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Events

Vape-Jet in Vegas: MJBizCon 2023

It’s that time of the year again! MJBizCon 2023 is just around the corner, and the Vape-Jet crew will be exhibiting for the third year in a row. From November 28th to December 1st, the Las Vegas Convention Center will become the epicenter of the industry, hosting the largest cannabis conference and expo. Prepare to be part of a one-of-a-kind experience filled with insights, networking, and the market’s most innovative products and technology

What to Expect at MJBizCon

MJBizCon 2023 promises a comprehensive agenda, covering everything from finance and marketing to science and psychedelics. The event kicks off with pre-show forums on November 28th. The re-designed expo is open November 29th through December 1st, and will feature four segmented pavilions – Cultivation Products & Services, Retail & Dispensary, Business Services, and Processing, Packaging & Lab Services where you’ll find us!

The conference, curated by MJBizDaily editors, will span three days, filled with actionable insights to help you navigate the industry’s current challenges.

VJ at MJ

We’re excited to showcase our latest innovations at booth #2222, located in the Central Hall, just inside from the registration area. From November 29th to December 1st, visit us to see our state-of-the-art equipment including:

We will also have all of our latest accessories like the Fuel Injector pre-roll infusion solution, the Flight Deck base cabinet, and the Drop Tank reservoir pre-heater.

Meet the Vape-Jet Crew

Our executive team, including CEO and Founder Ryan Hoitt, CFO and Co-Founder Brian Kuo, and CSO and Co-Founder Devon Reid, will be available throughout the week. Set up a meeting to connect with them or chat with other team members like our Sales Lead Sawyer Sheppard, Product Support Expert Nathan “Nate-Jet” Kinney, and Creative Director Carly Hoitt.

We’re excited to have some of our valued customers join us again this year. You’ll meet Jonathan Winn (Director of Manufacturing at Inferno), Larry Decristofaro (Director of Processing at Proper Brands), and Demetre Janness (Cannabis Consultant and the founder of Terp Logic). They’re not just industry experts; they’re machine operators who understand the day-to-day advantages of our Vape-Jet technology.

Events and After Hours at MJBizCon

Grab your tickets for Good Life Gang events! This year’s theme is “The Path to Profitability,” focusing on the best in the business for extraction. Vape-Jet is excited to be a sponsor of the GLG after hours party on Wednesday, November 29th. This annual event is a highlight for extractors, processors, and manufacturers, offering a perfect mix of great food, hash, and networking opportunities.

We’re also participating in the GLG MJBizCon Expo Passport event on the show floor, guiding attendees through a curated path of extraction-related products, technologies, and services. And be sure to check out the Path to Profitability Symposium on Thursday, November 30th, featuring industry leaders discussing success strategies in the current extraction market.

Say Hello to Our Partners and Friends

We’re proud to be exhibiting alongside leading companies in the industry. Make sure to visit these booths at the show: AVD #6413, Cilicon #5129, iKrusher #7618, Greentank #2419, CCELL #4418, BOLD #5333, RollPros #2224, Abstrax #6311, Good Life Gang #3844, Luna Technologies #4147, Sci Phy Systems #2936, and Dablicator #5608.

See You in Vegas!

Come by booth #2222 to meet the crew, grab some brand new merch items, and find out about our exclusive show floor specials available only at MJBizCon.

Here’s a look at last year to get you hyped, we can’t wait to catch up!

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Events

New Jersey Lunch & Learn: Elevate Your Cannabis Extraction Business

Discover How a Concentrate-First Strategy Can Ensure Your Cannabis Extraction Business Dominance

Join us for an exciting Lunch & Learn event where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with five top-tier manufacturers and consultants in the industry. You won’t want to miss this chance to gain invaluable insights and insider tips on compliance, process design, product selection, and streamlining. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize your existing business, our experts will be on hand to answer all your questions.

New Jersey Lunch & Learn | Elevate Your Cannabis Extraction Business to the Next Level | June 15 Jersey City or June 16 Aberdeen

Choose From Two Events and Locations

Join us on Thursday, June 15 from 4-7pm at Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden in Jersey City, New Jersey. Or Friday, June 16 from 1-4pm at Alternate Ending Brewing in Aberdeen, New Jersey. Food and drinks are on us, but space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot now.

June 15 | Jersey City | Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden
June 16 | Aberdeen | Alternate Ending Brewing

What’s On the Agenda?

During the Lunch and Learn event, we will delve into a variety of topics that touch on the latest advancements and innovations in cannabis extraction. We’ll be focusing on extraction and concentrates, post processing equipment, facility build outs, engineering peer reviews, and more, with presentations from industry experts and an interactive Q&A session that encourages knowledge sharing and discussion.

Five Trailblazing Manufacturers and Consultants

We’re excited to be joining speakers from the following companies, each bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the table:

Luna Technologies is a pioneering force in the cannabis industry, offering top-of-the-line hydrocarbon extraction equipment that helps producers create clean, consistent products while improving safety, speed, and efficiency. With a commitment to workplace safety and environmental sustainability, they have revolutionized the extraction process by developing innovative equipment from the ground up, drawing inspiration from aerospace engineering, oil and gas, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Vape-Jet is a leading manufacturer of fully-automatic and semi-automatic filling machines for the vape cartridge production industry. Their machines offer high accuracy and fast production rates, making them the perfect choice for both small labs and large enterprises. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Vape-Jet’s machines are backed by proactive product support, ensuring their clients receive the best possible experience.

FlackTek is a mixing solutions provider based in Landrum, South Carolina. The company offers mixing equipment, supplies, and accessories for the cannabis industry. Their products are known for their quality, top-of-the-line equipment, technical support, and excellent customer service.

2 Bridges Cannabis Design is a cannabis design firm with decades of industry experience and a network of AgTech engineers, researchers, and investors. They provide customized design services for new and existing companies in all phases of operation, from advising on strategic decisions to coaching operators on best practices.

PRV is an engineering consulting firm that provides a wide range of services to help cannabis businesses get their labs certified and up to code. Their licensed engineers can certify any custom system as long as it is safe to use and compliant per local codes and standards, including alcohol chilling systems. They offer field verifications, peer reviews, 3D modeling, OEM manuals, engineering calculations, and site layout services.

Learn the Keys to Success in Mature Cannabis Markets

Our Lunch and Learn event is more than just a networking occasion. It’s a unique opportunity to gain insights into the cannabis extraction industry, get up to speed with the latest trends, interact with like-minded individuals, and potentially uncover new opportunities. Plus, it’s a chance to have your specific questions answered by the experts in the field.

Ready to Register?

Interested in joining us? To register for the event, sign up here for one of the two events. Remember, spaces are limited, so register soon to reserve your spot.

We’re looking forward to an insightful afternoon of learning and networking. Get ready to explore, ask, and discover at our first Lunch and Learn event!

While you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for our monthly Re:Fill newsletter to get early access to company updates, product releases, and other exciting announcements. Follow us on the essentials, too: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

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MJBizCon 2022: Vape-Jet Has Leveled Up 

Three days of cannabis industry pandemonium in Las Vegas? Must be MJBizCon 2022!  

With over 30,000 attendees, industry insiders, and celebrity cameos, this year’s MJBizCon was one to remember. The Vape-Jet booth was packed, our fully-automatic Vape-Jet vape cartridge-filling machine and semi-automatic Jet Fueler took center stage, and our industry friends are thriving—what more could you ask for? 

See how it all went down and why this MJBizCon was the best yet: 

The Evolution of VJ at MJ

Among the returnees to MJBizCon this year, Vape-Jet founder and CEO Ryan Hoitt had a great time reconnecting with friends and introducing newcomers to the world of vape cartridge-filling automation. 

To Ryan, the differences from 2019 to 2022 couldn’t be starker: “In 2019, we walked around, smuggling in brochures and doing guerrilla marketing trying not to get caught.” In those days, Vape-Jet was a fairly new concept, and the potential of an automatic cartridge-filler was not as obvious as it is today. “Our handouts got trashed faster than we could place them, but it brought in just enough interest to bootstrap the first couple of sales,” Ryan recalls. 

In 2021, we set up our first Vape-Jet booth, allowing us to build some brand awareness and connect with folks interested in innovation. “People were starting to take notice, and sales were climbing,” Ryan says. 

If 2019 and 2021 were focused on establishing our brand and generating interest, 2022 was the payoff. “We had to take off our branded shirts just to get a moment of silence during after-hours events and date nights,” Ryan says. “People came purposefully to see us in person. All around town, we ran into existing clients, formed relationships with new ones, and got to experience our 10 seconds of fame.”  

This development, though not entirely surprising given the rapid growth of automated vape-filling processes, was very special to behold. “When we started building a B2B vape cartridge-filling equipment brand, I never for a moment thought we would experience so much recognition, admiration, and command such respect in the industry.” 

“I am incredibly proud of the entire Vape-Jet team for making this a possibility, and I can’t wait to see what 2023 brings.” 

Partners and Friends at MJ

It was great seeing so many familiar faces this year, including: 

Hardware Partners 

Customers 

Equipment Manufacturers 

Terpene Suppliers 

Media

The Evolution of the Vape Market 

Of course, Ryan wasn’t our only representative at MJBizCon. Resident chemist, COO, and co-founder Devon Reid also made his return to the tradeshow floor this year.  

Aside from being chased around MJBizCon (until he took off his branded gear), Devon notes a decisive industry focus on improving QA. “The market is shifting from a fixation on throughput to a focus on quality,” Devon says. “The renewed focus on quality encompasses not only the machine that puts the oil into the cartridges, but the cartridges themselves, the oil itself, the upstream processes for obtaining the oil, and the downstream consequences of implementing all the upstream quality improvements.” 

Why? Because a surplus of supply means customers are faced with more options than ever before. Now, Devon says, many businesses are taking a holistic approach to product planning. “From high-quality equipment to high-quality products, businesses see the positive consequences for end-users (increased sales) and employees (increased retention).” 

Utilizing automatic cartridge-fillers like our Vape-Jet fully-automatic filling machine is a surefire way to improve customer and employee satisfaction. “Fire in, fire out—it’s that simple,” Devon says. 

The Evolution of Vape Producers 

Vape-Jet sales rep Sawyer Sheppard has seen his share of cannabis industry tradeshows and has developed a keen eye for industry trends and matching customers with solutions that fit their long-term goals.  

At MJBizCon 2022, Sawyer highlights a key theme: versatility. “With the rise in different form factors—including disposables, pod-type systems, and higher quality oils like live resin and rosin—heating up in the market, versatility is the name of the game.” 

To improve their versatility, Sawyer noticed that brands are increasingly looking for partnerships. “Many customers are now looking for long-term equipment suppliers that they can grow with,” Sawyer says, emphasizing the word “growth.” “After being burned by tone-deaf ‘product support teams,’ businesses want a partner who is not just selling them equipment, but is dedicated to their long-term growth.” 

MJBizCon Session: Vape Market Breakdown

What’s happening in the vape market as we enter 2023? Industry trends took center stage as insiders discussed consumer and quality developments heading into the new year.  

If you weren’t able to attend, don’t worry, here are some key highlights: 

Consumer Trends 
  • Women now account for 57% of vape cartridge users 
  • Consumers increasingly focus on cannabis growers due to live and solventless processes, whole plant efficacy, and the cannabis marketing ecosystem 
  • Speakers emphasized good manufacturing practices that keep formulations simple and test at every stage of the process 
Quality Trends 
  • It has never been more important to hire people who really love cannabis 
  • Shelf stability is essential, but old cannabis shouldn’t be written off 
  • The days of scarcity are over, so diversification of products is paramount 
What’s Next? 
  • Freeze-dried flowers, cannabis experiences (lounges, serving, sampling, pallet development) 
  • States requiring vapor testing during production 
  • New vape sizes and cannabinoid focus coming to market 

‘Till MJBizCon 2023!

We want to extend a sincere “thank you” to everyone who made it to our booth this year! MJBizCon 2022 could not have been the success it was for our team without your support, and we look forward to building off the positive energy we received. The cannabis industry is driven by innovators who prioritize product quality, responsible scaling, and versatile technology, and we are proud to continue leading the charge in vape cartridge automation. 

If you are interested in partnering with us, reach out to our crew to learn how Vape-Jet can provide next-level products for your customers.   

While you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for our monthly Re:Fill newsletter to get early access to company updates, product releases, and other exciting announcements. Follow us on the essentials, too: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.    

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MJBizCon 2021: Vape-Jet Has Entered the Game

MJ Biz Con Blog Post Cover

Two years ago our exec team showed up to MJBizCon 2019 in our signature hoodies with brochures in their pockets and high hopes. They networked while walking the expo floor and met with potential partners and customers offsite to establish working relationships and promote the only machine we had in production at that time; the Vape-Jet 2.0 fully-automatic filling machine.


Fast forward two years through a vaping crisis and a global pandemic to MJBizCon 2021. This year our team arrived on the expo floor with a dedicated booth, a new semi-automatic filling machine (Jet Fueler 2.0), an upgraded fully-automatic filling machine (Vape-Jet 3.0), a brand new automatic capping machine (Squish-o-Matic 1000), and our same signature hoodies. (Plus a few gold doge coins in our pockets.)

Vape-Jet Exec Team 2019 and 2021: Brian Kuo – CFO, Ryan Hoitt – CEO, Devon Reid – COO
Standard Currency at Vape-Jet

This year our crew was able to connect with hundreds of attendees looking for affordable automation solutions in the face of a nationwide labor shortage, economic inflation, and supply chain disruptions. Those we spoke to were looking for solutions to their production challenges that provided low labor costs, increased workflow efficiency, and allowed them to adapt to different cartridge types as the availability of their usual hardware has become less reliable in recent months. At Vape-Jet we pride ourselves on our ability to innovate, adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of our customers. All traits that have become increasingly important during a period where “unprecedented times” have become the norm.

Devon Reid Talking Through the Benefits of the Machine Vision Feature of the Vape-Jet Fully-Automatic Filling Machine
Vape-Jet Booth and a Visit from Nate with N.B.Oler

As we’ve grown as a company, we’ve expanded our network of partners.

Amongst these are brands like Arcane Aromatics, a new-to-market supplier offering botanical terpene blends, hemp botanical extracts, and hemp + botanical terpene blends available at prices you won’t find elsewhere. If you visited our booth at the convention, you likely would have picked up on the scent of Arcane’s samples before you even saw our team as these aromatic creations were impossible to miss. Visit ArcaneAromatics.com to learn more about their pre-launch catalog and get early access to their product line. (Pro Tip: Arcane offers partner pricing for current and new Vape-Jet customers for orders of 60mL through 1L.)

Grant of Arcane Aromatics Discussing Their Pre-Launch Catalog
A Peek at Arcane Aromatics’ Botanical Terpene Blends

Also on display at MJBizCon were products from Advanced Vapor Devices (AVD) who produce a variety of the highest quality vape hardware. All AVD products work seamlessly with the Vape-Jet and Jet Fueler filling machines, as well as the Squish-o-Matic 1000 capping machine. For oil brands and processors AVD offers a test hardware kit that includes cartridges, disposables and batteries at no cost. Learn more at AVD710.com.

Vape-Jet 3.0 Demoing Dry Runs with AVD Cartridges
The AVD Social Media Team Stopped by for a Quick Interview with CEO Ryan Hoitt

Another excellent hardware manufacturing partner present on the expo floor was the team at BeGreen Supply. They offer custom engineered and branded cannabis hardware and packaging solutions that can be filled with our automatic filling machines. BeGreen shares the Vape-Jet perspective that your brand “deserves the ability to react to shifts in market and customer demand” and offer custom branded hardware in 30 days or less allowing production to stay agile and flexible. Learn more at BeGreenSupply.com

The Jet Fueler 2.0 and a Variety of Compatible Cartridges Including BeGreen Supply

In addition to our partners in manufacturing and suppliers our team met with several current customers who had great feedback on their experience with our products. Recently our customer Alex of Dime Industries (CA) told us “The Jet Fueler speaks for itself. There’s not another machine on the market that will last a million fills with no maintenance.”

The Jet Fueler 2.0 Demo Unit on Display
A Variety of Compatible Cartridges by AVD, Ilo and More

If you stopped by our booth during the show you may have met another one of our customers, James of Natural Roots Extracts (OR) who remains one of our most loyal customers having used every variation of our machines from Vape-Jet 1.0 and Jet Fueler 1.0 up to our latest iterations. He was also one of the original test users of our new automatic capping machine and is credited with coming up with the official name, Squish-o-Matic 1000. James recently said “The Vape-Jet 3.0 has really blown my mind. The improvement to our workflow has been literally life-changing.” We’re glad he was able to attend the show and share his experience and expertise with anyone interested in our filling and capping solutions.

James of Natural Roots Extracts Discussing Cartridge Styles
James’ Vape-Jet 3.0 Unit Performing Dry Runs During the Show

All in all MJBizCon 2021 was a major success for the Vape-Jet team and a clear reflection of how far we have grown since hitting the expo floor in 2019. Thank you to everyone on the team who made this show possible. We’ll see you all again in 2022!

The Vape-Jet Booth
Brian Kuo – CFO, Ryan Hoitt – CEO, Sawyer Sheppard – Sales Rep
Two Legends Meet: Tommy Chong and Brian Kuo
Squish-o-Matic 1000 on Display
Until next year!