Cannabis processing involves a combination of agriculture, science, and industrial manufacturing. The machinery involved in this process is highly specialized, designed to ensure that cannabis products are compliant with regulations, safe, consistent, and of high quality. From harvesting and drying to extraction, refinement, and packaging, each stage requires different equipment that works in tandem to create the wide variety of cannabis products available on the market today.

 

1. Harvesting Equipment

The first stage of cannabis processing involves harvesting the mature cannabis plants, which requires specialized equipment for cutting, trimming, and handling the plants efficiently.

• Trimmers: These machines are used to trim the cannabis buds from the branches and to remove excess leaves, which is crucial for preparing the flowers for curing or extraction. There are two main types:
  • Wet Trimmers: Used right after harvest, while the plant is still fresh and moist
  • Dry Trimmers: Used after the buds have been dried, which provides a cleaner, more delicate trim that minimizes damage to the buds
• Harvesters: For larger-scale grows, mechanized harvesters (e.g., automatic harvesters or combine harvesters) can be used to cut down the entire plant.

 

2. Drying and Curing Equipment

After harvesting, cannabis plants need to be dried and cured, which improves the quality of flower, which will result in high quality product. This process reduces moisture content to a level where mold and mildew cannot grow, while also allowing cannabinoids and terpenes to fully develop.

• Drying Rooms/Dehumidifiers: Controlled environments use airflow, humidity control, and temperature regulation to dry the cannabis flower slowly and evenly.
• Curing Containers: After drying, cannabis buds are often placed in sealed containers (e.g., glass jars or plastic bins) for the curing process, where they are monitored for humidity levels to achieve the desired moisture content.

 

3. Grinding Equipment

Once the cannabis is dried and cured, it may need to be ground or milled to prepare it for further processing, such as extraction or for packaging as pre-rolls.

• Cannabis Grinders: These are used to finely grind the plant material into a more consistent size. There are manual and industrial grinders for this process.

 

4. Extraction Equipment

Extraction is a critical step in cannabis processing used to concentrate cannabinoids (e.g., THC, CBD) and terpenes from the raw plant material. Methods and equipment for this include:

• CO2 Extractors (Supercritical Fluid Extraction): This is one of the most common methods for extracting cannabinoids. CO2 is pressurized and heated to a supercritical state, where it acts as both a liquid and a gas, allowing it to extract cannabinoids and terpenes without using solvents.
• Solvent-Based Extractors: These use solvents like butane (BHO), ethanol, or propane to extract cannabinoids. The solvent is later evaporated, leaving behind concentrated cannabis oil.
  • Closed-Loop Extractors: These systems are used in solvent-based extraction, where the solvent is contained within a closed system to recover and reuse it, making it more efficient and safer.
• Hydrocarbon Extraction: This includes methods like Butane Hash Oil (BHO) extraction, which uses butane as a solvent. These systems are often used for making highly concentrated oils like shatter, wax, and live resin.
• Rosin Presses: A solvent-free extraction method that uses heat and pressure to squeeze out cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flower, hash, or kief.
• Ethanol Extractors: Ethanol is widely used in cannabis extraction, particularly in full-spectrum oil production. The ethanol acts as a solvent that can be easily evaporated to leave behind cannabinoids and terpenes.

 

5. Refinement and Purification Equipment

Once cannabis extracts are produced, further refinement and purification are needed to remove impurities and create concentrates with high potency and purity.

• Vacuum Ovens: Used for purging residual solvents from extracts like BHO, allowing the final product to become more stable and potent.
• Short-Path Distillation Units: This is used to further refine cannabis oils, separating cannabinoids and terpenes from unwanted compounds by taking advantage of differences in boiling points.
• Wiped Film Evaporators: This type of equipment is used to remove residual solvents and impurities in cannabis extracts, producing a cleaner product that can be used for various formulations.
• Chromatography Equipment: Used in more advanced cannabis refinement processes to separate different cannabinoids, terpenes, or other compounds for specific formulations or purity testing.

 

6. Formulation and Manufacturing Equipment

Once extracts or concentrates are ready, they may be used to create various cannabis products. Different types of manufacturing equipment are used depending on the product being made.

• Oil Filling Machines: Used to fill vape cartridges or tincture bottles with cannabis oil
• Pre-roll Machines: Automated machines that roll cannabis into uniform pre-rolled joints, which typically include features for filling, compacting, and twisting the ends of the joints
• Edibles Production Equipment: Specialized equipment is used for infusing cannabis oil or distillate into edible products like gummies, chocolates, beverages, and baked goods.
  • Mixing Tanks: Large industrial mixers blend cannabis extracts with base ingredients
  • Molds and Fillers: Used for molding cannabis edibles (e.g., gummies, chocolates) and for accurately dosing each piece
• Encapsulation Equipment: Used for creating cannabis capsules, typically by encapsulating cannabis oil or distillates in gelatin or capsules for oral consumption

 

7. Packaging Equipment

Packaging is a crucial step in cannabis processing, considering varying regulations in states where cannabis is legal. The machinery involved in this phase includes:

• Automated Packaging Lines: Fill and seal containers, whether they are jars, vape cartridges, or pre-roll packaging
• Labeling Machines: Apply required labels to cannabis products, which include details about THC content, batch numbers, and other compliance information
• Heat Sealers: Used to ensure airtight packaging of cannabis products, especially for edibles or concentrates

 

Click here for examples of brands that produce equipment used in the above steps.