With the U.S. cannabis market projected to reach $42.98 billion in revenue by 2024, businesses are under increasing pressure to scale their operations and meet growing consumer demand.
As the market expands, the need for efficiency, consistency, and innovation in production has never been greater. Automation is becoming a key strategy for cannabis producers looking to streamline their processes, reduce costs, and maintain high product quality.
What Are Automated Pre-Roll Machines?
Automated pre-roll machines are innovative devices designed to streamline the production of cannabis pre-rolls by automating part of or the entire process—from filling and compacting to twisting, trimming, and sealing the final product. These machines eliminate the need for manual labor, providing a faster, more consistent method for producing high-quality pre-rolls. Equipped with precision engineering, they ensure that each pre-roll is uniform in size, weight, and density, meeting the exact standards that consumers expect.
Key Benefits of Integrating Automated Pre-Roll Machines
Increased Output
One of the most significant advantages of integrating automated pre-roll machines into your cannabis operation is the substantial increase in production capacity. For example, the JuanaRoll by Canapa Solutions is recognized as the world’s only expandable and fastest pre-roll machine, allowing the machine to adapt to your evolving needs. With the ability to expand from 2 to 8 channels, it can produce between 1,000 to 4,000 pre-rolls per hour, making it perfect for both small-scale and large-scale operations. This dramatic boost in output means that your business can meet higher consumer demand without sacrificing quality or facing production delays.
Streamlined Workflow
Automation also plays a vital role in creating a more streamlined workflow, reducing production bottlenecks that slow down your operations. By incorporating automated pre-roll machines, you can accelerate your time-to-market, ensuring that your products reach customers faster and more efficiently.
For smaller operations beginning to automate their pre-roll production, the JuanaOne machine offers the perfect solution. It automates the hardest precise weigh-filling and compacting process, leaving staff to simply hand-twist the cones for the final packaging steps. Or check out the JuanaOne+ machine for full 1-channel automation from filling to trimming.
WeightCheQ 0-250 takes weighing precision even further by offering single-item weight verification for pre-rolls, gummies, or capsules. This technology ensures that each pre-roll meets exact specifications, minimizing variability and reducing the risk of inconsistencies that could impact customer satisfaction.
Uniform Pre-Rolls
Maintaining uniformity in product quality is crucial in the competitive cannabis market. Automated pre-roll machines use precision engineering to ensure that every pre-roll meets exact specifications, from weight and density to appearance. This consistency not only elevates the quality of your products but also helps build trust among consumers who expect a reliable, premium experience every time they purchase your pre-rolls.
Improved Product Quality
Consistent product quality directly impacts customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. When your pre-rolls are uniform and of high quality, customers are more likely to have a positive experience and become repeat buyers. Automation reduces the risk of human error, ensuring that each pre-roll lives up to your brand’s standards and meets consumer expectations, thereby enhancing your overall reputation in the market.
Lower Labor Costs
Automating your pre-roll production process not only boosts efficiency but also significantly lowers labor costs. By reducing reliance on manual labor, your business can minimize operational expenses and allocate resources more effectively. This cost-saving aspect of automation enables you to invest in other areas of your operation, such as marketing, research, or expanding your product line.
Fast ROI
Investing in automated pre-roll machines like the JuanaRoll by Canapa Solutions often leads to a fast return on investment (ROI). Increased production efficiency and reduced labor costs allow businesses to recover their investment quickly, sometimes within the first year of implementation. The long-term benefits of automation make it a financially sound decision for cannabis operations aiming to maximize profitability.
Regulatory Compliance
Navigating the complex landscape of cannabis regulations can be challenging, but automated pre-roll machines simplify the process by helping you meet industry standards more easily. Automation ensures that each pre-roll is produced consistently, adhering to quality and packaging regulations that vary by location. This compliance is crucial for avoiding fines and maintaining a good standing in the market.
Improved Workplace Safety
Automation also enhances workplace safety by reducing the risks associated with manual production tasks. By minimizing human involvement in repetitive and potentially hazardous activities, automated pre-roll machines help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. This focus on safety not only protects your employees but also contributes to a more productive and efficient work environment.
Spotlight: Canapa Solutions’ JuanaRoll Pre-Roll Machine
The JuanaRoll by Canapa Solutions represents the cutting-edge of automation in cannabis pre-roll production. This innovative machine is specifically designed to meet the needs of the cannabis industry, offering unparalleled speed and precision. With its scalable design, the JuanaRoll allows businesses to start small and expand production as demand grows, making it ideal for operations looking to optimize efficiency and reduce manual labor.
Features of the JuanaRoll
High Output Capacity
The JuanaRoll sets the standard for automation in the cannabis industry with its ability to produce up to 4,000 pre-rolls per hour. This level of productivity makes it one of the fastest pre-roll machines available, allowing businesses to drastically reduce their production times and labor costs.
Precision Engineering
Designed with precision in mind, the JuanaRoll ensures that each pre-roll is consistent in weight, density, and appearance. The machine features integrated technologies like the PreCheQ™ check weigher and vision systems that detect irregularities, ensuring that only the highest quality pre-rolls reach the market.
User-Friendly Interface
The JuanaRoll’s intuitive touchscreen interface simplifies operation, making it easy to control compaction, twisting, and other production settings. This user-friendly design reduces the need for extensive training, allowing your team to quickly adapt to the machine and maintain efficient production.
Quality Control
With its advanced quality control features, the JuanaRoll automatically identifies and rejects irregular pre-rolls, ensuring that each product meets the highest standards. This system minimizes waste and enhances the overall reliability of your production line.
Adaptable for Different Sizes
One of the standout features of the JuanaRoll is its adaptability. The machine’s adjustable settings can accommodate various pre-roll sizes and types, making it versatile enough to handle different product requirements without requiring significant modifications.
Scalable for Any Operation
The JuanaRoll’s modular design allows businesses to expand their production capabilities as they grow. Whether you’re a small startup or a large-scale cannabis producer, the JuanaRoll can be customized to fit your needs, providing a future-proof solution that evolves with your operation.
Case Study: District Cannabis
Background:
District Cannabis is a leading cannabis producer in the industry, focused on delivering high-quality cannabis flower and pre-rolls. As the demand for their products surged following the legalization of recreational cannabis, they needed to significantly scale their pre-roll production. To address these needs, District Cannabis invested in automation, choosing the Swifty Bagger 3600 for flower bagging and the JuanaRoll pre-roll machine for pre-roll production.
Challenge:
Prior to automation, District Cannabis was producing around 5,000 to 6,000 pre-rolls per week using two Knockboxes, which became insufficient once recreational sales surged. The company needed a solution to ramp up production while maintaining consistency and quality across thousands of pre-rolls. Achieving scalability and flexibility, while delivering the high-quality pre-rolls their customers expect, was critical.
Solution:
District Cannabis turned to Paxiom’s automated packaging solutions, which they had already used for flower bagging. When it came to pre-roll automation, they selected the JuanaRoll, a state-of-the-art machine capable of producing up to 85,000 pre-rolls per week. The JuanaRoll offered the flexibility and precision they needed to create a wide variety of pre-rolls across different strains, and it could easily adjust settings for compaction, twist, and trim, ensuring each pre-roll was customized and consistent.
- JuanaRoll: Capable of producing up to 40 pre-rolls per minute, the JuanaRoll allowed District Cannabis to fully automate the process, from filling and compacting to twisting and trimming. The machine’s real-time customization capabilities ensured that every strain was perfectly packed and twisted to meet market preferences.
- Swifty Bagger 3600: Previously installed for flower packaging, the Swifty Bagger efficiently handles different bag sizes, allowing District Cannabis to produce more than 2,800 bags per hour. The combination of these machines dramatically increased production capacity.
Results:
After the implementation of the JuanaRoll, District Cannabis saw an impressive increase in output:
- Increased Efficiency: Production grew from 6,000 pre-rolls per week to as many as 85,000 on the best weeks. Even on slower days, the JuanaRoll maintained a steady output of 40 pre-rolls per minute, significantly boosting production.
- Improved Quality and Flexibility: The machine’s flexible settings allowed the team to customize pre-rolls by strain, ensuring the right level of compaction and twist for each product. The built-in check-weigher ensured that each pre-roll met strict weight tolerances, minimizing waste.
- Superior Customer Support: District Cannabis highlighted the exceptional training and support provided by Paxiom’s technicians, who assisted in optimizing the machine for maximum performance, even fine-tuning the system to handle their unique product requirements.
Case Study: The Valens Company
Background:
The Valens Company, a leader in cannabis processing and commercialization, provides R&D and production support for various cannabis brands. To meet increasing demand and adhere to Health Canada’s strict regulations, Valens needed to scale their pre-roll production while maintaining consistent quality and compliance.
Challenge:
As Valens looked to increase production, they faced the challenge of maintaining the strict weight and quality requirements imposed by Health Canada. Inconsistent pre-roll weights could lead to dissatisfied customers and potential regulatory issues. The company also needed equipment that was easy to clean and maintain in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Solution:
To meet their needs, Valens selected the JuanaRoll, an automated, linear pre-roll machine that ensures both speed and accuracy in production.
- High Output: The JuanaRoll produces 60-65 pre-rolls per minute, totaling around 4,000 pre-rolls per hour across its eight lanes.
- Linear Design: Unlike rotary machines that produce one pre-roll at a time, the JuanaRoll’s linear design allows all eight channels to operate simultaneously, ensuring faster and more consistent production.
- Compliance and Cleanability: Made with stainless steel and designed with non-porous surfaces, the machine meets Health Canada’s hygiene regulations.
- Flexibility: The JuanaRoll can easily adjust to produce various pre-roll sizes and offers customization options for weight and compaction, allowing Valens to meet diverse market demands.
Results:
After implementing the JuanaRoll, The Valens Company saw significant operational improvements:
- Increased Production: Valens achieved a 3-4x increase in pre-roll production, helping them meet growing market demand.
- Consistent Quality: The JuanaRoll ensured consistent weight and compaction across all pre-rolls, helping Valens comply with Health Canada’s regulations and maintain high customer satisfaction.
Case Study: Pure Life
Background:
When Pure Life entered the cannabis industry, they set their sights on becoming a leading producer of high-quality cannabis flower, with a focus on the medical cannabis market. As they scaled their operations, they identified a need to automate their packaging processes to meet increasing product demand while maintaining their high standards of quality.
Challenges:
Before adopting our solutions, Pure Life struggled with the limitations of manual packaging. The manual processes slowed their production, lacked consistency, and made it challenging to adapt quickly to changing market demands.
Solution:
To overcome these challenges, Pure Life turned to Paxiom Group’s, the parent company of Canapa Solutions, automated packaging solutions, specifically integrating the Swifty Bagger 3600 and the JuanaRoll pre-roll machine into their production line. Pure Life chose these machines based on our proven expertise in the cannabis industry and the exceptional feedback from other cannabis businesses using our equipment.
- Swifty Bagger 3600: This machine offered Pure Life the versatility to package products in various sizes, with adjustable recipes to meet their specific requirements. The integrated pre-check analyzer ensures precise weight tolerances, resulting in consistent and high-quality output at speeds of up to 30 bags per minute.
- JuanaRoll Pre-Roll Machine: The JuanaRoll’s ability to handle up to 55 pre-rolls per minute and its customization options allowed Pure Life to adapt their settings for optimal performance. With support from our technical team, they tailored the machine to manage their product’s unique characteristics, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
Results:
With Paxiom’s automated packaging solutions, Pure Life achieved remarkable results:
- Increased Efficiency: Production rates significantly improved, with the Swifty Bagger reaching up to 30 bags per minute and the JuanaRoll delivering up to 55 pre-rolls per minute—translating to around 7,000 pre-rolls in under three hours.
- Enhanced Accuracy and Quality Control: Our equipment’s advanced technology, including real-time visual feedback and integrated analyzers, enabled Pure Life to make on-the-fly adjustments, ensuring product consistency and precision.
- Superior Customer Satisfaction: Pure Life praised our unparalleled technical support, highlighting how it played a crucial role in their smooth operations and overall satisfaction.
- Competitive Advantage: Automation enabled Pure Life to maintain their “farm-to-table” approach, ensuring quality control at every stage while quickly responding to market demands.
Future Trends in Cannabis Manufacturing Automation
Integration with AI and Machine Learning
AI is already transforming various areas within the cannabis industry, reshaping how businesses operate and how consumers interact with products. For example, AI-powered platforms are enhancing cannabis delivery by tailoring product recommendations based on individual preferences, creating a more personalized and efficient customer experience. Similarly, tools like WeedGPT use AI to help consumers find the right cannabis products, providing tailored guidance based on their unique tastes and needs.
Integration with Vision Technology
At Canapa Solutions, we’re leading the industry with innovations that take quality control automation to the next level. Our Vision360 system, for example, provides unparalleled quality control by using advanced vision systems to inspect every pre-roll for accuracy and consistency, ensuring that only the best products reach the market.
IoT and Real-Time Monitoring
Just as IoT technology is revolutionizing cannabis cultivation, it is also transforming pre-roll production. IoT-enabled machines allow real-time monitoring of production lines, delivering live performance data that can detect inefficiencies, prevent bottlenecks, and enable immediate adjustments. This enhanced visibility helps manufacturers minimize downtime, optimize efficiency, and ensure consistent product quality.
Canapa Solutions is at the forefront of IoT-driven automation, integrating smart solutions like robotic tube and tray loading. Our robotic pick-and-place cell technology automates the end-of-line process, ensuring seamless, accurate placement of pre-rolls into trays or tubes. This innovation not only speeds up production but also enhances precision and reduces labor requirements, giving cannabis businesses a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.
Stay Competitive with Cannabis Automation Solutions
The global cannabis market is projected to grow to $444.34 billion by 2030 with North America leading the market, holding a dominant share of 81.79% as of 2022. As the industry grows, automation will be important for cannabis businesses to boost production and reduce costs. Solutions like the JuanaRoll pre-roll machine can streamline operations, helping companies meet demand efficiently.
Stay ahead of the curve—partner with Canapa Solutions to integrate cutting-edge automation into your cannabis production. Contact us today to learn how the JuanaRoll can elevate your operations and secure your place in this competitive market.
