Most industrial bearings fail every 12 months. SpinDrive has secured new magnetic bearing funding from Rhapsody Venture Partners and Innovestor to prove its tech can last 20 years without maintenance. The Finland-based company is betting that US manufacturers will pay for frictionless technology that cuts maintenance costs by 80%.
The growth round comes as SpinDrive prepares to launch its Magma X100 system, designed for ultra-high-speed machinery under 100kW. Traditional ball bearings create friction, require oil lubrication, and need replacement every 12-18 months in high-speed applications. SpinDrive’s active magnetic bearing technology levitates rotors, eliminating physical contact entirely.
Why Rhapsody and Innovestor Doubled Down on Magnetic Bearing Funding
Rhapsody Venture Partners and Innovestor previously led SpinDrive’s €3.8 million Series A in 2023. This follow-on investment targets US market expansion where the company already serves customers through both direct sales and European OEM partners. The funding will support US customer acquisition and the Magma X100 commercial launch, which has received pre-orders ahead of its official release.
“Magma X100 brings the benefits of AMBs to applications for which there has been no technical solution to date,” said Janne Heikkinen, CEO of SpinDrive. “Our new product is small in form factor and a fraction of the cost of existing AMB systems.” The Magma X100, developed with European Commission support, extends magnetic bearing benefits to new industrial segments including cooling systems, heat pumps, wastewater treatment, and semiconductor manufacturing.
The €120 Billion Bearing Market SpinDrive Wants to Disrupt
Industrial bearings represent a €120 billion global market covering compressors, pumps, turbines, and blowers. SpinDrive’s systems integrate condition monitoring without external sensors while eliminating oil-based lubricants that EU factories consume at 5 million tons annually. The technology enables maintenance-free operation exceeding two decades, compared to traditional bearings requiring replacement every 12-18 months.
Founded in 2015, SpinDrive has raised €8 million to date and serves customers across Finland, Germany, the US, Denmark, France, Italy, China, and the UK. The company’s frictionless bearing technology addresses both efficiency and sustainability challenges in industrial machinery, where electric motors account for 46% of global electricity consumption. Applications span industrial cooling, process machinery, and contamination-sensitive sectors where oil-free operation proves essential.
With US traction building and the Magma X100 entering production, SpinDrive positions magnetic bearings as infrastructure for cleaner industrial operations. The question is whether US manufacturers will adopt tech that costs more upfront but promises decades without maintenance.