VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen

What VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen does

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialized engineering company that designs, manufactures, and installs thin film and short path (molecular) distillation systems for thermal separation of heat-sensitive, viscous, and high-boiling products. Founded in 1994 as a member of the Streicher Group and headquartered in Niederwinkling, Germany, VTA operates from manufacturing facilities in Niederwinkling and Alzenau-Hörstein (via UIC GmbH, acquired in 2018), with sales offices in Beijing and Nanjing, China, and a representative network spanning 25+ countries.

The company's product portfolio spans laboratory units (20 g/h), pilot units (3-100 kg/h), and tailor-made skid-mounted industrial systems capable of handling viscosities up to 100,000 cP at operating pressures as low as 0.001 mbar and temperatures up to 400°C. Core proprietary technologies include the patented washing condenser system, the V-Boost vacuum pump, and the V-Tab smart distillation control system. Notable engineering achievements include the world's tallest short path evaporator with 80 m² of heating surface. VTA holds ISO 9001, 14001, 50001, EN 1090-2, AD 2000, EN ISO 3834-2, CE 0036-A2, and WHG certifications.

VTA generates revenue through four streams: equipment and system sales (capex projects), toll distillation and pastillation contract manufacturing (managed services), test center feasibility studies (professional services), and spare parts/after-sales service. The company serves enterprise customers across six verticals: oils/fats/food, chemical/agrochemical/pharmaceutical, petrochemical, polymers, fragrances/flavors, and recycled materials. Named customers include Robertet Group, Nutriswiss, and olive oil and fish oil processors. Project-based enterprise sales are executed directly from Germany, supplemented by an international representative network. As of latest data, the company has 1,725 systems in operation globally and 8,050 completed orders across its 30+ year history, with 150 specialized employees.

Name

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen

Legal name

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://vta-process.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen is a German engineering company that designs, manufactures, and installs thin film and short path distillation systems for thermal separation of heat-sensitive products. It serves enterprise customers in oils/food, chemical, pharmaceutical, polymer, and recycling industries via project-based equipment sales and toll manufacturing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Distillation Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Thin film evaporation
• Short path distillation
• Molecular distillation equipment
• Vacuum distillation systems
• Contract distillation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Niederwinkling

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equipment and System Sales: VTA engineers, manufactures, and installs thin film and short path distillation plants, evaporators, and complete systems. Products range from standardized laboratory units (0.1 kg/h) to tailor-made industrial facilities (several t/h). All core components are manufactured in-house at headquarters or within the STREICHER group.
2. Contract Manufacturing (Toll Distillation and Pastillation): VTA operates toll distillation and pastillation plants 24/7 at their Niederwinkling site. Services include distillation of products from 1 kg to 1000 tons, with processing temperatures up to 350°C, melting points up to 180°C, and viscosity up to 100,000 cP. Pastillation capacity of 300-1200 kg/h for waxes, oleochemicals, resins, polymers.
3. Testing and Feasibility Services: Test center services for feasibility checks and scale-up. Laboratory trials require 1-20 kg of raw material; pilot trials require 200-400 kg. Process parameters determined for later scale-up to industrial systems.
4. Spare Parts and After-Sales Service: Worldwide spare parts supply with same-day delivery from stock. Special spare parts manufactured short-term due to own production facilities. Service includes commissioning, remote maintenance, on-site repairs, and staff training.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VTA designs, manufactures, and services thin film and short path (molecular) distillation equipment for thermal separation of heat-sensitive, high-viscosity, or corrosive products. In addition to engineered capital equipment, the company operates an in-house test center and provides contract distillation and contract pastillation (toll processing) services for customers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.

Product overview

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen is a leading provider of thermal separation solutions, offering a comprehensive portfolio of evaporation, distillation, and drying equipment. The core product line includes Thin Film Evaporation, Short Path Evaporation, Horizontal Thin Film Evaporation, Thin Film Drying, Fractional Distillation, Glass Lined Evaporators, Laboratory Units, Pilot Units, and the V-Boost Vacuum Pump. These systems range from standardized laboratory units to tailor-made, skid-mounted industrial plants. The company complements its equipment portfolio with contract manufacturing services including Contract Distillation and Contract Pastillation at its Niederwinkling facility. A Test Center supports feasibility testing and process development. All products are engineered and manufactured in-house at the German headquarters, enabling full quality control and quick response to customer requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• V-Boost: VTA's Diffusion Booster Pump - a vacuum pump with increased efficiency and optimized performance, offering high suction capacity and excellent throughput at very low operating pressures.

Products and services

• Thin Film Evaporators Vertical thin film evaporation systems for continuous thermal separation of heat-sensitive, viscous, or fouling products under high vacuum. Used by chemical, pharmaceutical, and food manufacturers for concentration, purification, and solvent recovery.
• Short Path (Molecular) Evaporators High-vacuum short path distillation equipment for separating high-boiling-point, thermally sensitive, or high-molecular-weight products at very low temperatures. Targeted at pharmaceutical, fine chemical, and specialty applications.
• Horizontal Thin Film Evaporators Horizontal thin film evaporation systems engineered for products that are difficult to handle in vertical configurations, including high-viscosity, fouling, or solids-containing streams.
• Thin Film Dryers Thin film drying equipment for the gentle removal of volatile components from pastes, slurries, and viscous products under vacuum.
• Fractional Distillation Columns Fractional distillation systems designed for multi-component separation applications complementing the thin film and short path evaporator lines.
• Glass-Lined Evaporators Evaporators with glass-lined (enamel) internals for handling corrosive, acidic, or reactive process media that would attack standard stainless steel surfaces.
• Laboratory Units Lab-scale thin film and short path distillation units for feasibility studies, R&D, and small-batch production. Used by customers before scaling up to pilot or production equipment.
• Pilot Units Pilot-scale thin film and short path distillation units for process validation and scale-up testing prior to investment in full production equipment.
• V-Boost Vacuum Pump Proprietary high-performance vacuum pump system designed to achieve and maintain the deep vacuum levels required for short path and molecular distillation of high-boiling products.
• Contract Distillation (Toll Processing) Fee-based toll processing service where VTA runs customer material through its own thin film / short path distillation equipment in Niederwinkling, providing separation without the customer purchasing capital equipment.
• Contract Pastillation (Toll Processing) Fee-based toll pastillation service for converting molten product into uniform solid flakes or pastilles using VTA's pastillation equipment.
• Test Center Services Fee-based laboratory and pilot testing services in which VTA processes customer samples or batches in its test center to demonstrate feasibility, optimize process parameters, and de-risk scale-up of customer separation processes.
• After-Sales Service Post-installation service, maintenance, spare parts, and technical support for VTA's installed base of distillation equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operating pressure as low as 0.001 mbar for molecular distillation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Suurmond BV / Suurmond UK LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 October 2024Strategic partnership for Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, UK, and Ireland markets. Suurmond provides local sales and support for VTA and UIC distillation technologies, with representatives Hugo Grunder, Chaïma Ben Ahmed, and Laurence Fletcher covering Benelux and UK/Ireland regions.
• Lödige España, S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 October 2024Lödige represents VTA and UIC in the Spanish market, bringing extensive experience in engineering and industrial sectors aligned with VTA's thin-film and short-path distillation technologies.
• EXOTHERMO Representações TécnicascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 January 2024Nelson Morinishi from EXOTHERMO represents VTA and UIC in Brazil, succeeding Claudio Serafini. Mr. Morinishi has broad experience in evaporation and heat transfer technologies.
• Brad Miller / MES, PLLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 June 2023Brad Miller expands VTA presence in North American market (USA and Canada) with deep knowledge in thermal separation technologies and experience in manufacturing and maintenance of equipment.
• Root SciencescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative for hemp and cannabis applications in the USA market, specializing in processing equipment for cannabis oil purification and CBD isolate production.
• UIC GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary acquired in 2018, located in Alzenau-Hörstein, Germany. UIC specializes in large-scale evaporator manufacturing, holding key patents including the washing condenser technology. Together they offer the world's largest short path evaporator (80 m² heating surface).
• Streicher GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of VTA. Founded in 1994 as a member of the STREICHER Group. The Streicher Group provides corporate backing and synergies including shared manufacturing facilities and expertise.
• Robertet GroupminorOthersFeatured customer case study partner in the fragrances and flavors industry. Robertet Group in Grasse, France uses molecular distillation to refine fragrances and flavors.
• Chemsys Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Republic of Korea since 2009, with Kitaek Ryu managing sales and support for VTA technologies in the Korean market.
• Pfintech Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Japan with Michiari Kobayashi managing sales and support from Kobe office.
• Sawant Process Solutions Private LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in India with Sandeep Sawant and Devaki Sawant managing sales and support from Mumbai office.
• Bon Race Enterprise Co. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Taiwan with Robert Lin managing sales and support.
• PTS Process Technology and Services Co. LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Thailand with Nattawut Ribprasert managing sales and support from Rayong office.
• MERCI, s.r.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Czech Republic with Nikola Dalajkova managing sales and support from Brno office.
• RECOWAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in France with David Waltisperger managing sales and support from Mulhouse office.
• HellamcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Greece with Yiannis Mouroutis-Prionistis managing sales and support from Athens office.
• Holimax Engineering and Trading Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Hungary with Vanessa Vezekenyi managing sales and support from Budapest office.
• MiTec S.R.L.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Italy with Enrico Maestri managing sales and support from Bergamo office.
• Vekamaf Warszawa Sp. z o.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized representative in Poland with Grzegorz Pawlonka managing sales and support from Warsaw office.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Alfa Laval: Alfa Laval is a Swedish global leader in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling. While not focused exclusively on thin film distillation, its plate and tubular heat exchanger portfolio plus global scale allow it to compete for adjacent process equipment opportunities in VTA's customer industries.
• Chart Industries: Chart Industries is a US-based manufacturer of cryogenic and heat transfer equipment with strong industrial gases exposure. Its heat transfer technology portfolio overlaps with adjacent VTA applications in chemical processing, particularly in vacuum-based thermal systems.
• GEA Group: GEA Group is a German global leader in process technology for food, dairy, and pharma. Its separators, homogenizers, and broad process equipment portfolio address adjacent processing needs and the company has the scale and R&D depth to expand into specialty thermal separation applications.
• HRS Heat Exchangers: HRS Heat Exchangers (UK) is a specialist in heat transfer technologies including scraped surface and corrugated tube heat exchangers used across food, pharmaceutical, and chemical processing. It serves the same industrial customer base as VTA with adjacent (but not identical) thermal processing technologies.
• GMM Pfaudler: GMM Pfaudler is a large Italy/India-based process equipment specialist offering glass-lined reactors, columns, and broader process technologies. Overlaps with VTA's specialty equipment segment but operates at much larger scale and serves a broader portfolio of applications across similar end-markets.
• De Dietrich Process Systems: De Dietrich Process Systems (France/Germany) supplies glass-lined reactors, filters, dryers, and process equipment for pharmaceutical and chemical industries. It addresses overlapping customer needs in pharmaceutical and chemical processing where VTA's specialty thermal separation systems are also specified.
• Sulzer: Sulzer is a Swiss process equipment and pump manufacturer with separation columns, mass transfer technology, and mixing solutions. Its process industries division competes indirectly for capital projects where VTA's thin film/short path systems are specified in chemical, food, and pharma facilities.

Direct peers

• GIG Karasek: GIG Karasek is an Austrian process equipment manufacturer specializing in thin film and falling film evaporators, molecular distillation, and drying systems. Directly competes with VTA in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and polymer applications across the DACH region and internationally.
• Buss-SMS-Canzler: Buss-SMS-Canzler (Germany/Switzerland) is a long-established thin film and wiped film evaporator manufacturer with overlapping product offerings in chemical, pharmaceutical, and food thermal separation. Direct competitor to VTA in the European process equipment market with comparable target customer profile.
• Pope Scientific: Pope Scientific is a US-based manufacturer of wiped film and short path (molecular) distillation equipment serving the same pharmaceutical, chemical, food, flavor, and cannabis industries as VTA. It is the most direct global head-to-head competitor for VTA's core product lines, particularly in North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFddA7YsUxfFfqNxXqpoVBQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/VTAprocess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vta-process
• Instagraminstagram.com/vtaprocess

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen