in industrial production. Humanoid robots are being promoted as a way to handle repetitive and physically demanding work. The Chinese site gives Schaeffler a base for developing and deploying the technology. A company manager says European manufacturers are still keeping pace with their Chinese competitors. The project is therefore being watched as a practical test of humanoid automation rather than a purely experimental venture.