VTA Distillation Equipment for Cannabis & Hemp

A VTA distillation system is a German-engineered wiped-film short-path distillation unit that refines cannabis and hemp crude oil into high-purity CBD or THC distillate. Root Sciences supplies VTA systems with an internal condenser, cold trap, heating and vacuum controls, and dedicated discharge systems. They range from lab-scale to industrial-scale models.

Rotating wipers spread crude oil into a thin film across a heated surface under vacuum. The thin film evaporates quickly at lower temperatures, which limits heat exposure. The vapor travels a very short distance to an internal condenser and becomes distillate. Heavier compounds that don’t evaporate leave through a separate residue path.

Wiped-film describes how the oil is processed: wipers spread it into a thin, fast-moving film. Short-path describes how the vapor travels: a very short distance to an internal condenser. VTA systems combine both, which reduces heat exposure and helps protect cannabinoids compared with traditional batch distillation.

VTA systems are designed for continuous operation. The crude oil feed is processed steadily, which supports higher throughput than batch-based distillation. This makes them well suited to long production runs and scaling production.

VTA systems process winterized and decarboxylated cannabis or hemp crude oil containing CBD, THC or other cannabinoids. They are designed to handle viscous extracts without disrupting film formation. The VK 200 adds a degassing section for winterized and decarboxylated crude.

Operated correctly, VTA systems produce consistent, high-purity cannabinoid distillate. They reach deep vacuum in the 10⁻³ mbar range, which allows evaporation at lower temperatures and improves cannabinoid retention. Many processors reach high purity in a single or double pass. The distillate is suitable for edibles, concentrates, topicals and other infused products.

Key advantages include:

1. Short residence time, which reduces thermal degradation
2. High-vacuum performance for gentler, lower-temperature evaporation
3. Continuous, scalable throughput from lab to industrial size
4. Efficient separation of cannabinoids from volatiles and residues
5. Durable stainless steel and glass construction built in Germany

VTA offers GMP-friendly options, including sanitary internal surfaces, pharma-grade construction and GMP documentation packages. These support processors making medical-grade or internationally regulated extracts. Contact Root Sciences to confirm which documentation applies to your model and market.

Operators generally find VTA systems straightforward once they know the workflow. Many models have automated feed pumps, controlled temperature zones and stable vacuum control. Routine maintenance includes cleaning, seal checks and periodic inspection of key components.

A well-maintained VTA system can run for a decade or more. Some Root Sciences clients are still running VTA units that are ten years old, and they still perform efficiently. Lifespan depends mostly on how the system is maintained. Routine cleaning, seal and gasket replacement, and regular inspection of wear components keep performance steady over time. Root Sciences offers preventative maintenance kits so operators can replace key wear parts on schedule. It also provides in-house service and on-site support for repairs and servicing.