SPL Spindel

What SPL Spindel does

SPL Spindel und Präzisionslager GmbH (trade name SPL, headquartered in Döbeln, Saxony) is a German precision-engineering manufacturer of main spindles and bearing systems for machine tools and industrial test rigs. Its product portfolio spans grinding spindles, turning spindles, milling spindles, hydrodynamic and hydrostatic spindles, special motors (torque/synchronous/asynchronous, 1-585 Nm, up to 240 kW), and customer-specific test rigs for noise, centrifugal, burst and motor testing. Following the January 2026 acquisition of KW Abrichttec, the company also offers CNC-controlled dressing technology for grinding wheels with documented precision of 0.001 mm. SPL monetizes primarily through hardware sales of custom-configured spindle units, complemented by recurring after-market services - repair, bearing overhaul, balancing, vibration measurement, on-site spindle analysis and modernization - executed both directly from Germany and through wholly-owned SPL Präzisionsfertigung GmbH in Fraureuth and the SPL Spindle Service Centre Beijing (opened 2024).

Customers are primarily OEM machine tool builders (grinding, turning, milling, machining center manufacturers) and test-rig operators; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed given the engineered, project-by-project nature of each spindle. Go-to-market combines direct field sales from Döbeln with a regional sales-and-service partner network spanning Switzerland, China, Taiwan, India, USA and Russia, supplemented by participation in industry trade fairs (EMO Hannover, CIMT Beijing), a multilingual website (DE/EN/RU/CN) and active social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).

SPL was founded in 1992 as Rödenbeck & Heinze and incorporated as SPL GmbH in 1995 after licensing hydrodynamic bearing technology from SARTORIUS AG. The company is independently owned (CEO and co-owner Tassilo Heinze), employs 11-50 people, holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, and continues to extend its footprint through tuck-in acquisitions (HAUSER HSC 2002-03, KW Abrichttec 2026), service-centre openings and channel partnerships across Europe, Asia and North America.

Name

SPL Spindel

Legal name

SPL Spindel und Präzisionslager GmbH

Website

https://spindelhersteller.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPL Spindel und Präzisionslager GmbH is a Döbeln-based German manufacturer of custom precision spindles and bearing systems for machine tool OEMs and industrial test rigs, complemented by global after-market spindle service and engineering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Precision Spindles

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562)

akta.pro primary industry

Spindles & High-Speed Drives (Machine Tool Spindles, High-speed Motors) (IMAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

Keywords

• Precision spindles manufacturing
• Machine tool spindles
• Hydrodynamic bearings
• Grinding spindles
• Spindle service

Headquarters

HQ city

Döbeln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Precision Spindle Sales: Manufacturing and sale of custom precision spindles including grinding spindles, turning spindles, milling spindles, hydrodynamic spindles, hydrostatic spindles, special motors, and component sets for machine tools and test rigs.
2. Spindle Service and Maintenance: Technical advice, fault diagnosis, maintenance, repairs, servicing, bearing overhaul, modernization, precision balancing (on-site or off-site), and on-site spindle analyses for spindles of all manufacturers.
3. Engineering Services: Custom spindle development and construction services using 3D CAD and 2D CAD systems, with testing on internal test benches. Services available even if customers prefer to manufacture their own spindle units.
4. Balancing Services: Contract balancing services for rotor weights from 500g to 350kg, including advice on balancing type, achievable levels, and optimal mass balancing points. Mobile service available for on-site operations.
5. Spindle Assembly Services: Contract assembly and test runs including incoming goods inspection, adjustment work, balancing of rotating parts, assembly and wiring, sensor setting, and test runs with full documentation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SPL Spindel designs, manufactures, and supplies custom precision spindle systems for machine tools and test rigs, including grinding, turning, milling, hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and motor spindles. The portfolio is complemented by special drives, dressing technology for grinding wheel conditioning, and a full service offering covering maintenance, repair, balancing, vibration measurement, engineering, and assembly. Products are engineered to customer specifications and built using proprietary bearing technologies.

Product overview

SPL Spindel und Präzisionslager GmbH is a manufacturer of precision spindles for machine tools and test rigs based in Döbeln, Germany. The product portfolio centers on main spindles (Grinding, Turning, and Milling spindles) complemented by specialized bearing technologies (Hydrodynamic and Hydrostatic spindles), Special Drives (torque/synchronous/asynchronous motors), and Test Rig Technology systems. The company also offers Component Sets as integrated multi-axis systems. Following the 2026 acquisition of KW Abrichttec's product range, SPL expanded into Dressing Technology including Dressing Devices, Dressing Mandrels, Dressing Spindles, and CNC Dressing Devices for grinding wheel conditioning. Services include Spindle Service (repair, maintenance, diagnostics), Engineering, Balancing, Vibration Measurements, Spindle Assembly, and Precision Manufacturing through affiliated company SPL Präzisionsfertigung GmbH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPL Präzisionsfertigung GmbH: Affiliated precision manufacturing company located in Fraureuth, Germany, serving as a manufacturing partner and parts supplier.

Products and services

• Grinding Spindles (Schleifspindeln) Motor spindles for grinding machines including tool grinding, form grinding, gear grinding, and knife grinding applications. Available with multi-lobe hydrodynamic bearings, hydrostatic bearings, precision angular contact bearings, or hybrid bearings. Configurable with asynchronous or synchronous motors.
• Turning Spindles (Drehspindeln) Motor spindles for lathes and vertical turning centers designed with high precision bearings for maximum stiffness at specified speeds, ensuring axial and radial run-out compliance over the spindle lifespan.
• Milling Spindles (Frässpindeln) Motor spindles for milling machines and machining centers fitted with spring preloaded hybrid bearings or hydraulic bearing preloading, offering high dynamic performance and power density with various tool holder options including HSK standards.
• Special Drives (Sondermotoren) Torque motors, synchronous motors, and asynchronous motors for driving spindles in machine tools and test rig applications. Covering torque ranges from 1 Nm to 585 Nm with power outputs up to 240 kW.
• Hydrodynamic Spindles (Hydrodynamikspindeln) Spindles with hydrodynamic bearings where bearing load capacity is created by shaft rotation. Feature the best damping characteristics of all bearing types, enabling extremely high speeds. Used in cylindrical grinding, roll grinding, centerless grinding, and bursting test rigs.
• Hydrostatic Spindles (Hydrostatikspindeln) Spindles with hydrostatic bearings where load capacity is created by oil pressure from supply unit. Achieve maximum concentricity and excellent damping characteristics even when stopped. Used for noise testing, roll grinding, knife grinding, and polishing machines.
• Component Sets (Baugruppen) Complete spindle systems with multiple axes including protective casing, motors, and drive axes. Examples include hydrodynamic grinding spindles with integrated belt drives, oscillation units, and CNC dressers delivered as fully equipped sets.
• Test Rig Technology (Prüfstandstechnik) Customer-specific test beds and test spindles including spindles with hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearings for noise testing, centrifugal and burst test benches, and motor test rigs with high-speed bearings.
• Dressing Devices (Abrichtgeräte) Customized dressing systems for conditioning grinding wheels using diamond profile rollers. Feature aged machine cast iron base body with excellent damping properties. Available as portal-mounted or single-sided mounted units with direct drive or belt drive up to 7,000 rpm.
• Dressing Mandrels (Aufnahmedorne) Mechanical spindles without integrated drive mounted in high-precision spindle bearings. Achieve concentricity accuracies <0.002 mm at mounting diameter with dressing speeds up to 7,000 rpm. XP series includes integrated hydraulic expansion system for quick diamond roller changes.
• Dressing Spindles (Abrichtspindeln) Spindle systems designed for conditioning grinding wheels with high-torque motor and integrated encoder system ensuring constant ratio between grinding wheel and dressing wheel. Feature vibration-free dressing process with optional sealing air and sensor capabilities.
• CNC Dressing Devices (CNC-Abrichter) CNC path-controlled dressing units for diamond-coated rollers designed for dressing complex special shapes with precision of 0.001 mm. Feature rigid, low-vibration cross and feed slides with N/V needle guides and roller screw drive. Can retrofit older systems without interpolating axes.
• Customer Service (Spindelservice) Comprehensive spindle service for all manufacturers including technical advice, fault diagnosis, maintenance, repairs, bearing overhauls, precision balancing, and on-site spindle analyses. Also includes preventive servicing and spindle up-time services.
• Engineering Services Custom spindle development and construction services including 3D CAD and 2D CAD systems, calculation programs, and testing on company test benches. Continuous cooperation with universities and research institutes.
• Balancing Services (Lohnwuchten) Dynamic balancing services for rotor weights from 500g to 350kg. Includes advice on balancing type, achievable balancing levels, and optimal mass balancing points. Mobile balancing available for on-site or in-house operations.
• Vibration Measurements (Schwingungsmessungen) Vibration measurements and natural frequency measurements conducted on test beds or at customer sites, with documentation of vibrations and bearing condition.
• Spindle Assembly (Spindelmontage) Contract assembly and test runs including incoming goods inspection, adjustment work, balancing, assembly, wiring, sensor setting, and test runs with documentation.
• Precision Manufacturing (Fertigung) Precision manufacturing services via affiliated company SPL Präzisionsfertigung GmbH in Fraureuth, specializing in turning, milling, and grinding operations.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and historical.

• SPL Präzisionsfertigung GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated manufacturing partner located in Fraureuth, Germany, providing expertise in turning, milling, and grinding. Serves as parts supplier to SPL Spindel and handles contract manufacturing for customers.
• Beijing Shuangxu Technology Co., LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Located in Beijing. Opened a joint spindle service center in Beijing in 2024.
• RUN ACE CO., LTDregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Taiwan, providing local sales support for precision spindles.
• Askar Microns Pvt LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for India, located in Mysore, Karnataka. Provides both sales and after-market service support.
• Fischer Precision Spindles, Inc.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for USA, located in Berlin, Connecticut. Provides both sales and service support for the American market.
• KEBA Schweiz GmbHregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Switzerland, located in Givisiez.
• KEB-RussiaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Russia, contact at KEB-Russia in Dzerzhinskiy, Moscow region.
• Technopipe Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for Russia, located in Moscow.
• SARTORIUS AGhistoricalTechnology or IntegrationLicensor of hydrodynamic bearing technology for SPL's initial spindle development in 1995. This historical partnership provided foundational technology for SPL's product line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GMN Paul Müller Industrie GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of high-speed machine tool spindles (grinding, milling, turning) with hydrodynamic and hybrid bearings — directly overlapping SPL's core product range and customer base in machine tool OEMs.
• Weiss Spindeltechnologie GmbH: German maker of motorized spindles for milling, grinding, and turning, plus special applications. Highly comparable to SPL in product scope, customization model, and target machine tool customers.
• Fischer Precision Spindles (Fischer AG Präzisionsspindeln): Swiss/German manufacturer of high-speed precision spindles for machine tools and special applications — same core competency as SPL, with overlapping bearing-technology expertise.
• IBAG Switzerland AG: Swiss precision spindle manufacturer offering high-frequency motor spindles, grinding spindles, and custom solutions for machine tools — competes directly with SPL in the European high-end spindle segment.
• Kessler GmbH: German manufacturer of motor spindles and spindle units for machining centers, grinding machines, and special machines — directly competes in the same machine tool spindle market.
• Step-Tec (Kern Microtechnik subsidiary): Swiss manufacturer of high-speed motor spindles for CNC machining centers, particularly for micro-machining — directly comparable in product technology and customer profile to SPL's milling spindles.

Others

• Schaeffler / FAG (INA/FAG bearings): Global bearing manufacturer supplying precision and hybrid bearings used inside machine tool spindles. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — SPL sources similar bearing technology for its spindle builds.
• SKF GmbH: Global bearing and precision component supplier that also offers spindle-related service and condition monitoring. Adjacent supplier/customer relationship to precision spindle manufacturers like SPL.

Broad incumbents

• HSD S.p.A. (Biesse Group): Italian producer of electrospindles and milling heads for woodworking, plastics, and metalworking machines — a larger incumbent serving similar machine tool OEM customers with broader catalog.
• Siemens AG (Machine Tool Spindles / Motors): Global industrial conglomerate whose Motion Control division supplies spindle motors and drive systems for machine tools. A broader incumbent that competes with SPL via OEM-supplied integrated spindle-motor packages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/Spindelservice
• Facebookfacebook.com/Spindelservice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spl-spindel-und-pr%C3%A4zisionslager-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/splspindel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SPL Spindel