Empty Space
Empty Space (株式会社空スペース / COOSPACE Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese technology company that develops and licenses ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing), a proprietary cage-less, lubrication-independent bearing serving automotive, marine, robotics, energy storage, and consumer product manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersKoganei, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Empty Space does
Empty Space is a Japanese privately-held mechanical engineering company founded in September 2006 in Koganei City, Tokyo. It develops, manufactures, and licenses a proprietary bearing technology branded ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing) — a cage-less rolling bearing that uses a proprietary DSP (Deceleration Space Pattern) mechanism to maintain non-contact spacing between rolling elements, eliminating cage friction and removing dependence on lubrication. Reported performance claims include rotation resistance reduction to 1/14 versus conventional bearings (minimum 1/2), 7.5% fuel efficiency improvement in vehicle tests, and 1/100 torque reduction validated by JAMSTEC in deep-sea applications.
The company's product portfolio spans multiple ADB variants (deep groove ball bearings, double row angular contact ball bearings, 4-point contact ball bearings with shaft diameters 12mm–300mm), a consumer skateboard bearing SKU sold at 28,000 yen per 8-piece set, and a more recently developed ADB-based flywheel energy storage system targeting renewable energy applications. Revenue mechanics rest on three pillars: (1) direct product sales and joint development with bearing manufacturers, (2) patent licensing — both non-exclusive (e.g., skateboard license with BreYBra Co., Ltd.) and global exclusive/transfer arrangements, and (3) sale/transfer of patent rights (US and China ADB patents offered in Dec 2024; automotive turbocharger bearing patent family offered in 2024). End customers and validation partners include JAMSTEC (deep-sea submersibles), Nagano Technical College (1,404 km/L eco-race record), an enterprise rubber-glove manufacturer (100,000 bearings/month reduction case), and downstream developers of electric aircraft, EV powertrains, and energy storage systems.
The firm operates with 1–10 employees from a single headquarters in Koganei, is founder-led by Representative Director Isosuke Kawashima, and shows no disclosed external institutional funding, parent company, or acquisition history. Go-to-market is sales-led B2B enterprise licensing and direct technical sales, supplemented by Japanese industrial exhibitions (Japan Manufacturing World, InterAqua, Monozukuri Matching JAPAN) and earned media in Nikkei, Toyota Technical Journal, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, and TBS television.
Empty Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Empty Space
- Legal name
- 株式会社空スペース
- Website
- https://coo-space.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Empty Space (株式会社空スペース / COOSPACE Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese technology company that develops and licenses ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing), a proprietary cage-less, lubrication-independent bearing serving automotive, marine, robotics, energy storage, and consumer product manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Empty Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Koganei
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Empty Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Direct sales of ADB bearings and components including angular contact ball bearings, deep groove ball bearings, and 4-point contact ball bearings in various sizes.
- Patent Licensing: Licensing of ADB patents including US and China patents for manufacturing, sales, and litigation purposes. Offers non-exclusive and exclusive license agreements.
- Patent Transfer: Sale of patent rights and transfers including currently-litigated patent sets (e.g., automotive turbocharger bearing patents valued at 86 billion yen in damages, offered for 5 billion yen).
- Technology Licensing (Non-exclusive): Non-exclusive license agreements with manufacturing partners such as BreYBra Co., Ltd. for specific applications like skateboard bearings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Skateboard ADB bearings for retail/consumer market |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Empty Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Empty Space designs, manufactures, and sells the ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing), a patented cage-less rolling bearing in which the balls rotate without contact, eliminating cage-induced friction and the need for lubrication. The company also commercializes its IP through patent licensing, patent transfer, and technology licensing in Japan, the US, and China, and supplies application-specific variants for automotive, robotics, marine, energy storage, and consumer applications.
Product overview
Empty Space (株式会社空スペース / COOSPACE Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese technology company specializing in innovative bearing solutions. The core product is the ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing), a revolutionary bearing technology that eliminates the traditional cage/retention mechanism to achieve non-contact operation. The product portfolio includes the main ADB product line with various variants such as 4-point contact ball bearings and deep groove ball bearings that maintain full compatibility with standard bearings. The company also offers consumer products like skateboard bearings and has developed ADB-based flywheel energy storage systems for renewable energy applications. All products share the fundamental ADB technology platform that provides dramatically reduced friction, no lubrication requirements, and solutions for torque, wear, and environmental resistance challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing): A revolutionary bearing technology without a cage that keeps rolling elements in non-contact state, providing dramatic friction reduction and eliminating dependence on lubrication.
Products and services
- ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing) Patented cage-less rolling bearing in which the rolling elements operate without contact via the DSP mechanism, eliminating cage-induced friction and the need for lubrication. Sold to industrial OEMs and integrated into automotive, robotics, marine, and energy storage systems.
- ADB 4-Point Contact Ball Bearing Variant of the ADB bearing with 4-point contact geometry, allowing combined radial and axial load handling while retaining the cage-less, non-contact operating principle. Intended for applications that require multi-axis load support in a single bearing.
- ADB Deep Groove Ball Bearing Deep groove ball bearing variant of the ADB family, designed for radial loads and high-speed operation in a cage-less configuration. Sold as a standalone bearing unit to industrial customers.
- ADB Double Row Angular Contact Ball Bearing Double row angular contact variant of the ADB bearing, providing higher combined load capacity and axial rigidity while preserving the cage-less, non-contact operating principle. Sold as a standalone product to industrial integrators.
- Skateboard ADB Bearings ADB bearings packaged and sold as a consumer skateboard bearing set (8 pieces, 28,000 yen) through licensed manufacturer BreYBra Co., Ltd., targeting riders seeking long-life, low-friction, lubrication-free wheel bearings.
- ADB Flywheel Energy Storage System System-level offering that integrates ADB bearings into a flywheel energy storage configuration, exploiting the low-friction, lubrication-free operation to reduce rotational losses and extend service intervals. Intended for energy storage developers and research/industrial customers.
- Patent Licensing (ADB) Licensing of the ADB patent portfolio (Japan, US, China) to third-party manufacturers that produce and sell ADB-based products under license. A primary revenue stream for the company, separate from direct product sales.
- Patent Transfer (ADB applications) Transfer of ADB-related patents to specific counterparties for defined application fields, including automotive turbochargers and electric aircraft. Sold/licensed as a discrete IP transaction rather than a product unit.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1404 km/L fuel efficiency achieved at Eco Marathon Nagano 2016
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Empty Space
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Empty Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Empty Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, research, manufacturing and key validation.
- BreYBra Co., Ltd. (㈱ブレイブラ)coreNon-exclusive license agreement for ADB technology in skateboard applications. Products sold as 'ADB skateboard bearings' at 28,000 yen per 8-piece set. Over 500 units sold.
- Electrostatic Power Generation Research Institute / Representative SakairesearchChinese research paper on ADB application in electrostatic generators published in BP (bookpi.org).
- Bearing Manufacturer (unspecified)manufacturingJoint development partnership with bearing manufacturer for ADB sample production and sales. Developed angular contact ball bearing samples.
- Ibaraki University / Professor OkadaresearchAcademic partnership for vacuum lubrication-free testing. Published paper on ADB performance in vacuum conditions.
- Nagano Technical College (長野工業高等専門学校)key validationTechnical validation partnership. Supplied ADB bearings for eco-race car; achieved 1404km/L (new record) and 7.5% fuel efficiency improvement at Eco Marathon Nagano 2016.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Empty Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Schaeffler Group: German manufacturer of rolling bearings (INA/FAG) and linear guidance with strong automotive and industrial automation exposure. Comparable through bearing innovation in EV powertrains and robotics, both key ADB target segments.
- SKF Group: Global leader in bearings, seals, and lubrication solutions across industrial, automotive, and marine verticals. ADB positions itself against SKF in friction-reduction and lubrication-free performance, particularly in JAMSTEC-style marine applications.
- Timken Company: US-based manufacturer of engineered bearings, gears, and power transmission products serving industrial, automotive, and aerospace. Comparable as an incumbent bearing specialist pursuing differentiated bearing technology to defend share.
Direct peers
- JTEKT Corporation: Japanese bearing manufacturer (Koyo brand) producing ball and roller bearings for automotive, industrial, and energy applications. Competitor in standard deep groove and angular contact bearings where ADB claims drop-in compatibility.
- NTN Corporation: Major Japanese manufacturer of ball bearings, roller bearings, and constant-velocity joints serving automotive, industrial machinery, and aerospace. Closely overlaps with Empty Space on ADB's core bearing product categories and Japan industrial customer base.
- NSK Ltd. One of Japan's largest ball and roller bearing manufacturers, producing deep groove and angular contact bearings across automotive, industrial machinery, and aerospace. Directly comparable to Empty Space as a Japan-headquartered bearing specialist targeting the same bearing categories ADB serves.
- CeramicSpeed: Danish specialty bearing maker selling premium ceramic-hybrid bearings direct-to-consumer in cycling and skateboarding. Most direct competitor to the Empty Space / BreYBra ADB skateboard bearing product at 28,000 yen for 8 pieces.
Others
- Magtrol Group: Supplier of testing equipment for bearings, motors, and flywheels. Comparable as an ecosystem participant in the flywheel energy storage and bearing characterization workflows where ADB has been independently validated.
Emerging players
- Boca Bearings: US specialty distributor and small-batch manufacturer of ceramic and hybrid bearings for niche industrial and consumer applications. Comparable as a small-scale player serving premium/high-performance bearing niches outside the tier-1 incumbent footprint.
Regional players
- Active Space Automation: Specialty bearings and components for aerospace and defense applications. Comparable as an emerging specialist addressing demanding applications (analogous to ADB's electric aircraft and EV battery line ambitions) outside the mainstream bearing majors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Empty Space social profiles
Digital presenceEmpty Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Empty Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Empty Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Empty Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Empty Space
What does Empty Space do?
Empty Space designs, manufactures, and sells the ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing), a patented cage-less rolling bearing in which the balls rotate without contact, eliminating cage-induced friction and the need for lubrication. The company also commercializes its IP through patent licensing, patent transfer, and technology licensing in Japan, the US, and China, and supplies application-specific variants for automotive, robotics, marine, energy storage, and consumer applications.
Is Empty Space a public or private company?
Empty Space is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Empty Space founded?
Empty Space was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Empty Space based?
Empty Space is headquartered in Koganei, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Empty Space make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are patent Licensing, patent Transfer and technology Licensing (Non-exclusive).
Who are Empty Space's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Schaeffler Group, SKF Group and Timken Company. Direct peers are JTEKT Corporation, NTN Corporation, NSK Ltd. and CeramicSpeed. Magtrol Group is listed as an others. Boca Bearings is listed as an emerging player. Active Space Automation is listed as a regional player.
Does Empty Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Empty Space.