The cannabis industry has undergone a significant shift with the legalization of cannabis in various states in the USA and nationwide in Canada. This has led to an increase in demand for cannabis products, thereby requiring faster and more efficient packaging methods.

Automated packaging systems are becoming popular in this industry as they speed up the packaging process and reduce labor costs, improve product accuracy and freshness, and enhance brand representation.

If you’re new to automated packaging solutions for cannabis products, don’t worry, as this guide aims to help you understand the basics and make an informed decision.

Which types of cannabis products are most suitable for automated packaging?

Creating automated packaging systems for cannabis products is similar to other products that have been packaged using automation for many years. Various cannabis products can be quickly packaged on automated packaging machines, such as:

• Edible cannabis products like gummies, snacks, candies, etc
• Pre-rolled cannabis products
• CBD-based products, such as oils
• Raw cannabis, flowers, and leaves

This is not a comprehensive list; if your product does not fit into these categories, you can consult with your packaging machine manufacturer. They may be able to develop an automated process that suits your product.

Benefits of using automated packaging systems for cannabis products

As a growing business, it is common to reach a point where manual packaging becomes a bottleneck. With increasing demand, manual packaging can become costly and inefficient. Automated packaging systems can provide a solution to this problem by offering the following benefits:

Overcoming the Limitations of Manual Packaging

Manual packaging can be prone to errors and inaccuracies and take time to complete. Automated packaging machines are designed to be accurate, reliable, and fast.

They can consistently produce the same product repeatedly until a different instruction is given. Instead of increasing the number of employees to scale the production operation, investing in an automated packaging machine can help achieve much more than manual packaging processes.

Boosting Production and Profitability

Manual packing can produce approximately ten packages per minute per person. However, automated packaging machines can increase the speed and efficiency of the packaging processes.

An entry-level machine can produce up to 50 bags per minute, while high-speed systems can produce up to 120 bags per minute. Additionally, a multilane stick pack machine can reach up to 840 packages per minute. This increase in production speed can lead to a significant increase in profitability.

Achieving High Accuracy and Speed

Manually measuring and weighing cannabis products can be imprecise. Additionally, attempting to speed up the manual packaging process can result in a loss of accuracy.

Combining an automated packaging equipment with a high-accuracy multihead weigher can solve this problem. This system can achieve high precision, up to 0.05 grams, even at high speeds.

Enhancing Brand Representation

Traditional packaging methods are no longer suitable in today’s competitive landscape.

Packaging plays a crucial role as it’s the first interaction to your product. Poor packaging quality can negatively impact the customer’s perception of your brand.

With cannabis being a high-value product, it is important to have premium packaging that represents your brand well. Automated packaging machines consistently produce high-quality products that enhance your brand’s representation.

Maintaining Product Freshness

Exposure to elements such as oxygen, light, and humidity can have a negative impact on the potency and effectiveness of cannabis products. Automated packaging technologies can protect the product from these factors and increase the shelf life of expensive cannabis products.

Types of Automated Packaging Equipment for Cannabis Products and Recommendations

There are various options available regarding the automated packaging of cannabis products. The type of machine recommended depends on the package format you are using.

This article will discuss packaging machine options suitable for flexible packagings, such as bags, stick packs, and pouches.

PREMADE POUCH PACKAGING MACHINE

The premade pouch packing machine is a popular option among cannabis companies that prefer the premium, small-batch look of premade bags.

It fills and seals premade bags already forming into their final shape. The operator loads the bags into the bag magazine, from which the machine picks up the pouch, then fills it with an exact amount of the cannabis product, seals it shut, and discharges the bag from the machine.

High Speed Solution

Entry Level Solution

A premade pouch machine is an ideal solution for cannabis companies with a wide variety of bag sizes or products, as it is easy to adjust to accommodate different pouches.

Additionally, it is simple to learn and operate, requiring no advanced technical training or experience. Entry-level labor can be employed to run these machines.

VERTICAL FORM FILL SEAL MACHINE

Vertical Form fill seal machines are designed to create bags from a flat roll of packaging film, fill them with an exact amount of product, and seal them shut. It is configured to package vertically.

Vertical form fill seal machines are exceptionally efficient in reaching high packaging speeds and work best when the product line is not highly varied.

However, many customers use a single VFFS machine to produce multiple bag sizes. These machines are relatively easy to operate but may require more technical training than a premade pouch machine.

MULTI LANE STICK PACK MACHINE

A stick pack machine is similar to a VFFS machine in that it creates bags, fills them with a specific amount of product, and seals them shut.

However, the main difference is that a stick pack machine has multiple lanes and can produce multiple packages per cycle.

Stick pack machines are designed to create thin, single-serve bags, similar to drink mixes or instant coffee. This machine is ideal for product lines with high throughputs, such as powder, granular, and liquid products.

Questions to Ask when Searching for Automated Cannabis Packaging Machines

When reaching out to a packaging machine manufacturer for information about automated packaging systems for cannabis products, be prepared for a series of questions.

These questions are necessary for the manufacturer to recommend the best machine and provide accurate pricing properly. These machines are usually customized to the end user’s exact specifications.

To make the process easy, it’s better to be prepared with the following specific questions:

What are the Acceptable Weight Variations

In the legal cannabis industry, there are strict regulations on the weight variations allowed for each package. The weight variance requirements differ from one another and require different types of product weighers.

What types of bags are you using for packaging?

When inquiring about automated packaging for cannabis products, it’s crucial to inform the manufacturer if the bags are preformed or if they need to be formed from a flat roll of packaging film.

These are two different types of packaging machines and will affect the recommendations and pricing given by the manufacturer.

What are the dimensions of your packaging bags?

It’s crucial to provide accurate information about the bag’s dimensions when inquiring about automated packaging needs for cannabis products.

If the bag is flat, the width and height are needed. The width, height, and depth should be provided if the bag has a pronounced depth or stands up.

This information is crucial for the packaging machine manufacturer to recommend a suitable machine.

How much space should you prepare for machine installation

To achieve high accuracy in weight, high-accuracy multi-head weigher are often used. These weighers are typically placed on top of the packaging machine.

If the space is limited, the packaging machine manufacturer should be informed so that they can recommend alternative solutions.

What is the desired output rate for your packaging process?

It’s essential to communicate the desired speed to the manufacturer. If high speeds are a primary concern, this will be considered when the manufacturer makes their recommendations.

What is the budget allocated for the packaging equipment?

Packaging automation is a significant investment that can provide a high return if done correctly.

Many options are available in the market, from simple to advanced turnkey systems. Financing is also a possibility that can be explored.

Ultimately, the budget is important when looking into automated packaging for cannabis products.

In conclusion, packaging automation is a crucial aspect of the legal cannabis industry, as it allows for efficient, accurate, and cost-effective packaging of cannabis products.

With a wide range of options available in the market, it’s important to consider factors such as weight tolerances, bag sizes, speed requirements, and budget constraints when choosing a new equipment.

By working closely with a packaging machine manufacturer and being prepared with the correct information, you can ensure that your cannabis packaging process is streamlined and meets all regulatory requirements.