MWA Nova
MWA Nova GmbH is a Berlin-based German manufacturer of professional film and audio scanning equipment serving global film archives, cinematheques, post-production companies, and broadcast archives, distinguished by proprietary sprocketless, capstanless film transport with ultra-low tension control for handling damaged archival material.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1926
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MWA Nova does
MWA Nova GmbH is a Berlin-based German manufacturer of professional film and audio scanning equipment, serving institutional film archives, cinematheques, post-production companies, and broadcast television archives worldwide. The company's product portfolio centers on the Spinner series (S2, V, T, R, B) and the flashscan Nova, all built around a proprietary sprocketless and capstanless film transport that achieves ultra-low tension of 0.2 Newton (20 grams), enabling safe digitization of fragile, shrunken, warped, and nitrate film that conventional transports would damage. Scanners accommodate film gauges from 8mm to 35mm and are equipped with Sony CMOS color or monochrome sensors ranging from 2.5k (5MP) to 13.4k (IMX 661), with the flagship Spinner S2 supporting 8K output; the Spinner T provides synchronized optical/magnetic sound reproduction via velocity-adaptive sampling, and the Spinner B is a configurable broadcast-archive variant. All devices are operated and monitored through the proprietary flashsuite 3 control software.
The company traces its heritage to MWA (Mechanische Werkstätten Albrecht), founded in Berlin in 1920/1926, giving it roughly a century of accumulated expertise in optical sound, magnetic film, and modern digital film scanning technologies. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of capital-intensive scanner systems, supplemented by professional services via the MWArge support ticketing system; pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed and varies with configuration, sensor options, and audio modules. Distribution is conducted through direct sales from the Berlin headquarters combined with a global network of certified resellers and representatives spanning France, Germany, the UK, Japan, Slovenia, Russia/CIS, Singapore, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and broader Asia. The go-to-market motion is heavily event-driven, with sustained presence at industry gatherings including Il Cinema Ritrovato (Bologna), FIAF Congresses, FIAT/IFTA conferences, IBC, AMIA, IASA, and BroadcastAsia, supported by factory demonstrations, open houses during events such as Berlinale, and content marketing via the company website, LinkedIn, and YouTube. MWA Nova remains a privately held GmbH with no external institutional investment identified, led by General Manager Oliver Mewes and a small sales team.
MWA Nova firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MWA Nova
- Legal name
- MWA Nova GmbH
- Website
- https://mwa-nova.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1926
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MWA Nova GmbH is a Berlin-based German manufacturer of professional film and audio scanning equipment serving global film archives, cinematheques, post-production companies, and broadcast archives, distinguished by proprietary sprocketless, capstanless film transport with ultra-low tension control for handling damaged archival material.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where MWA Nova is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MWA Nova business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Film Scanner Hardware Sales: Sale of professional film scanning equipment including Spinner S2, Spinner V, flashscan Nova, Spinner T, Spinner R, and Spinner B models. Hardware is sold with associated proprietary software (flashsuite 3) and can be configured with various sensor options and audio modules.
- Support and Service: MWArge Support ticket system for customer service and technical support. Support requests processed through support.mwarge.com.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
MWA Nova product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MWA Nova designs, manufactures, and sells professional film and audio scanning equipment built around a proprietary sprocketless and capstanless film transport that achieves ultra-low film tension (0.2 Newton) for the safe digitization of fragile, shrunken, warped, and nitrate film. The product line spans the Spinner S2 scanner, Spinner V multi-format viewing table, Spinner T standalone sound reproducer, Spinner R verification/winding table, Spinner B broadcast-archive scanner, and the cost-effective flashscan Nova for small-gauge film, all controlled by the proprietary flashsuite 3 software. The offering targets film archives, cinematheques, broadcast archives, and post-production companies worldwide.
Product overview
MWA Nova GmbH is a German manufacturer of film and audio scanning equipment with a heritage spanning over 90 years of German engineering. The product portfolio centers on the proprietary Spinner scanner series (Spinner S2, V, T, R, B) and the flashscan Nova, all sharing a pioneering sprocketless and capstantless film transport technology that achieves ultra-low film tension down to 0.2 Newton. The Spinner S2 is the flagship scanner for damaged/archival film in 6.5k or 13.4k variants; the Spinner V serves as a multi-format 4K viewing table; the Spinner T provides standalone sound reproduction; the Spinner R functions as a verification/winding table; and the Spinner B is a broadcast-archive-configurable system. The flashscan Nova is the cost-effective entry model for small gauge film (8–16mm) with optional Easy Wet Gate. All scanners are monitored and controlled by flashsuite 3 software. The product line is designed specifically for film archives and post-production companies worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Spinner Series: Film scanner product line including Spinner S2, Spinner V, Spinner T, Spinner R, Spinner B
- flashscan Nova
- flashsuite
Products and services
- Spinner S2 Pioneering sprocketless and capstanless film scanner designed for everyday use, achieving a gentle minimum film tension of 20 grams / 0.2 Newton. Available in 6.5k or 13.4k sensor variants, it safely digitizes shrunken, warped, or damaged older analogue motion picture material, including highly flammable nitrate film.
- Spinner V Multi-format viewing table, the only such viewer on the market supporting formats from 8mm to 35mm. Equipped with a 4K sensor, adjustable tension from 20 to 600 grams, available in 2 or 4 platter versions with all available magnetic and optical audio modules. Allows viewing and 4K, 8-bit H.264 compressed capture.
- flashscan Nova Cost-effective small film scanner featuring sprocketless and capstanless continuous motion transport down to 0.2 Newton, compatible with unlimited shrinkage and any film geometry. Equipped with 2.5k/5MP or 4k/12MP Sony CMOS color or monochrome sensors, available with the optional MWA Easy Wet Gate for 8mm/S8, 9.5mm, and 16mm/S16 film formats.
- Spinner T Standalone sound reproducer developed for everyday use with dedicated sound heads for optical and magnetic sound. Features ultra-low sound jitter through velocity-adaptive sampling and BiPhase (master or slave) sync to other scanners/telecines. Supports 24bit/48kHz and 24bit/96kHz audio.
- Spinner R Multi-format winder and verification table supporting 8 to 35mm film (capacity 600 meters). Equipped with a ground glass, multi-function touch screen, and a drive system without pinion or capstan. Minimum tension of 10 grams with variable speed up to 300 frames/second.
- Spinner B Broadcast-archive-configurable film scanning system based on the Spinner V viewing and inspection table. Equipped with a 4K sensor for digitizing 16mm film into broadcast formats. Features digital and analogue audio inputs and outputs, full BiPhase-controllable synchronization with the Spinner T sound follower, expandable 16mm and magnetic tape support, optional 17.5mm and 35mm, and a special gate for waved material and vinegar syndrome. Controlled by flashsuite 3.
Quantifiable outcome
- Film tension as low as 20 grams (0.2 Newton)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MWA Nova
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MWA Nova technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
MWA Nova partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regional.
- FIAF (Fédération Internationale des Archives de Télévision)coreMWA Nova has participated almost continuously as a supporter in FIAF congresses for nearly 20 years. The congresses serve as a platform for discussion about technical designs for best possible digitization of film and sound heritage. The company provides suggestions and ideas based on industry engagement.
- 5micron GmbHcoreDevelopment partner for non-contact magneto-optical film reading technology using Faraday effect. MWA developed special winding tables integrating 5micron's sensor system for evaluation of analogue waveforms and magnetic tape imaging. 5micron's V-Black inspection unit has been demonstrated with MWA Spinner S.
- FIAT/IFTAcoreMWA Nova has been a Silver Sponsor at FIAT/IFTA World Conferences, presenting solutions specifically designed for broadcast archives. Company participates in annual conferences to engage with television archive professionals.
- dubidotminorPartner and exhibitor at Hamburg Open, providing support for German Förderprogramm Filmerbe (film heritage funding program) assistance.
- MWA FrancecoreCertified representative and reseller for France, providing local sales and support for MWA Nova products.
- MWA-Services GmbHcoreDigital service partner for Germany, providing service and support for MWA Nova products in the German market.
- DVSS (United Kingdom)regionalCertified representative for United Kingdom market.
- TMS Media (Japan)regionalCertified representative for Japan market.
- rap-ing (Slovenia)regionalCertified representative for Slovenia market.
- Juri Freiberger (Russia & CIS)regionalCertified representative for Russia and CIS markets.
- Broadcast Engineering Services (Singapore, Italy)regionalCertified representative for Singapore and Italy markets.
- Videocine 2000 (Italy)regionalCertified representative for Italy market.
- Cinesonic (Portugal)regionalCertified representative for Portugal market.
- JBD (Poland)regionalCertified representative for Poland market.
- Novelco (Asia)regionalCertified representative for Asia market.
- AFI (Aktionsbündnis Filmerbe)minorPartnership through dubidot for Förderprogramm Filmerbe (film heritage funding program) assistance in Germany. MWA Nova supports funding application process with film quality inspection capabilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MWA Nova competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ARRI: German cinema technology major that produces the ARRISCAN digital film scanner alongside its core camera and lighting business. Overlaps with MWA in the post-production scanning segment but operates as a broader incumbent with significantly larger scale and resources.
- Vizrt Group: Global broadcast technology incumbent offering end-to-end production, playout, and media asset management solutions used by television archives. While not a direct film scanner competitor, it competes for the same broadcast-archive digitization budgets targeted by MWA Nova's Spinner B.
Direct peers
- Sondor: Swiss manufacturer of professional film scanning and sound reproduction equipment for archives and post-production. Shares MWA Nova's heritage of European precision engineering and competes head-to-head in archival scanning workflows.
- Lasergraphics: US-based manufacturer of high-end film scanners (ScanStation, Archive Gold, Film Scanner) widely used by major film archives and post-production facilities globally. Directly competes with MWA Nova in the premium archival scanning segment with overlapping customer base.
- Digital Film Technology (DFT): Germany-based successor to Filmlab/Philips scanning lineage, offering the Polar/Spirit DataCine line of high-end film scanners for archives and post-production. Direct competitor to MWA Nova's Spinner series in the European archival market.
- Cintel (Blackmagic Design): Acquired Cintel and produces the Cintel Scanner, a digital film scanner positioned for archive and post-production workflows. Competes with MWA Nova in film digitization hardware, with the backing of Blackmagic Design's broader video ecosystem.
Others
- Cube Tec International: Provider of Filmquadriga and related quality-control/restoration software integrated with MWA's Spinner S at FIAF 2019 demonstrations. Functions as an enabling software partner in the same archival scanning workflow rather than a competing hardware vendor.
- Vidispine / Arvato Systems: Provider of media asset management and archive orchestration platforms commonly deployed alongside film scanning hardware in large archive digitization projects. An adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct scanner competitor.
Emerging players
- 5micron GmbH: German technology partner developing non-contact magneto-optical film reading technology (Faraday effect). Closely integrated with MWA's Spanner S platform for evaluating analogue waveforms and magnetic tape imaging, representing a specialized adjacent capability rather than a direct competitor.
- Diamant-Film: Swiss/German provider of film restoration and processing technologies with a strategic partnership with MWA Nova. Overlaps in the archival restoration workflow but focuses on software/restoration processing rather than competing directly in hardware scanning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MWA Nova social profiles
Digital presenceMWA Nova financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MWA Nova leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
MWA Nova funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MWA Nova 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 MWA Nova
What does MWA Nova do?
MWA Nova designs, manufactures, and sells professional film and audio scanning equipment built around a proprietary sprocketless and capstanless film transport that achieves ultra-low film tension (0.2 Newton) for the safe digitization of fragile, shrunken, warped, and nitrate film. The product line spans the Spinner S2 scanner, Spinner V multi-format viewing table, Spinner T standalone sound reproducer, Spinner R verification/winding table, Spinner B broadcast-archive scanner, and the cost-effective flashscan Nova for small-gauge film, all controlled by the proprietary flashsuite 3 software. The offering targets film archives, cinematheques, broadcast archives, and post-production companies worldwide.
Is MWA Nova a public or private company?
MWA Nova is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MWA Nova founded?
MWA Nova was founded in 1926. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MWA Nova based?
MWA Nova is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does MWA Nova make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Film Scanner Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are support and Service.
Who are MWA Nova's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ARRI and Vizrt Group. Direct peers are Sondor, Lasergraphics, Digital Film Technology (DFT) and Cintel (Blackmagic Design). Others are Cube Tec International and Vidispine / Arvato Systems. Emerging players are 5micron GmbH and Diamant-Film.
Does MWA Nova have an API?
No public API is recorded for MWA Nova.