
A pivotal moment for active magnetic bearing technology took place at SPS 2024 (Smart Production Solutions) held in November in Nuremberg, with an exhibit of new advancement from the Finnish collaboration of venerable motor and drive manufacturer VEM Group and startup SpinDrive. Together, they unveiled VEM’s groundbreaking 880 kW, 12,000 rpm to 20.000 rpm high-speed motor, equipped with active magnetic bearing. At the core of this innovation is SpinDrive’s advanced Magma X800 magnetic bearing controller, setting new standards for high-performance active magnetic bearing systems. More is likely to come from the partners and from SpinDrive’s further integrations with OEMs in various markets.

SpinDrive specializes in active magnetic bearing solutions designed to optimize energy efficiency in industrial processes. Their technology enables machinery to reach unparalleled rotational speeds, enhancing energy efficiency while reducing equipment size and footprint. Their flagship Magma X800 controller is engineered for exceptional versatility and performance. It supports active magnetic bearing systems across a power range from 35 kW to 3 MW and rotational speeds from 10,000 rpm to over 150,000 rpm, making it ideal for high-speed, high-efficiency applications.
The partnership has forged a milestone in high-speed motor technology, highlighting the precision, reliability, and advanced capabilities of their combined solutions. Both companies say they are dedicated to developing further advancements to redefine the possibilities of high-speed motor technology.
Innovation partner LUT University in Finland

The establishment of SpinDrive traces back to its roots at Lappeenranta University of Technology where the company’s co-founders came together with a vision to transform the landscape of magnetic bearing technology by coming up with transformative solutions for industrial equipment manufacturers.

SpinDrive co-founders
One of the projects while SpinDrive co-founders were still with the university, was HERGE, a high-temperature hermetic generator equipped with AMBs. After proving the effectiveness of the 1 MW HERGE machine, it became clear that there was a need to develop an even more powerful next-generation machine. This led to the project focusing on creating a multi-megawatt high-speed machine, for which SpinDrive designed the AMBs as an established company.
LUT University took the initiative to start researching standardizing high-speed machines on the megawatt scale, aiming for a wide-range applicability. This approach would allow for the same unit to be utilized across various applications by simply attaching different working tools to the same high-speed machine. This eliminates the need for custom integration each time, streamlining the manufacturing process from the earliest design stages. To address the challenge of meeting diverse process requirements without overcomplicating the electric motor component, the team proposed a solution: implementing standalone high-speed electric motors paired with interchangeable working tools. Active magnetic bearings were recognized as the enabler of this innovative approach.
This project’s technical aim was to develop an overall concept allowing the motor and working tool to merge. A standard high-speed motor operates with a setup featuring two radial and one axial active magnetic bearing. Additionally, the working tool was supported by an extra active magnetic bearing, which can function as a third radial magnetic bearing or an auxiliary axial bearing if there are substantial axial loads from the process. A key aspect of this project was using active magnetic bearings and testing other technical solutions. Featured extra magnetic bearing allowed to explore the control of the rotor’s flexible modes. After designing the mechanical and electromagnetic components, the machine was manufactured and assembled at the university.
“SpinDrive role was to provide a reliable industrial product, specifically a magnetic bearing controller, that could enable wide-range machine applicability. We introduced our Magma X800, capable of levitating the machine and supporting the development. SpinDrive was responsible for delivering Magma X800 and AMB commissioning to meet the ambitious project goals.” says Alexander Smirnov, CTO of SpinDrive. “We developed a control algorithm to stably levitate the rotor, and until today the system has been successfully tested up to its nominal speed.” Alexander added.

During the project, the main obstacle was unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) from the electric motor. However, SpinDrive specialists were able to quickly tackle this. Solving the challenge with UMP required proper identification of the machine at various speeds to estimate the effect and extent of the magnetic pull on the bearings. With broad industrial experience and the capabilities of Magma 800 SpinDrive specialists were able to quickly tackle this obstacle. Once this was done, the system reached nominal speed with a robust and stable controller.
For over a century, VEM Group has been quietly powering industries, driving innovation, and enabling transformation around the globe. What began in 1886 as a pioneering electric motor manufacturer has evolved into a resource for advanced drive solutions and system integration. Today, its product range spans from compact 0.06 kW motors to powerhouse systems delivering 100 MW, along with transformers, frequency converters and power converters.
Unlocking the Benefits of Active Magnetic Bearings for Turbo Blowers

In another recent project, SpinDrive and Runtech Systems, a Finnish developer of engineered products for the pulp and paper industries, collaborated in integrating active magnetic bearings in a Runtech turbo blower for a prominent paper mill in Turkey. “With the active magnetic bearing system and Magma X800 AMB controller, we efficiently tested the system and gathered data for impeller redesign. As a result, the updated impeller boosted the system’s efficiency, ensuring reliable operation throughout the turbo blower’s entire range,” explains Smirnov.
AMBs enable having subcritical rotor system with full operational capacity from 0-100% speed while fluid film bearings would yield to supercritical rotor and very limited operational range” said Ville Lahdensuo, R&D Director at Runtech Systems. “Another significant benefit of AMBs in the pulp & paper application is the robustness against impeller build-up.“