Streamlining Cannabis Production with Automated Infusion Technology

Want to increase production output and reduce labour costs?

The cannabis industry is evolving, and with it pre-rolls have become one of the most popular products on the shelves. Infused pre-rolls? They are ruling.

Here’s the problem:

Trying to meet demand through manual processes will lead to nothing but losses. Manual infusion of pre-rolls is labour-intensive, inconsistent and slow. As a result, if production falls behind, sales will suffer.

Fortunately, there’s a solution:

Automation is the answer that cannabis producers have been looking for.

In this guide:

• Why Infused Pre-Rolls Are Dominating Sales
• The Hidden Costs of Manual Pre-Roll Production
• How Automation Will Change Cannabis Production
• Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Production Needs

Why Infused Pre-Rolls Are Dominating Sales

Look at the numbers:

Infused pre-rolls have become one of the most important players on the pre-roll market. Per MJBizDaily, infused joints hold an average 43.4% market share on the pre-roll segment.

Close to 50% of pre-roll sales are from infused products.

Why are consumers buying infused products? Three factors play a role here:

• Potency: infusions of THC or CBD make pre-rolls more powerful
• Value: the higher potency of infused products gives consumers a sense of more for the money
• Convenience: ready to smoke products are hassle-free

The trend is not stopping either.

Legalising cannabis in new states and opening new markets has led to a huge increase in demand for infused products.

Yet, meeting this demand?

This is where things get tricky.

The Hidden Costs of Manual Pre-Roll Production

Manual pre-roll infusion is a nightmare for operators.

Take a step back and think about it for a second. Every pre-roll has to be handled by hand. Workers manually apply concentrates to pre-rolls. Dosage of infusions varies from one roll to another. It takes a long time to complete this process.

Here are the real costs of manual infusion:

• Labour hours: a huge amount of labour time is spent on these repetitive, mundane tasks
• Inconsistency: hand-infused pre-rolls have different amounts of concentrate applied, which causes inconsistency of products
• Waste: there is a lot of concentrate being lost during the production process
• Bottlenecks: when it is time to increase the output, production comes to a grinding halt

One more problem that most producers don’t see coming…

Scaling a manual operation means hiring more employees. More employees mean more training, more management problems and overhead.

No wonder producers are turning to an automated pre-roll infusion machine from leading manufacturers like Sorting Robotics to make things easier for their operations.

Switching from manual to automated production is not only a matter of speed.

It is a matter of survival.

How Automation Will Change Cannabis Production

Automation is a game-changer in the way cannabis products are manufactured.

The impact of automation is hard to overestimate. As per MG Magazine, automation in the United States is being applied to the production of 44% more goods using 70% less labour in comparison with thirty years ago.

These numbers have a direct impact on the cannabis industry.

When cannabis producers switch to automated infusion machines a number of changes take place:

• Production speeds up dramatically. Machines never get tired. They work consistently, hour after hour
• Quality becomes predictable. Automated systems apply the same amount of concentrate on each and every pre-roll with no variation between batches
• Labour costs are reduced. Smaller number of workers needed for infusion tasks means they can focus on higher value activities
• Waste is reduced. Machines apply a pre-rolls amount of concentrate every single time with little to no waste.

Impressive, right?

But wait, there is more…

Addressing Bottlenecks

In cannabis manufacturing the infusion step is one of the biggest bottlenecks. Inventory backs up waiting to be processed. Deadlines are not being met. Revenue is at risk.

Automated infusion machines kill this bottleneck.

Automated infusion machines process pre-rolls at consistent high speeds, so the entire production line works at an optimal level. Clearing one bottleneck in the production process allows operators to optimise other areas.

A ripple effect of efficiency is felt throughout the entire operation.

Consistency at Scale

One thing that most people don’t realise…

Consumers expect the same level of experience each time they buy a product. If one infused pre-roll hits perfectly and another doesn’t, consumers lose their trust very quickly.

Automation is capable of delivering batch-to-batch consistency that is impossible for manual infusion processes. Each and every pre-roll gets the same exact treatment by automated machines. Every. Single. Time.

This level of consistency builds brand loyalty and reduces consumer complaints.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Production Needs

Not all automation equipment is created equal.

Before a cannabis producer invests in an automated pre-roll infusion machine several factors need to be considered:

• Production volume: it is important to choose a machine that can produce at the level of the current demand and has a capacity to increase the volume of production if there is an increase in demand
• Product types: equipment must be able to handle specific infusion processes used by the producer
• Footprint: floor space available in the production facility must be considered
• Integration: equipment needs to be able to integrate with other production equipment already in use
• Support: manufacturer’s training and service offerings should be taken into consideration

The right equipment will pay for itself in no time by increasing production output and reducing labour costs. The wrong equipment will create more problems than it was meant to solve.

Take time to do research, visit a cannabis trade show to meet equipment manufacturers and ask other operators about their experiences with the equipment.

ROI Considerations

Return on investment is an important consideration.

Operators who implement automation solutions in cannabis production often see a return on investment in a matter of months, not years. The reduction of labour costs, an increase in throughput and a decrease in waste all add up to a shorter time to payback.

Some producers report increase in margins in double digits after automating key areas of their operations like infusion of pre-rolls.

But the benefits go beyond immediate cost savings…

Automated cannabis production is scalable.

Production volume can be increased to meet growing demand with no linear increase in headcount. This flexibility becomes key in an ever-evolving cannabis market.

The Future Belongs to Automated Cannabis Producers

The cannabis industry is maturing.

Competition is growing. Margins are being squeezed. Producers who rely on manual processes will have a very hard time remaining profitable.

Automated operations continue to gain market share. They produce more using fewer resources. They can deliver consistent quality at scale. They can quickly adapt to market changes.

It is crystal clear that automation is no longer an option.

It is required for long-term success in cannabis production.

Bringing It All Together

Automated infusion technology is changing cannabis production.

Infused pre-rolls dominate the market with sky-high demand. Manual production simply can’t keep up with the required efficiency. Automation is the answer that kills multiple problems at a time.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Infused pre-rolls command close to 50% of pre-roll sales
• Manual infusion causes bottlenecks, creates waste and inconsistency
• Automation increases output while reducing dependence on labour
• The right equipment can give a fast return on investment

Producers who adopt automation now are well-positioned for sustainable growth. Producers who hesitate risk being left behind by those who have already made a leap to the new technology.

Technology is here. The market is demanding it. The only question is how quickly will operators adapt to this new reality in cannabis production.