SpinDrive, a Finnish company delivering active magnetic bearing systems for a wide range of industrial machinery, is announcing the launch of the Magma X100, a new magnetic bearing controller platform designed for lower-power, ultra-high-speed applications up to 150 kW. The Magma X100 expands access to magnetic bearing technology by delivering the performance and reliability benefits of active magnetic bearing (AMB) systems at a cost level comparable to conventional high-speed bearing solutions.
The launch marks a significant expansion of SpinDrive’s addressable market, bringing AMB technology to mobile rotating machinery, semiconductor manufacturing tools, CNC machines, heat pumps and other high-speed rotating equipment that all require oil-free, frictionless operation.
Founded in 2015, SpinDrive’s Magma X800 is deployed across turbo blowers, flywheels, turbo expanders and other rotating machinery in industrial sites across Europe, the United States of America and Asia. The Magma X100 applies the same fundamental principles to a completely new product platform targeting the high-volume, lower-power segment of the market. At the core of the X100 is an advanced power electronics platform that brings the cost of active magnetic bearings in line with competing high-speed non-magnetic bearing solutions, further advancing AMBs’ viability as a replacement option where they have historically been priced out.
“With Magma X100, we are opening the door to a fundamentally new set of industries and applications,” said Janne Heikkinen, chief executive officer and co-founder of SpinDrive. “Machines in the sub-150 kW range operate at speeds around ten times higher than the equipment our X800 serves, and they face the same constraints from conventional bearings: limited rotational speeds, oil contamination, friction losses and maintenance downtime. The X100 resolves all of these at a cost level that makes it a competitive alternative. We have already proven the performance in the field and our first commercial customers demonstrate that the demand is there.”
The Magma X100 was developed in part with support from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme, the European Commission’s flagship instrument for backing breakthrough deep-tech companies with high growth potential. The programme provided both funding and business acceleration support, underscoring the strategic importance of friction-free, oil-free bearing technology in Europe’s industrial decarbonisation agenda.
Unlike conventional mechanical bearings, active magnetic bearings levitate rotating components without physical contact. This eliminates friction-related wear, removes the need for lubricants, enables continuous condition monitoring, supports higher rotational speeds, saves energy, and reduces operating and maintenance costs. These advantages are becoming increasingly important as manufacturers seek more efficient, compact and sustainable machinery while avoiding contamination risks associated with oil-based systems.
SpinDrive believes that the combination of lower cost, smaller form factor and simplified integration will accelerate the adoption of AMB technology in industries where traditional magnetic bearing systems have historically been too expensive or complex to implement.
The launch follows SpinDrive’s recently announced strategic partnership with WEG. This collaboration integrates SpinDrive’s AMB systems and IoT monitoring into WEG’s global electric motor portfolio, giving SpinDrive access to an extensive worldwide distribution network. The Magma X100 is a natural fit within this expanded commercial platform, enabling WEG and SpinDrive to bring oil-free, low-maintenance bearing solutions to a broader, higher-volume range of applications.
“Our customers are continuously looking for ways to improve efficiency, reliability and sustainability while reducing maintenance requirements,” said Cassiano Cezario, global technology director at WEG. “Based on our cooperation with SpinDrive technology, active magnetic bearings offer a compelling alternative to conventional bearing solutions. The introduction of Magma X100 has the potential to make these benefits available across a much broader range of industrial applications and support the transition toward more energy-efficient, low-emission and maintenance-free machinery in support of WEG’s decarbonisation mission.”
The global bearing market represents a €120 billion opportunity, and SpinDrive’s frictionless technology targets the high-speed rotating equipment segment where performance and sustainability advantages are most pronounced. The company’s ambition is for its technology to help mitigate 500 megatonnes of CO2 annually by 2050 by enabling more efficient machinery that delivers more output with less energy, removing fossil-based lubricants from industrial production, and extending equipment lifetime through contact-free operation.
Find out more at www.spindrive.fi
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