At Artisan Industries, thin-film processing is at the heart of how we help customers tackle some of the most demanding separation and purification challenges. Whether it’s processing sensitive pharmaceutical compounds, removing contaminants from edible oils, or recovering solvents in specialty chemical applications, thin-film systems offer a level of control and efficiency that other methods often can’t match.
So, what exactly is thin-film processing?
It’s a method of continuous, steady-state processing where the feed material is spread across the internal surfaces of the process equipment in a very thin layer. This results in very short residence times and enables excellent heat and mass transfer efficiency. Because the product film is being constantly renewed, product exposure to heat is minimized, reducing the risk of degradation.
In some cases, as with Artisan’s ROTOTHERM® thin-film evaporators, the thin film is created with turbulence, using a high-speed internal rotor. In others, such as with Artisan’s Evaporator/StripperTM and Short Path Stripper technologies, the film is created simply by gravity as the process material cascades down through the internals of the equipment, without moving parts.
Thin-film processing can be ideal for materials that are heat-sensitive, viscous, or prone to fouling. Artisan’s ROTOTHERM® thin-film evaporators are built specifically to handle these kinds of feeds, from delicate pharmaceuticals to heavy industrial compounds.
Our systems are used across a wide range of industries. In pharmaceuticals, thin-film evaporators help purify active ingredients, remove residual solvents, and concentrate final products without affecting potency. For edible oil production, we support the removal of unwanted contaminants such as MOAH, 3-MCPDs, and GEs while maintaining oil quality and sensory properties. In chemical manufacturing, our systems are used to recover valuable solvents, handle polymeric materials, and process high-boiling-point compounds with challenging rheology.
Why Thin-Film Processing Works Where Other Methods Fall Short
What sets thin-film processing apart is its ability to manage complex separations efficiently. The large surface area and continuous mixing action allow for quick vaporization. The ability to run under deep vacuum helps preserve product quality, particularly when working with bio-based or high-value materials. And in the Artisan Short Path Stripper, the extremely short distance that vapors travel before condensation enables operation at ultra-deep vacuum levels.
At Artisan, we offer solutions for every stage of development. Customers can start with the ROTOTHERM® MINI, a fully integrated lab and pilot-scale thin-film system. This allows for real-world process testing with full control over vacuum, temperature, and flow rates. Once optimized, that same process can be scaled to production with a full-size ROTOTHERM® system, ensuring consistency and reliability from lab to plant.
Thin-film technology also plays a role in sustainability. By concentrating valuable materials, reducing solvent usage, and enabling recovery from waste streams, our systems help companies improve process efficiency while reducing environmental impact. Paired with energy recovery strategies and smart automation, thin-film evaporators can support broader goals around cost savings and emissions reduction.
While no single technology fits every process, thin-film systems stand out when the application demands gentle handling, rapid separation, and precise control. Artisan’s expertise lies in helping customers determine when thin-film processing is the right fit and designing systems that align with their performance and operational goals.
For more than 90 years, Artisan Industries has been engineering separation solutions that go beyond off-the-shelf capabilities. If you’re facing a complex feedstock, a difficult-to-remove impurity, or a demanding purity spec, we’re here to help you explore how thin-film processing can make the difference.
