Vaping has been around for longer than you think, and its use case has morphed drastically from decreasing nicotine consumption to indulging in cannabis products. As the hysteria caused by the lack of facts and misinformation from the recent EVALI crisis subsides – vape cartridges are slated for increased demand as the cannabis industry continues to rev its powerful engine.
What does the inside of a vape cartridge look like?
There’s no better time than now to incorporate industry-leading automated concentrate cartridge filling technology to reap the benefits of tomorrow.
Before making your mark on the future of vaping, it’s important to learn about its past. So, here, we’ll catch you up on the history of cannabis vaping, including the answer to the question, when were weed carts invented? and when they were improved upon, too.
Read along to learn more and understand how to scale up your vape cartridge production process to effectively reduce overhead and increase revenue while improving consumer safety and quality control.
The History Of Vape Pens and Who Invented Them
Joseph Robinson created the first electronic vapes in the 1930s, long before there were vape carts as we know them today. Although it’s unknown whether he created a prototype, he is credited as the first person to come up with the idea.
From that point onward, many iterations of vaping devices came and went. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that vaping became a commercial success, thanks to the invention of the vape cartridge. However, all of these products were geared towards nicotine consumption in the form of e-cigarettes, neglecting the burgeoning market for cannabis oil and THC oil [1]
As we fast-forward through time, vaping became a rapidly rising trend as of 2011, with over 7 million users. It’s since ballooned to over 41 million users as of 2018. [2]
It’s likely that the dramatic rise in use is the culmination of new and more reliable vape products and the convenience of the vape cartridge as a consumption device. Vape devices are unmatched in consumer preference when it comes to form-factor and ease of use.
Modern-Day Inventions of Cannabis Vaping Devices
Currently, oil cartridges can be filled with any type, whether it’s THC, CBD, or nicotine-based. These extracts should be produced according to regulations that demand safe production practices and ingredients. However, taking short cuts during the product formulation stage can have disastrous consequences, as the recent EVALI crisis demonstrated.
Aside from the vape oil itself, vaping hardware and filling techniques are the most widely scrutinized aspects of vape cartridges. The reason behind this is the prevalence of the black market, which continues to distribute faulty and ill-equipped vaping cartridges, or utilize filling processes that expose the oil to toxic materials. Poor handling techniques during the filling process can lead to product contamination, illness, and, in severe cases, injury and death.
The vaping scandal of 2019 was the result of the black market selling tainted THC cartridges, which are widely believed to be the compound vitamin E acetate, a significant health risk when inhaled. Vitamin E was used to ‘cut’ the THC distillate, reducing the potency and reducing production costs. [3]
Since the EVALI crisis, the FDA and federal regulators have tightened their grip on the vaping industry, which means everything if your business incorporates or produces vape products.
Vaporizers and the Cannabis Community: A Growing Demand Despite Hesitations
According to Grand View Research, a leading market analysis group, the vape industry will reach over $67 billion by 2027.
The vape industry, which is tied with both the tobacco and cannabis industry, is currently worth $12 billion as of 2019. Source: Euromonitor International via BBC
While the EVALI health crisis caused a public perception hit to the perceived safety of the vape cartridge, it is a good idea to remember why consumers chose them in the first place. Even though personal vaporizer devices for nicotine consumption list health and safety as their primary motivating factors in purchasing decisions, those consumers consuming cannabis and hemp-derived products overwhelmingly select them for convenience and form factor, not perceived health effects.
In fact, companies in the cannabis vape tech space, like KandyPens and Dr. Dabber, recorded between 350 and 500 percent growth in 2017. [6] Even more, former Apple product developers and Silicon Valley types are credited with launching some of the highest-tech and most successful vape devices on the cannabis market today. [7]
As consumer confidence rebounds and proper QA techniques are adopted, the potential is sky-high for your vape-based businesses.
What Is A 510 Thread Cartridge?
If you’re now wondering, when did cannabis carts become popular? It’s around the time 510 thread cartridges launched in legal markets. So, for the industry newbies, next let’s answer the question: What is a 510 thread cartridge exactly?
A 510-threaded cartridge is a universal vapor product that’s filled with cannabis oil. When attached to a vape battery, and powered on or activated by draw, the oil is heated and inhaled by the consumer.
In today’s world of weed, 510 thread cartridges are available in .5 gram and 1 gram and are viable vestibules for a wide variety of extract types from distillate, to live resin and rosin.
The Future of the Vape Market & What Does This Mean for Your Business?
With increased regulations and rapidly rising demand, your vape business is looking towards a crossroads. How will you incorporate heightened quality control checks while managing the pressure of increasing demand?
The answer lies in consolidation and scalability. However, the idea of revamping your entire production process may sound daunting and, quite frankly, difficult to incorporate.
However, consolidation and scalability are accomplished with the help of automation. Automation can take many forms, but typically, when we think of automation, we think of production and manufacturing devices such as the Vape Jet automatic distillate cartridge filling machine.
The process of filling and checking the quality of cartridges is incredibly time-consuming when done manually. However, automated systems, such as the Vape-Jet, incorporate a pharmaceutical-grade fluid handling system and advanced machine vision alignment capabilities.
With the use of an automated vape cartridge filler, multiple tasks are accomplished effectively and up to regulatory standards. By using a cartridge filler for CO2, rosin, or distillate, your business can quickly consolidate resources and scale according to the demands of the market.
No longer will your business suffer from the love-hate relationship of increased demand. Instead, an industrial vape pod filler will streamline the production process while simultaneously ensuring quality control and the integrity of vapor products.
Source: Grand View Research
The Future of Cannabis: Reduce Your Cartridge Production Overhead Through Automation
If you have yet to incorporate automation into your vape business, you’re likely paying more than you have to. Without automation, your payroll is dedicated to individuals who are hard-capped as to the number of vape pods they can fill per day.
Automation opens the horizon to thousands of carts filled per day in comparison. This means that you’ll never miss out on a large order because you aren’t producing at scale. Instead, your clients will never lose confidence in your company’s ability to generate any amount of vape cartridges at any time, ensuring a consistent supply for consumers looking to vaporize.
The result of producing products at scale is that you’ll never miss a profitable opportunity. Furthermore, your overhead will plummet as you incorporate automation into your oil cartridge filling process.
Let’s take a look at how your business can reduce overhead while increasing revenue with Vape Jet.
Reduce labor cost
Increase production of vape cartridges
Decrease the cost of each cartridge
Reduce overall operational cost
Decrease the number of wasted cartridges
Find defective cartridges before the filling process
As you can see, the Vape Jet system single-handedly reduces the need for a large workforce while simultaneously increasing output. Overall, the Vape Jet system consolidates your entire vape cartridge filling workforce under a single automated machine. In other words, pure efficiency.
Distillate Vape Cartridges from Highland Provisions filled with Vape-Jet
In cannabis production, innovation isn’t a choice but a necessity. With a company like Oregon’s Sugar Tree Farm, finding a way to bring sun-grown cannabis from farm-to-nail in the most local and sustainable way requires innovation throughout the production process.
Luckily, ensuring product integrity through seamless filling operations is critical to our crew at Vape-Jet. That’s why Sugar Tree Farm reached out to us for assistance with their mission: maintaining product quality from seed to dab.
Now, with Dab Factory and Sessions, their distinguished Butane Hash Oil (BHO) brands, Sugar Tree Farm is leading the charge for smaller mom-and-pop shops with the most well-cultivated, high-quality products available.
We sat down with General Manager Joy Kintz, and two of their extraction experts Jeremiah Kintz and Dario Flynn to discuss their cannabis automation journey from carts to dabs and to see how they harness the power of Vape-Jet to grow their production processes.
Launching with Vape-Jet
Before
Dario, Joy, and Jeremiah reflect on starting their business and realizing quickly that automation was the only way to compete.
“It’s 2024, carts have been around for a while,” Dario says. “There’s a lot of companies that are absolutely destroying it, and they make fantastic products.”
“If we want to even try to compete with [other cannabis companies] we have to use all the tools in our arsenal to bring the highest-quality options to people,” Dario says.
Knowing they would need to invest in automated equipment for cartridge production to compete in a saturated market, Sugar Tree embarked on an extensive research phase, dedicating close to a year to refine their processes and select the best equipment.
The turning point came when a neighboring facility upgraded to a Vape-Jet fully automated cartridge-filling machine, allowing Sessions’ crew to test the waters by borrowing their semi-automatic Jet Fueler. “We were like, ‘this is really awesome,’” Joy explains. “We realized we needed to go bigger and faster because we were launching whole new brands. So, we got in contact with Vape-Jet,” Joy says.
Investing in a Vape-Jet fully automated cartridge filler was the only practical way to scale operations. “Manual filling methods or semi-automated solutions wouldn’t cut it given our growth projections,” Dario explains.
Joy emphasized the importance of efficiency from the outset. “We understood that starting small wasn’t an option in today’s competitive market. By investing in advanced equipment like the Vape-Jet, we could ensure consistent quality and meet consumer expectations.”
“We thought, ‘we’re going to launch something new, we need to shoot for the stars.’ So in our mind, we thought, well, we might as well just pull the trigger and go for the big boy. We went straight to the Vape-Jet and just ran from there.”
Growing with Vape-Jet
After
Sessions’ production capacity grew precipitously. Growing at such an accelerated rate was remarkable for a new product line. Their new Vape-Jet matched Sessions’ mission: achieving a sustainable product workflow that matched their customers’ desire for fresher, more local, and additive-free cannabis products.
In recent weeks, they’ve added a second Vape-Jet, and are expecting to fill double their current filling rates, a still-massive 2,500 vape cartridges every four hours (with four hours of labor dedicated to labeling and preparing for distribution). With two machines, Sugar Tree expects to produce 8,000-9,000 vape carts per day.
Their production speed will improve further because, as Joy explains, with a seamless workflow of two Vape-Jets, one running disposables, and one running 510s, “we can run the same strain and get two products at the same time,” Joy explains. That’s less changeover, less waste, and, especially at scale, a great way of reducing production costs.
What do they fill?
Sugar Tree Farm specializes in sun-grown cannabis, integrating their Dab Factory and Sessions brands as the core of their full-spectrum hash oil offerings.
Vape-Jet Partner equipment works seamlessly with our automated filling machines.
Vape-Jet partners are vetted by our crew and represent some of the top brands in cannabis production. We precision calibrate our equipment for partners like AVD and iKrusher to ensure seamless, efficient cartridge-filling.
Butane Hash Oil from 100% cannabis (strain-specific terpenes from cannabis only)
The Dab Dispenser Semi-Auto helps keep each strain fresh from source to customer. “As the extractor, it’s not my job to be some kind of magician and turn [extracts] into something fantastic,” Dario explains. “It’s my job to showcase what these awesome growers have been working their butts off to bring us.”
Collaborating with Vape-Jet
At Vape-Jet, we work closely with brands like AVD and iKrusher to ensure our filling machines work seamlessly with our customers’ hardware.
“That’s one of the things I’ve been super impressed about, not only have you guys had our back with our facility, but you’ve gone above and beyond to communicate with AVD,” Dario says.
Vape-Jet’s in-house engineering team worked with AVD to create custom-designed occlusion jigs for both the AVD and iKrusher hardware to maximize the efficiency of our machine vision system and boost throughput rates while filling.
“In the few months that we’ve been working with you, I’ve personally seen changes from AVD and from [Vape-Jet] to meet in the middle and make some really kick-ass stuff,” Dario says.
“The occlusion jig you guys created for us has made it hands-down, almost seamless,” Joy explains. “We did experience issues filling [510s] before, but since we’ve gotten the jigs you’ve made, it’s been night and day.”
“With the [AVD] jig, we cut the time it took to fill 50 carts in half,” Dario says. “It was about six, seven minutes before. Right now, I’m filling 50 cartridges in under three minutes. I almost can’t take them out and put lids on any faster than that.”
“Ryan Hoitt got that [jig] out to us within 24 hours,” Dario remembers. “He came and dropped it off first thing in the morning, and we tested it right there to make sure it worked one hundred percent. We had one of the fastest runs that I’ve ever seen. Like just over two minutes to fill fifty carts.”
Piloting the Dab Dispenser
The newest member of the filling fleet, our Dab Dispenser Semi-Auto, is the result of countless hours of R&D both in our facility and in our partner labs. Sessions was one of the first test pilots to join our Pilot Program, collaborating with us by providing data and feedback to improve the design of our products.
As a witness to the evolution of the Dab Dispenser, Dario recalls changes to the machine based on feedback from their lab team. “I’ve been super impressed about [the Pilot Program] every step of the way. We’ve seen several different variations and modifications.”
“It seems like every single day, you guys came in here and tweaked the [Dab Dispenser] a little bit,” Dario says. “You might have had a new piece of hardware, a software update, cutting down fill times, cutting down load times—just adding new things.”
“I was actually very happy with the product that you all brought to us two, three months ago, but Ryan and Devon said, ‘We’re not even close to done there’ and they’ve kept going.”
How did the Dab Dispenser do?
Speed
By hand, their team can fill and package 400 to 600 jars a day, a number dependent on operator experience and a host of other variables in a very manual process. With the initial prototype of the Dab Dispenser Semi-Auto? They are gramming 300-350jars an hour. “Right now, my extraction teams are making 5,000-7,000 grams a day,” Dario says.
Labor
“[The Dab Dispenser] helps reduce the amount of burnout that the packagers feel from sitting there and repetitively gramming by hand,” Joy explains.
Simplifying production and saving on labor is also a huge competitive advantage. “[Vape-Jet] gives us the opportunity to compete with larger corporations or companies that have [more] money to spend on labor. For us to be a small company and be able to, put out that much product in such a short amount of time is a game-changer.”
Preserving Product Quality
Sessions’ extracts consists of outdoor-grown flower, varying in viscosity and thickness, meaning their semi-auto machine is dialed in for each strain. Producing less terpene-heavy strains, the Dab Dispenser is a perfect platform to nail that batter, budder and sauce consistency.
“For the good majority of our strains, [the Dab Dispenser] is freakin’ perfect,” Dario says.
Accounting for the ideal filling variables of each strain, the Dab Dispenser can preserve strain-specific characteristics while weight-checking each individual jar, allowing operators to package products quickly, preserving flavor and quality.
Every gram looks good, too: “The gram presentation is fantastic,” Dario says. “You get a nice little gram right in the center of the jar. There’s nothing on the sidewalls, nothing on the lids.”
“We haven’t really had any issues with jamming, blowing motors, or putting too much pressure—[the Dab Dispenser is] a pretty seamless process,” Dario says.
The Sugar Tree Farm team has also been test piloting our Fuel Injector pre-roll infusion kit.
Vape-Jet Support
Communication
When it comes to getting the support you need, quick communication is the best way to limit downtime. “[Vape-Jet] support has been great on any questions we asked,” Jeremiah says.
Support Tickets
“I really liked how you can access tickets and support requests right from the machine,” Dario says. “Throughout the day, I’ve had questions and reached out to the Vape-Jet team, and while I’m doing my workflow without having to stop, I’ll get a notification and message right on the screen. So that’s really cool—just because it’s so instant.”
Technical Support Professionals
“Everybody is so respectful,” Joy says. “You never get the feeling that like you’re bothering them, or they think they’re above you.”
“You guys have given us the opportunity to grow as a company, given us the ability to survive as a small mom-and-pop operation. And, in my opinion, I think some of the mom-and-pop operations have some of the highest quality products in this industry.”
“For consumers as a whole, the opportunity to try products from all kinds of companies and not just big conglomerates—you’ve really saved the little guy by creating products that streamline our business and help us to compete on the same level as bigger companies.”
“Another company might see us as not that big of a deal. Or like we don’t deserve as much attention as somebody else because we’re smaller, butyou never get that feeling with Vape-Jet. You always feel like [Vape-Jet] really care about their customers genuinely.”
Elevating Production with Vape-Jet
Was the team at Sessions able to exceed their production goals and expand operations?
“Tenfold,” Joy confirms. “We had no idea what we were going to be capable of. And now that we have two Vape-Jets and a Dab Dispenser…”
“It took us about a month to realize that one Vape-Jet wasn’t going to be enough,” Dario says.
“Joy can tell you that she gets phone calls every single day, asking, ‘When are more carts going to be on the menu? Do we have more? How many more do we have?’”
“We’re pumping out almost double the amount of units that we were doing six months ago. And we thought we were doing pretty good six months ago, and we’re not even at full speed yet.”
Looking Ahead with Sugar Tree Farm
By harnessing the power of automated vape-filling and dab dispensing technology, Sugar Tree Farm, Sessions, and Dab Factory have elevated their production processes and set new standards in quality and scalability. We look forward to seeing what the future has in store for this amazing team.
As the world of cannabis evolves, the pursuit of quality and innovation is a constant endeavor. Abstrax, a leader in terpene production, stands at the forefront of this quest. Known throughout the industry for their scientific approach to crafting terpenes, Abstrax’s expertise is not just in manufacturing; it’s in pioneering the understanding of cannabis and terpenes. Through their recently released four-part white paper, “The Science of Exotic Cannabis,” Abstrax offers a deep dive into the intricacies of cannabis science, a treasure trove of insight and information for processors and connoisseurs alike.
The journey of crafting perfect terpene profiles at Abstrax starts with a discerning selection of cultivars. They prioritize unique and flavorful cultivars over trendy ones, understanding that the consumer’s repeat purchase hinges on this crucial choice. The process then unfolds through advanced analysis, outpacing the industry norm by identifying over 500 compounds in cannabis compared to the usual 30-40. This approach establishes a new standard in authenticity and precision.
Abstrax’s philosophy centers around the sensory impact of terpenes, focusing on aroma and taste rather than just purity percentages. This guides their formulation process, where expert chemists use advanced analytical data to recreate authentic terpene profiles. Each product, from their Native Series to Cloudburst, resonates with the essence of the original plant, crafted entirely in-house.
“Our mission at Abstrax is to demystify the flavors and fragrances of cannabis and provide knowledge that not only enhances the consumer experience but also opens new avenues for product development.” – Max Koby, CEO & Co-Founder of Abstrax
The Science of Exotic Cannabis
In their groundbreaking series, “The Science of Exotic Cannabis,” Abstrax delves into the evolving aroma of cannabis, identifying unique compounds that define the scent profiles of exotic strains. The first part of the series, “The Science of Exotic I: The Dawn of Flavorants,” reexamines terpenes and their role in scent generation from chemical and sensory perspectives, questioning the effectiveness of terpene profiles in discerning aromas. Learn More
“The discovery of these compounds will play a crucial role in validating cannabis’ authenticity and accurately classifying cannabis varieties in the future. It also enables Abstrax to create the most flavorful and authentic cannabis flavors utilizing these previously undiscovered cannabis compounds. This research is important for consumers, researchers, brands, cultivators, labs, regulators, and everyone in between.” – Max Koby, CEO & Co-Founder of Abstrax
The second paper, “The Science of Exotic II: The Curious Case of Chem,” explores the chemistry behind distinctive aromatic characteristics, particularly the funky, chemical, and savory notes found in strains like GMO and Chemdawg. It spotlights pivotal compounds such as Indole and Skatole, linking them to other naturally occurring compounds and their role in psychedelics. Learn More
“This new chemistry will open the doors for exciting new avenues of research and classification schemes that are grounded in the very thing that makes so many cannabis varieties unique – their aroma. While this research may answer many questions, it opens just as many new possibilities for this incredible plant.” – Kevin Koby, Chief Science Officer at Abstrax
These white papers provide an in-depth understanding of the aromatic compounds in cannabis, allowing Abstrax to create terpene blends that authentically capture the plant’s natural essence, enhancing the consumer’s sensory experience.
“Cannabis is used medically for many health ailments, but there are so many questions remaining as to how it works and if we can enhance those properties by creating new varieties with specific chemistries. We hope our work will open new avenues of research for others to better understand this unique plant and harness its full therapeutic potential.” – Dr. Iain Oswald, PhD, Principal Research Scientist at Abstrax
Vape-Jet’s Mission of Terpene Preservation
Following the impactful research and product development by Abstrax, it’s essential to consider how the consumer experiences these advancements in the final product. This is where Vape-Jet steps in, with its cutting-edge filling machines designed to maintain the integrity and quality of cannabis oils, especially those rich in Abstrax’s terpenes.
Vape-Jet’s technology is engineered to protect the delicate balance of these oils. Our fully-automatic and semi-automatic filling machines feature three independently controllable heat zones, ensuring that they operate at the lowest possible temperatures. This meticulous temperature control is crucial for preserving the intricate flavors and aromas of the terpenes, preventing any thermal degradation.
Each of our filling machines includes a nitrogen pressurized fluid path that plays a vital role in safeguarding the quality of even the thickest oils, including live resin and rosin. The nitrogen pressure minimizes oxidation and evaporation, ensuring your vapes are filled without compromising the quality of cannabis concentrates.”
The collaboration between Abstrax’s terpene expertise and Vape-Jet’s technological innovation creates a perfect synergy. This partnership ensures that the nuanced qualities of the terpenes are not just created with scientific precision but are also delivered to the consumer in their most pristine form.
“Vape-Jet dispensing technology was engineered for mild operating conditions from the beginning. This newfound understanding from Abstrax about the delicate and nuanced chemical composition of cannabis highlights the benefits our filling systems can provide for consumers who seek true-to-strain vaporizer alternatives for their favorite flowers.” – Devon Reid, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Vape-Jet
Abstrax’s Impact on Your Business
Abstrax’s products and research are instrumental for cannabis processors, enhancing the appeal of their end products to consumers. By offering a diverse range of terpenes, Abstrax caters to varied consumer preferences, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of quality and experience.
Abstrax’s dedication to advancing cannabis science is not just about product development; it’s about shaping an industry where quality, experience, and innovation coalesce. Their partnership with Vape-Jet reflects a shared commitment to excellence, ensuring that the best of science and technology come together for the benefit of the cannabis community.
MJBizCon 2023 has wrapped, and it’s clear that this year’s event was more than just a gathering – it was a testament to the resilience and progress of the cannabis industry. The Vape-Jet team was excited to return, showcasing our latest innovations and reconnecting with our community.
This year’s booth set up.
Carol and Jonathan from the Inferno team dropped by the booth.
This year, we observed a shift in the atmosphere. Despite a strong presence of exhibitors, overall attendance was noticeably lower than in previous years. However, this didn’t detract from the experience; it seemed to enhance the quality of interactions. The attendees who were present appeared more invested and established in the industry. Unlike past years, where curiosity led many to explore, this year’s crowd was distinctly serious and committed to the business.
A look at our crew in action on the 2023 show floor.
Vape-Jet’s Showcase Highlights
This year at MJBizCon, Vape-Jet showcased our latest technological advancements. Our booth featured the latest iterations of our Vape-Jet fully automatic and Jet Fueler semi-automatic vape cartridge and device filling machines, prototypes of our Fuel Injector pre-roll infusion solution, and the sleek new Flight Deck base cabinets. But what truly stole the show was the first iteration of our Dab Dispenser – a glimpse into the future of cannabis processing and packaging efficiency.
The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the hard work and dedication we’ve poured into these products. As Sawyer Sheppard, our Sales Lead, aptly put it, “MJBiz 2023 was the culmination of a year of hard work. It was a moment to celebrate what we as an industry have done this year.“
Vape-Jet 4.0 fully automatic cartridge and device filling machine.
Dab Dispenser semi-automatic jar filling machine.
Networking and Partnerships
Networking at MJBizCon 2023 was a highlight, with the Vape-Jet team forging new relationships and reconnecting with valued clients. The power of customer satisfaction was evident, as our loyal clients enthusiastically introduced us to potential partners. Brian Kuo, our CFO and Co-Founder, reflected, “We had a fantastic time reconnecting with our valued clients and forging new relationships within the industry.“
After hours at this year’s convention was prime networking time. Vape-Jet brought a one of a kind experience to the Good Life Gang’s much-anticipated annual event. Embracing our innovative spirit, our CEO and Founder Ryan Hoitt (along with several members of our manufacturing crew) transformed our latest product, the Dab Dispenser, into a one-of-a-kind attraction: the first-ever dab dispensing slot machine. This endeavor involved retrofitting the design with a 1960s era slot machine arm, custom coding, all complemented by an e-nail and a bespoke dab rig, ingeniously designed by John Mark from the Sci Phy Systems team using extraction equipment parts.
This invention was not just a showpiece but became a focal point for interaction, drawing in both extractors and consumers. It offered a novel way for attendees to engage and connect, embodying the inventive and collaborative spirit of the cannabis industry. The dab dispensing slot machine, a blend of technology and fun, resonated with the Vegas vibe, making it a crowd favorite and a topic of conversation throughout the rest of the week.
Reflections on Growth and Community
Looking back at our journey since our first MJBizCon in 2020, the evolution of Vape-Jet has been remarkable. Devon Reid, our CSO and Co-Founder, reminisced, “The first time we attended MjBizCon in 2020, we easily blended into the crowd. Three exhibitions later in 2023, some of the most doubtful people we met in 2020 have become some of our best customers.” This transformation from newcomers to recognized industry leaders is a testament to the quality of our products and the strength of our community.
Elena from Cilicon talking tech with Vape-Jet brand rep Demetre.
Vape-Jet Sales Lead Sawyer showing an attendee the software side of our Jet Fueler semi-automatic filling machine.
MJBizCon 2023 was a testament to the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives us at Vape-Jet. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with our industry peers, celebrate our customers’ achievements, and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of cannabis technology.
Stay tuned for more updates from Vape-Jet, and if you missed us at MJBizCon, reach out to learn more about our cutting-edge cannabis processing solutions or sign up to receive our monthly newsletter of industry news and company updates.
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:
With the lowest labor inputs of any fully automatic machine on the market, this machine can fill between 5,000 and 10,000 cartridges per shift with unlimited saved hardware and oil configuration profiles.
Streamline your filling operation with this ergonomic, easy-to-clean machine, capable of filling between 5,000 and 9,000 cartridges per shift with a single operator.
The newest addition to our product line-up, this machine is perfect for dispensing badder, butter, sauce, jam/jelly and more into jars accurately and efficiently.
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!
Where do cultivation, manufacturing, and retail intertwine to create a comprehensive cannabis experience? Proper Brands, a fully vertical marijuana company in Missouri, handles all three, offering a diverse product range that few can match. With product variety, quality, and volume being the most important, Proper trusted Vape-Jet filling machines to do what they do best—fill vape cartridges with industry-leading accuracy.
Before they switched to Vape-Jet, Proper used an A10-Hotshot semi-auto filler. As they began manufacturing live resin and rosin, Larry recognized they would have to increase volume.
“On a good day, during an 8-hour shift, we were doing around 2,000 pens for a distillate product,” Larry says. As far as capping, Larry recalls using screw tops for a short time, but switching to AVD Eazy Press has made everything easier. “AVD has really changed the game with the Eazy Press,” he says.
Switching to Vape-Jet
After switching to Vape-Jet,Proper fills and caps up to 7,500 vape cartridges per shift, with a single operator. That’s right, one person using a Vape-Jet (for distillate or live resin SKUs) and a Jet Fueler (for rosin) more than tripled their daily throughput.“The Vape-Jet has been a huge asset in our lab, it’s almost like a team member.”
What is Proper currently filling?
Distillate with botanical terpene blends
100% live resin blends
Distillate live resin hybrids
100% rosin blends
Distillate and isolate hybrids
What has improved?
“Everything from volume to overall quality, to shot size,” Larry says. “Our workers are happier working with [your] machinery. It’s also an easier piece of equipment to learn, so I can have more people using it.”
“We have really high fill volumes, in my opinion; our shot sizes are super accurate. And our batches are always within 2-3% of what we’re reflecting, which is great.”
What are Larry’s favorite features?
“You can clean the machine with a solvent easily.” And the reservoir size, Larry mentions—compared to their last filler, ”it’s huge by comparison.” Larry also notes the nitrogen-pressurized fluid path is helpful for limiting oxidation and assisting with temperature control.
“The amount of work that goes unnoticed on the Vape-Jet vs. the competition is unmatched. Especially being able to hot swap reservoirs on the Vape-Jet; you can fly,” Larry says. “We have the Drop Tank, and it’s well worth it if you’re a high-volume producer.”
Growing with Vape-Jet Filling Machines
As Proper transitioned from strictly medical markets to recreational cannabis markets, Vape-Jet emerged as the ultimate growth catalyst for expanding production capacity. “We were a 3000-4000 package a week lab,” Larry reflects. “Now, we’re a 12,000-15,000 packagea week lab.”
This transition wasn’t just about increased production volume; it also empowered Proper with precise control over their vape cartridge automation, allowing for fine-tuned formulations and improved operational procedures. “It’s really interesting how [Vape-Jet] has helped us grow. And it’s not just helping us grow by the numbers, it’s helping us grow in our thought processes,” Larry says. “The Vape-Jet really helped put us over the top.”
Vape-Jet Support
Vape-Jet’s commitment to technical support is critical for bolstering production volume, especially as companies transition to recreational markets. The accessibility of Vape-Jet Support played a crucial role in getting Proper up-to-speed, from machine training to rapid troubleshooting.
Accessible Support
“[With Vape-Jet] you get this incredible support team, which is very valuable,” Larry says. “Our whole lab has interacted with most of your team when we were getting trained on the machine.”
“So many of these companies are huge one day, then they’re not answering phones the next. Vape-Jet’s service has been phenomenal. They’re going to overnight a part, and they’re going to work through it with you.”
Remote Installation
“[Vape-Jet] sends you all the tools, stays on the phone the entire time, and has techs that will go out and physically show what you’re trying to do.”
Improved Uptime
“The other fillers I’ve had, you had to ship back to the manufacturer if you wanted anything done,” Larry says. “You could be out for weeks if they were backed up or if something got messed up in the mail. Vape-Jet overnights you parts, gets you a technician immediately, and you’re able to do it yourself.”
The Vape-Jet crew understands the potential loss that comes when your vape cartridge filler is down. For example, if you’re filling 7,500 vape pens a day and you’re down for two weeks, that’s 75,000 pens worth of profit lost. Vape-Jet gets you back up and running in no time.
Feedback, Tips, & Tricks from ProperBrands
Since repeatability is at the core of Vape-Jet filling machines, we turn to the expertise of experienced operators like Larry to share insights and time-tested strategies that can be universally applied to elevate your vape cartridge production.
Bubbling
“A lot of people blame their fillers [for] bubbling,” Larry begins. “[The issue] often lies in the processes before getting to the filler. The Vape-Jet comes with the nitrogen boost, that’s going to kill a lot of those bubbles for you if your oil is right and it’s been exposed to temperatures similar to what you’re filling at.”
Heating
Temperature control plays a pivotal role in the oil filling process, and different oil types require precise temperature controls for premium quality.
In general, the longer your oil is exposed to heat, the more variability.
Distillate, on the other hand, maintains a more consistent viscosity across a range of temperatures.
Vape-Jet Tips
“Our rosin gets put into the Jet Fueler at a higher temperature than we produce the rosin pens at. We’ve realized that if we put the hopper below the 350g mark, we’re able to fill [carts] fast enough that it does not decarb more in the hopper.”
“Listen to the people that are teaching you how to use this equipment. A great example I have is on the Vape-Jet when we were first getting started,” Larry explains. “One of our techs was using the machine, and we had to take the oil out of the machine for whatever reason. That person disconnected the fluid line before the nitrogen. If you listen, you won’t run into major issues.”
Optimize Your Filling Operations
Whether it’s improving from 10,000 vape carts a week to 37,500 or the consistent quality of Vape-Jet filling machines, Larry is excited for what the future holds. “We’ve only started optimizing processes over the last two weeks,” he says. “We haven’t fully utilized the Vape-Jet to its fullest extent.”
How likely are you to recommend Vape-Jet? “I have always recommended Vape-Jet and will continue to do so,” Larry says.
If you want to ramp up production and maintain premium quality products, reach out to our crew, and we’ll find the best solution for your business.
Like our customer features? Check out these other success stories:
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The Vape-Jet crew is thrilled to announce our newest hardware partnership with Greentank, a leading vape hardware manufacturer in the cannabis industry. Recognized as an industry powerhouse with a proven track record of 200+ successful vape brand launches across the US and Canada, Greentank won a Red Dot Design award and Cannabis Independent’s Vape Tank and Single-Use Vaporizer of the Year distinctions. Now trusted by millions, Greentank is at the forefront of vaping innovation and customization.
See how you can benefit from the Vape-Jet x Greentank partnership:
Greentank at a Glance
Vape-Jet x Greentank: Partnership Benefits
Compatible Hardware
Greentank at a Glance
Greentank was built to revolutionize the cannabis vape market by providing high quality, reliable vaporizers that surpassed anything available. Today, Greentank collaborates with prominent cannabis brands worldwide, offering innovative and reliable vape hardware.
Hardware Expertise and New Cannabis Markets
Greentank’s team boasts over 100 experts—engineers, designers, material scientists, and product development specialists—all working together to create the most reliable high-performance vape hardware. With the help of market specialists who identify selling trends, Greentank works with brands to select fitting hardware best positioned for success.
By working with Greentank, Vape-Jet customers unlock a vault of vape market knowledge that can accelerate their growth. With huge investments in R&D and manufacturing capabilities, Greentank has the hardware, people, and strategy to succeed in new cannabis markets and find opportunities in more developed markets.
Vape-Jet x Greentank: Partnership Benefits
Together, Vape-Jet and Greentank provide:
Comprehensive Hardware Solutions — One-stop shop for cutting-edge hardware, filling, and retail-compliant cannabis packaging solutions.
Extensive Customization Options— From surface finishes and colors to mouthpieces, chargers, and packaging options, create unique hardware that perfectly matches your brand’s aesthetics.
After six years of meticulous research and development, the GTGO Cartridge combines all the industry-leading qualities a premium 510 cartridge should possess while setting new standards for reliability, flavor, and vapor quality.
Key Features:
Upgraded 316-stainless steel offers safety and performance.
This Cartridge offers a perfect blend of quality and affordability. Designed to enhance fill efficiencies, the GTDX features easy press-down mouthpiece technology that eliminates the need for a cumbersome arbor press.
Key Features:
Premium-built cartridge at an extremely competitive price point.
0.5ml and 1.0ml reservoir capacity sizes.
FDA-certified ceramics, stainless steel, and cotton componentry.
Offers breakthrough performance and a familiar design that captures your customer’s attention. The M3 Cartridge can be precisely calibrated for a wide range of cannabis extract viscosities, ensuring precise flavor profiles.
Key Features:
Engineered for both high-viscosity and low-viscosity.
Stainless steel internal frame.
FDA-certified ceramics, stainless steel, and cotton componentry.
Various reservoir capacities, including 0.35ml, 0.5ml, and 1.0ml.
Customized finishes, silkscreening, LED options, logo placement, and mouthpiece options.
This lightweight, rechargeable stainless-steel disposable offers rapid response heating with its short-path airflow design. It is completely customizable and ready to go at any time, providing convenience and flexibility.
Key Features:
Premium-feel stainless steel frame.
Rechargeable micro-USB options with a branded cap.
FDA-certified ceramics, stainless steel, and cotton componentry.
0.5ml and 1.0ml reservoir capacity options.
Customized finishes, electroplating, silkscreening, LED options, logo placements, and mouthpiece options.
No additional occlusion jigs needed.
Note: The GT M8 is the only Greentank hardware listed that is not compatible with the Squish-o-Matic 1000 capping machine.
Get Started with Vape-Jet x Greentank
With a range of versatile hardware options, our partnership with Greentank empowers brands to elevate vaping experiences and meet market demands. By partnering with Greentank, Vape-Jet customers can expect seamless compatibility with supported hardware, allowing brands to streamline their production process and ensure optimal end-user satisfaction.
If you want to become a Vape-Jet success story, reach out to our crew, and we’ll find the best solution for your business.
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.
In the world of cannabis, three industry veterans, Devon Reid, Jack Naito, and Sean Duffy, got together for a discussion about the ever-changing landscape of emerging markets. Using their vast experience, the trio brings their excitement and expertise to emerging markets and debunks some of the myths that permeate the industry.
Devon, COO of Vape-Jet Automated Vape Cartridge-Filling and Capping Solutions, emphasizes the holy trinity of efficiency, quality, and process control that reigns supreme in this competitive realm.
Jack, the President of Luna Technologies Automated Solutions for Cannabis Extraction, leads a company that offers Automated Solutions for Cannabis Extraction. Luna Technologies specializes in state-of-the-art extraction equipment and has established itself as the benchmark for safety, quality, consistency, and customization within the industry.
Sean, CEO of Media Bros, leads a company dedicated to providing premium color remediation media for cannabis extraction. With a methodical approach backed by extensive market research and strategic planning, Sean offers valuable insights into the ever changing cannabis industry.
Read what this gathering of some of the finest minds in cannabis had to say, and see how you can apply it to your own process to increase customer satisfaction and fine-tune your workflow.
The State of New Markets
As the industry expands and new markets emerge, the dynamics of the cannabis space have undergone significant changes. With perspective from Oregon’s recreational cannabis journey, Sean lends perspective on what’s coming for other states. “The market space has changed,” Sean begins. “Current needs require us to focus more on the business of extraction, processing, and producing end-consumer products to the point where they can remain viably competitive.”
Recently, one of the primary drivers of change is the drop in the cost per gram of oil. Sean attributes this decline to consolidation, competition, saturation, and supply. In response to this trend, producers are shifting their focus toward explaining the efficiency of their products.
“We have 40-something separate markets in the US,” Jack says. “Do you think in the new markets that’s the case too? Seems like margins aren’t squeezed as much in those.”
“Yeah, the margins are definitely not as squeezed in new markets,” Devon begins. However, there is still a significant influence from established markets, such as California, Colorado, and Oregon, Devon explains. Professionals from these established markets often lend their expertise to help new businesses set up in emerging markets.
Reflecting on the rapid pace of change in new markets, Jack suggests that knowledge and experience from established states quickly permeate these emerging regions. He posits that businesses in new markets have the advantage of making profits more rapidly due to high demand and relatively higher prices. However, as knowledge and expertise flow in, prices are likely to stabilize and drop.
The Truth About Terpene Content
When it comes to terpenes in cannabis extracts, there’s a common misconception that more is better. However, as Devon explains, this legacy viewpoint doesn’t necessarily hold, especially when processing extracts for cartridges. Devon points out that variability between different cartridge manufacturers can lead to harsh flavors and leaky cartridges if there are excessive amounts of terpenes.
Jack emphasizes that terpenes are not only harsh on the taste buds but also caustic in nature, explaining that the more terpenes you add, the harsher the experience becomes.
“And it’s expensive,” Devon states. “Having these conversations with customers, I get a lot of feedback like, ‘Oh, we want to do 20% terpenes in this oil.’ Okay, well you can try that,” he says sarcastically. “There’s definitely cartridges that are designed to handle that. And you know, some people have good effects with that. But if you bring it down to 5%, you can make four times as many cartridges.” This increased production capacity doesn’t compromise the quality of the end product.
From their experiences with pitfalls in the market, Devon and Jack agree that it’s less about the number of terpenes and more about the quality and profile of the terpenes being used. The focus should be on selecting the right combination of terpenes that deliver the desired flavor and effects while maintaining product stability and customer satisfaction.
The Importance of Process Control
In the cannabis industry, maintaining consistency and quality throughout the supply chain and manufacturing process is essential. Jack emphasizes the importance of process control, emphasizing the need for consistency from cultivation to extraction and post-processing.
According to Jack, achieving consistent growth starts with the cannabis strain itself, where it is critical to anticipate consumer tastes, ensure product diversification, foster relationships with farmers, and plan for year after year growth. The extraction process plays a vital role as well, determining the terpene profile and components carried into subsequent stages.
Devon agrees, acknowledging that the post-processing phase presents opportunities to compensate for any variables encountered during cultivation and extraction. Downstream processes—like decarboxylation and terpene formulation—can ensure consistency from batch to batch and year to year, Devon suggests. He also points out that starting with a live resin product helps retain most of the terpenes from the growing process while cautioning against the common practice of decarboxylating bulk extract and directly filling cartridges, as it can lead to the loss of terpenes due to the violent nature of the decarb process.
Relying on mechanical and chemical processes can help achieve control, even with the existing limitations. The physical act of THCa crystallization and the separation from the non-crystallized components as an example of a simpler and more effective control mechanism.
The Craft of Vape Cartridge Production
Creating a perfect strain-specific vape cartridge may require a different process than most producers are used to, but it’s certainly achievable. The key lies in separating and decarbing the crystals, mixing in a measured amount of sauce (not just using all of it) to ensure optimal flavor. Leftover sauce from the extraction process can be added to distillate for vape production, resulting in a product that tastes almost as good as fully live resin.
Devon spotlights the control vape cartridge producers have over their offerings: “You can sell it at a different price point to attract different customers and have different SKUs for different pocketbooks.”
Note: this is a simplified diagram for illustrative purposes, it makes some assumptions and may omit certain details.
In new markets, Jack highlights the presence of experienced cannabis producers who have been creating high-quality products but on a smaller scale. As consumer preferences shift towards quality, technological advancements like automated extractors and equipment make it easier to produce high-quality products at a more affordable price for producers.
Sean mentions how labs reach a point where they need to scale their craft production. Extraction automation, reliable media, and automated vape cartridge-filling systems become crucial in maintaining the quality that makes a producer successful in the first place. The ability to replicate the craft consistently and scale effectively are where innovative automation solutions like Vape-Jet play a vital role.
“So these products always exist in new markets, they’re just usually a really high price point,” Jack summarizes. “Then consumer preference shifts toward higher-quality products, and then the technology starts coming into that marketplace, like our extractor and [Vape-Jet] equipment. It makes it easier to produce those high-quality products at a lower price point. Then, [high-quality products] gain popularity.”
The Challenges of Color Remediation (CRC) in Cannabis
Color remediation presents a unique set of challenges that can impact a customer’s perception of product quality and safety. “In the early days of CRC, people would just say, ‘throw some silica into the CRC column, nuke the product as it’s coming out, and then you end up with limonene and pinene terpenes and that’s it,’” Sean explains. This misinformed approach contributes to the negative perception of butane hash oil (BHO) extract and CRC products, leading to a general skepticism toward filtration.
“If you have a mistake—you over process or under process at any point—it’ll affect all of your processes,” Jack adds. The importance of precision and attention to detail at each stage of production cannot be understated.
Sean also stresses the responsibility of industry professionals to prioritize cleanliness and safety throughout the entire production process. “It’s important for all of us to pay attention to what’s happening from upstream and downstream process[es] and then help provide the cleanest, safest possible product in that space,” he asserts. By focusing on quality and safety, valid arguments against the use of color remediation techniques will ultimately lose their ground, paving the way for a more informed industry.
The Value of Data
As our trio notes, the value of data is becoming increasingly recognized by industry professionals. “Data speaks volumes, and I think that’s something that people are becoming more and more cognizant about,” Devon says. He mentions the reporting feature of Vape-Jet, which tracks crucial information such as temperature, time, and images of filled cartridges. However, it was only recently that users began questioning how to utilize these reports effectively to monitor production and detect potential issues.
Jack shares a similar experience, explaining “We data log everything… 30 parameters once every 5 seconds.” For a long time, this wealth of data went unused. It was only in the past 18 to 24 months that people started recognizing the value of this data, either for process improvement or compliance purposes.
Sean brings attention to the importance of data in the context of color remediation in cannabis (CRC) in Canada. He explains that there is a demand for Certificates of Analysis (COAs). While the cannabis industry doesn’t have HPLCs (high pressure liquid chromatography) like other industries, Media Bros does meticulously test their products.
“We saw that in Canada immediately,” Sean explains. “We test all of our products, not just through examination of the product itself, but we run biomass through that product. We actually run it in some cannabinoid product to make sure that co-solvents in there, such as the terpenes, THC or CBD or whatever is being processed, that those are all finalized.” Yet, even though Sean’s team provides this data on every single batch of product nobody really asks for the information.
Dispelling Myths
The Myths of Color Remediation
Color Remediation (CRC) is a frequent subject of debate in the cannabis industry, with various myths surrounding its use. “[For] every single myth out there, there is a grain of truth, right?” Sean asks rhetorically. “The genesis of [CRC] myths can be traced back to the very beginning, where inexperienced operators were trying to make good-looking oil out of oxidized biomass and using whatever they thought could improve it.”
However, in this hasty process, operators unintentionally overprocessed the biomass without a full understanding of their effects. Silica, for example, acts as a potent remediator, capable of extracting and absorbing various compounds. As a consequence, only specific flavor profiles, such as limonene or pinene, prevailed in the THC products, making all products taste similar.
This led to a misconception that CRC was responsible for stripping away desirable aromatics, resulting in a less desirable product. “All of those really nice aromatics from the high-quality weed that existed are no longer present,” Sean says. “And in people’s minds, they just equated that as being somehow bad. No one wanted a dab or a cart that just tasted like pine sol.” Sean further explains that some processors responded to this perception by offering alternative products like live resin carts or live rosin carts, claiming they didn’t use CRC or used it correctly. Unfortunately, this created a negative image for those who were using poor CRC methodologies. These early experiences shaped the narrative around CRC, leaving room for misunderstandings.
Jack brings a different perspective, viewing CRC as just another filtration process within the cannabis extraction realm: “Filtration CRC is just another filtration process. It’s just a different method using an adsorbent media instead of traditional filters.” Filtration is a common practice across various extraction methods, and CRC simply employs an adsorbent media instead of traditional filters. It’s important to remember that filtration itself is a fundamental step in the extraction process, regardless of the technique used, Jack says.
While it’s true that CRC cannot magically transform low-quality biomass into top-tier products, “youcan certainly take good biomass and make it worse by improper extraction techniques,” Sean says. Devon agrees, stating that fundamental changes occur during the extraction process itself, so adding CRC is just another step that can enhance the final product: “If adding CRC makes for a better end product, that should always be the focus.”
The group agrees that understanding the nuances and dispelling the myths surrounding CRC is crucial to foster informed discussions and decision-making within the cannabis industry.
The Myths of Extraction and Filling Temperatures
When it comes to BHO extraction, there are numerous myths floating around. Jack points out that many of these myths arise due to the lack of industry data and improper temperature measurements. “Half the myths that around BHO that we deal with on a regular basis are just because the data doesn’t exist in the industry and no one is collecting it,” Jack says.
According to Jack, one of the biggest myths is about extraction temperature. Many folks in the industry measure their temperature indirectly, and there are numerous steps where the temperature can change before it goes back to the chiller where measurements occur, Jack explains. “So you’re collecting data really indirectly; collecting data by looking at the chiller every once in a while saying, ‘okay, I’m extracting at -80°, my chiller set temp is -80°.’ Really, that’s not the case at all because there’s a ton of heat gain and energy transfer between your actual extraction and your chiller.”
Jack also notes that many people believe that lower extraction temperatures result in higher-quality products. However, there’s a threshold temperature where the product quality stops increasing or increases very slowly. Below that threshold, the yield drops dramatically. Jack explains, “Everyone wants to extract at -120º. Technically, our chillers will go down to -120º Fahrenheit, but the problem is at -120º your yield drops dramatically, and there’s really no increase in product quality.”
Devon agrees that lower extraction temperatures may not be worth the hit to overall yield. Devon also explains that automating the process may not necessarily translate from a manual process, and “you may actually shoot yourself in the foot.” Proper measurement and data can lead to higher-quality and more efficient extraction processes.
The Myth of Craft Cannabis and Automation
“There’s this myth in the industry that you can’t make a high-quality craft product with automation,” Jack says. Many believe that a high-quality craft product requires the expertise of a knowledgeable extractor who can make decisions based on their understanding of the biomass and the extraction process. When you dive into the details, the myth doesn’t hold up, Jack explains. The actions of an experienced extractor are essentially the same as what automation does. They observe the process, often using indirect methods, and make decisions based on that information.
However, there are limitations to human decision-making. As Sean points out, “the error rates start going up because of human factors.” Extractors need to balance multiple variables, such as pressures and temperatures, which becomes challenging.
Automation, on the other hand, can measure these variables accurately and make decisions much faster. Automation doesn’t diminish the role of a craft extractor, either; it simply enhances their capabilities. “All we’re really doing is building people’s decision trees into logic and having it follow that,” Jack clarifies. Sean agrees, adding, “You’re really not taking anything away from the craft extractor. You’re just saying, ‘hey, let me just allow you to make this repeatable.’”
Devon highlights the cost of manual labor and the need for quality control in the absence of process control. Without control over the extraction process and other crucial factors, Devon explains, manual intervention becomes necessary at every step. However, with controlled processes, automation ensures consistent results, saving money, reallocating labor, and reducing errors.
When processes are predictable, automation becomes a catalyst for growth and exploration. “If you do things the same way every single time, it becomes predictable,” Devon says. “And then once you have something that’s predictable, automation is going to allow things to explode in a good way.”
The Myths of Vape Cartridge Filling
“There’s no such thing as the artisanal-filled vape cart, doesn’t exist.” Sean begins. While the oil itself may be artisanal, the filling process should not be treated as a boutique or handcrafted endeavor, Devon elaborates. It is a skill or task at best, lacking the expressive nature found in other aspects of the cannabis industry such as extraction or growing. Instead, vape cartridge filling is a necessary step that requires precision and knowledge.
One challenge that arises during the cart filling process is the homogenization of oil. Devon shares his experiences of troubleshooting issues with bubbly or oxidized cartridges and highlights the significance of proper mixing and homogenization. One common culprit? A hot plate with a magnetic stir bar, a piece of equipment found in almost every lab.
Uneven heating causes problems. “The bottom of whatever jar you have gets superheated, and the stir bar won’t spin because it’s magnetically coupled, and it doesn’t have torque,” Devon explains. In an attempt to overcome this, operators often increase the heat and speed of the stir bar, which leads to undesirable consequences.
When the stir bar creates a vortex in the oil, it incorporates air, and if the oil is superheated, oxidation occurs at an accelerated rate. This results in the loss of terpenes, which are released into the surrounding environment, creating the world’s most expensive air freshener. Additionally, the absorbed air in the oil causes the vape cartridges to develop an unattractive champagne-like appearance.
Moreover, prolonged exposure to heat on the hotplate increases the oxidation rate to the point where the oil may turn red, rendering it unattractive to potential buyers. Devon shares an anecdote about cartridges turning red within a day or two due to improper mixing practices. He advises against relying solely on hotplates for oil mixing, stating, “That’s maybe not the best way to do that.”
Key Takeaways
“It’s all about data, data and control. [Data] gives you unprecedented insight into the process of filling cartridges. So, even though it’s not something that I would call ‘craft,’ having the ability to see what’s happening in there is still going to give you an idea of what’s happening and what needs to maybe change.”
“A lot of what we talked about today is how lack of data in the industry has led to a lot of inefficiencies. You have to start looking at margins a little closer, and what can you do to increase margins or maintain your margins in a tough market where prices are dropping. All of our products help do that. At Luna, we do that by putting in an automated solution for extraction where you can reduce your operating costs by moving labor to more effective areas like in food processing.”
“At Media Bros, we really emphasize simplifying and demystifying that CRC process. Processing through a Luna, through our media, and then right into a Vape-Jet is the shortest distance from biomass to cart. Eventually, the market’s going to realize, ‘I’m in a really competitive space. I need to create the best possible products, and they need to taste good, they need to look good, and they need to present well.’ That’s the biggest takeaway for me: all of these components need to work well together. Good process flow will save you.”
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In a rapidly growing market like the vaping industry, it is essential to dial in filling processes to ensure quality user experiences every time. That may sound daunting, but that’s why the Vape-Jet crew is always looking for ways to provide advanced cartridge-filling solutions for customers through our Partner Program. Our newest partner, iKrusher, expands our one-stop shop for customer success even more, certifying an extensive selection of compatible products that will work seamlessly with your Vape-Jet fully automatic cartridge-filling machine.
Read on to see how combing iKrusher’s innovative hardware combined with our vape cart filling expertise offers customers a complete turnkey solution for their vaping needs:
Engineered out of California since 2017, iKrusher is a widely trusted vape hardware leader. With over 1,500 brand associations, iKrusher provides millions of vape users with reliable, cutting-edge products, including disposables, vaporizers, pods, batteries, and vaping accessories. With a dual base in the US and China to conduct in-depth research and development on atomization technology, iKrusher is committed to local lab testing to ensure that their products offer the best taste for oils and concentrates.
With numerous technical patents and revolutionary products on the market, iKrusher continues to lead the trend in vaping experiences. They certainly haven’t shied away from this role either, opening multiple fulfillment distribution centers across the US to stay on top of their supply chain and provide reliable distribution. iKrusher’s wide network also provides local lab testing for oils and concentrates to design premium vaping experiences.
iKrusher Technology
OMNI
If you couldn’t already tell, at Vape-Jet, we’re huge fans of innovation. As the largest custom OEM and ODM vaporizer provider in the US, iKrusher is all-in on creating new, custom vaporizer technologies. OMNI intelligent control technology is an excellent example of their dedication to high-performance vaping, enabling pure, multi-viscosity vaping experiences. With increased battery performance and superior flavor profiles thanks to the OMNI App and OMNI Smart Hub, iKrusher’s vaping technology has created a new industry standard.
iKonic Ceramic Coil
Utilizing a porous ceramic material, the iKonic coil locks in oils for better taste and purity, maximizing each draw for users.
Vape-Jet x iKrusher: Partnership Benefits
Rapid Deployment — leverage Vape-Jet and iKrusher’s in-house R&D teams for expedited hardware prototyping, ensuring repeatable vape cartridge-filling experiences.
Verified Compatibility — pretested hardware means you don’t have to waste time testing different hardware or money using non-optimized components.
Custom-Built Hardware Profiles — pre-configured hardware profiles are available for installation on your new Vape-Jet filling machine, so you can start no-waste filling right away.
Reliably Compatible Hardware
Fill with confidence using qualified Vape-Jet Partners in conjunction with your Vape-Jet filling machine. Remember: all of our partners and products are thoroughly vetted by our crew and extensively QA-tested in the field by our customers.
Disposables
iKrusher disposable vapes handle any viscosity: distillate, concentrates, or live resin. All disposables use compliant, durable, and sustainable materials while boasting long battery life and anti-clogging, zero-leak tanks.
iKrusher cartridges use award-winning, proprietary designed 510 thread cartridges engineered for even oil vaporization, maximizing consumption. iKrusher’s durable 510 oil cartridges are paired with ceramic quartz heating technology to provide superior taste and quality.
Note: Not all hardware listed above is compatible with our Squish-o-Matic 1000 capping machine. For more detailed information on compatibility please reach out to our crew for more info.
Tested in the Field
The best part about our hardware partnership with iKrusher is that the results speak for themselves. Customers are already enjoying the synergy of Vape-Jet x iKrusher, including Joe Fabrizio, Lab Manager and Owner of Soil to Oil Montana.
So far, Joe’s team has filled the Tik Pro Mini, 0.5mL disposable with their Jet Fueler semi-automatic vape cart filler, and they’ve had loads of success. Asked if he would recommend using Vape-Jet cart filling technology with iKrusher hardware, Joe says, “Absolutely! I’ve been filling carts for about 7 years. I’ve used dozens of different carts, all while filling by hand with a metered syringe. The Tik Pro is, by far, the most reliable vape I have ever used. It has an extremely low fail rate, rarely leaks or clogs, and the vape experience is exactly what I’ve been looking for. The mellow temperature keeps the terpenes preserved, yet it still puffs clouds with ease. Filling with the Jet Fueler ensures every vape is filled exactly the same with precise temperature controls and temperature settings. Low temp cart filling is easily achieved with the use of Nitrogen head pressure.”
Or ask Jesse from Waypoint Processing, who says, “Every [iKrusher] product is packaged precisely making it easy to replicate and allows the Vape-Jet to quickly move from cart to cart. Vape-Jet support has been fantastic in dialing in so many different hardware types and an ever-changing product list with different concentrate types. Truly an amazing product is going into an amazing machine.”
Let’s Get Started
We designed our Vape-Jet Partner Program to provide customers with the best possible vape cartridge-filling experience. Our partnership with iKrusher expands our one-stop shop, certifying an extensive selection of compatible products that will work seamlessly with your Vape-Jet fully automatic cartridge-filling machine. Take advantage of custom-built hardware profiles, verified compatibility, and pre-tested hardware so you can fill vape cartridges with confidence.
If you want to become a Vape-Jet success story, reach out to our crew, and we’ll find the best solution for your business.
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.
Vape-Jet specializes in automated vape-cart filling machines specifically designed for the cannabis industry. Our advanced technology ensures efficient, reliable, and precise filling with various cannabis extracts. In this blog post, we will go over Do’s and Don’ts for the successful operation of a Vape-Jet fully-automatic vape cartridge filling machine. The purpose of this blog post is to help our customers get the most out of their machine operation. By following these tips, you can ensure that your machine operates smoothly and efficiently, and that you get the best possible results.
Before you start using your Vape-Jet fully-automatic vape cartridge filling machine, it’s important to review the user manual. This will give you a better understanding of how the machine works, and how to operate it safely and effectively.
2. Use the recommended settings.
Different cannabis extracts require different settings to achieve the best results. Make sure to use the recommended settings for each extract to ensure that you get the best possible results. Check out this comprehensive guide from our HelpDesk. It’s important to note that the recommended settings will vary based on the style of pump included in your machine.
3. Regularly clean and maintain the machine.
To keep your Vape-Jet running smoothly, it’s important to clean and maintain it regularly. This will help prevent clogs and malfunctions, as well as prevent cross-contamination between strains and oil types. All of our filling machines come with a clean in place SOP built into the software. It is fully automated, only takes 10-20 minutes and requires no disassembly.
4. Use high-quality cannabis extracts to ensure high-quality results.
The quality of the cannabis extract you use can have a big impact on the performance of your Vape-Jet fully-automatic vape cartridge filling machine. Make sure to use high-quality, consistently produced extracts to ensure the most reliable results.
5. Never let your operator fly solo.
If you encounter any issues or errors while using your Vape-Jet machine, don’t hesitate to contact Vape-Jet’s support team via the Help Desk. We can help you troubleshoot the issue and get your machine back up and running as quickly as possible.
Once you receive your new machine, you will use the Help Desk for all questions and requests moving forward. Please note that your points of contact from the sales process do not have remote machine access or the technical insight required to provide product support.
Click to learn more about Vape-Jet product support.
The Don’ts of Vape-Jet Operation
1. Don’t power on your new machine without Vape-Jet support.
Before you turn on your new filling machine for the first time, it’s important to schedule a remote training session with Vape-Jet product support. This will help ensure that you know how to operate the machine safely and effectively.
2. Don’t begin filling without configuration and calibration.
Initial needle and physical camera calibration will happen at installation with a remote support technician. The individual hardware configuration process includes software adjustments made to camera, height, speed, etc. This can be done during a consultation support call and saved as a configuration profile for later use.
3. Don’t underestimate the importance of heating.
To ensure the best possible results, it’s important to properly pre-heat the oil and configure the three machine heaters based on Vape-Jet recommended temperatures before initiating filling. Find our recommended heat settings in this comprehensive guide from our HelpDesk. If you want to hot swap your reservoirs to save time between batches, check out our Drop Tank reservoir pre-heating accessory.
4. Don’t physically interfere with the machine while in operation.
During the filling process, it’s crucial not to interfere with the machine. This includes not moving the hardware during dispense to correct the alignment, and not putting your hands inside the machine while in motion. If operation needs to be stopped immediately, operators can find a “stop” button on the user interface built into the front of the machine.
Bonus Don’t: Don’t use the physical emergency stop button on the front of the machine unless there is a true emergency such as evacuation due to fire.
5. Don’t forget to follow “first in, last out.”
When connecting and disconnecting the reservoir to the fluid path and Nitrogen supply, it’s important to follow the “first in, last out order of operations.” If done out of order, heated oil will leak out of the upper fluid path, through the heat box and onto the dispensing platform below. This can waste valuable oil, damage your machine, and pose a safety hazard to operators.
Connecting Reservoir:
Place Reservoir in Holder
Connect Fluid Path to Reservoir
Connect Power Cable
Connect Nitrogen Line
Disconnecting Reservoir:
Disconnect Nitrogen Pressure
Toggle Reservoir Heater Off
Disconnect CPC Power Adapter
Disconnect Fluid Path
Remove Reservoir from Holder
Click to learn more about the Vape-Jet fully-automatic filling machine.
Fill Smarter with Vape-Jet
Operating a Vape-Jet fully-automatic vape cartridge filling machine requires attention to detail and adherence to best practices. By following the do’s and don’ts outlined in this blog post, you can ensure that your machine operates smoothly and efficiently, and that you get the best possible results. Remember to review the user manual, use recommended settings, clean and maintain the machine, use high-quality extracts, and contact support when needed. By following these tips, you can maximize the potential of your Vape-Jet filling machine and truly “Fill Smarter”.
Think Automation is a Thing of the Future?
This article was developed by an AI copywriter. The future is now, so join the revolution or risk getting stuck in the past. If you’re ready to integrate automation into your workflow reach out to our crew with your questions to see what Vape-Jet automation solutions can do for you.
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.
