#SKF #Germany #Nuremberg #Chillventa 2026 #MBx magnetic bearings

SKF Showcases Innovative Cooling Solutions at Chillventa 2026

At the upcoming Chillventa 2026, SKF, a global leader in bearing and rotating equipment technology, is set to reveal its latest advancements aimed at improving energy efficiency and reliability in cooling systems. The event, taking place in Nuremberg, Germany from October 13 to 15, will highlight SKF's commitment to addressing the growing energy demands of modern data centers and other industries that rely heavily on efficient cooling solutions.

A significant feature of SKF's showcase will be the new MBx active magnetic bearing series, which promises to enhance the performance of high-speed chillers. As the demand for cooling systems continues to surge, especially due to the increasing capacity requirements of data centers, the need for innovative solutions that manage energy consumption while maintaining performance has never been greater.

In fact, approximately 20% of global energy use is attributed to overcoming friction, a critical factor in the operation of rotating systems. SKF's core mission revolves around minimizing this friction, significantly benefitting industrial and digital infrastructures alike. As per Thomas Grubbauer, Global Fluid Machinery Industry Manager, "Cooling systems are becoming increasingly critical to the reliability and energy efficiency of industrial and digital infrastructure. Our solutions, including ceramic and magnetic technologies, help customers develop high-speed systems for data center cooling and other demanding applications."

Among the advancements presented, SKF will offer a comprehensive package that includes high-speed motors equipped with magnetic bearing technology, active magnetic bearings, digital controllers, variable-speed drives, and condition monitoring systems. This all-encompassing portfolio is designed to provide streamlined, oil-free drive solutions for high-speed applications, including centrifugal chillers, which can lead to energy savings of up to 30-40% compared to traditional methods. The integrated solutions also aid in minimizing wear and reducing the occurrence of unplanned downtimes.

One key highlight will be the new MBx magnetic bearing, which aims to balance cost and performance through innovations like automatic winding technologies. This modular design not only streamlines production processes but also accelerates assembly times, thereby meeting the escalating demand from the data center chiller market efficiently.

In addition, attendees can expect to see SKF’s latest hybrid ceramic bearings, notably the new optimized CeraDrive series, tailored for a wide range of applications beyond chillers, including heat pumps, compressors, motors, fans, and pumps. The ceramic rolling elements in these bearings offer electrical insulation and facilitate high-speed operations even under challenging lubrication conditions.

Lastly, showcasing SKF's commitment to innovation, the new Extreme super-precision bearings platform will cater specifically to high-speed centrifugal compressors in chillers, heat pumps, and mechanical vapor recompression systems. This customizable platform can be optimized for extreme application requirements, handling speeds of up to 120,000 rpm and temperatures reaching 200°C. Such advancements in bearing design open new possibilities for compressor architecture, making it an exciting focal point of SKF’s innovation.

To learn more about these groundbreaking technologies, you can visit SKF’s booth at Chillventa 2026 in Nuremberg. SKF looks forward to demonstrating its products and solutions to attendees eager for advanced energy-efficient cooling mechanisms diacritical for modern infrastructure needs.