Automation. Specifically, pre-roll infusion systems have evolved the industry standard for scaled production of quality infused pre-rolls and consumer demand isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Brands who can’t produce consistent pre rolls are going to fall behind.
The Problem
There was once a time where hand rolling products was acceptable. However, consumer error, inconsistent filling, and wasted concentrate is no longer viable for businesses that want to scale.
Successful cannabis brands understand that automation is the ONLY way to properly enhance quality with Pre-roll Infusion.
Proof?
Pre-Rolls brought in over $4.1 billion in revenue between January 2023 and June 2024 alone with over 394 million units sold. Out of that 394 million figure, infused pre-rolls make up a significant majority.
Which means…
Automation is no longer an option for producers that want to succeed and build a sustainable brand.
What you will learn:
- Why Pre-Roll Infusion Systems Are Important
- Automation Is Changing Industry Standards
- Top 3 Pre-roll Infusion Machines Ranked
- What Features to Consider When Buying An Infusion System
Why Pre-Roll Infusion Systems Are Important
If you’ve been paying attention to market trends, you’ll notice that infused pre-rolls are far and away outperforming other segments within the plant-based industries.
Why? Because they meet consumer demands by providing potency, convenience, and a premium experience.
However… rolling by hand isn’t scalable. Nor will it provide consistent results with every batch. Cannabis concentrate spillage, uneven doses, and time-consuming operations create weak points for production standards.
By implementing a high-quality pre-roll infusion system, you’ll eliminate these inconsistencies by having a precise mechanism to deliver every pre-roll with the same amount of concentrate every time.
Let’s take a look at how many units one operator can produce versus an entire team rolling by hand.
An automated pre-roll infusion system can take care of hundreds of quality controlled, uniform doses per hour. While a team of rollers can typically average out to about the same amount.
The benefit of having an automated system doesn’t stop there. Imagine how many resources you could save in labour?
Consumers expect the same potency in every unit they purchase. Never being able to accurately meet that demand is a recipe for disaster.
Automation allows producers to meet demand while creating a trustworthy product.
How Automation Is Changing Industry Standards
The cannabis industry is evolving by the day. Brands that were built on manual labor are quickly learning that they need to adapt or risk falling into obscurity.
Producing pre rolls by hand isn’t going to cut it. If you want to optimize your bottom line, your products have to be automated.
Infused pre-rolls made up 66.3% of all pre-roll sales in California from December of 2024 through February of 2025.
That’s right. Nearly 2/3rds of all sales were from cannabis infused pre-rolls.
Automation gives brands the ability to:
- Scale up production or down with ease
- Reduce waste and expense from concentrate spillage
- Meet consumer demand on both quality and quantity
- Produce every unit exactly how they want it time after time
The key to building a brand that will stand the test of time is listening to consumers and adapting. The industry standard has officially changed to automated pre-roll infusion systems.
Top 3 Pre-roll Infusion Machines Ranked
When diving into specific products to help you level up your production standards, it’s important to know not all machines were made the same.
Certain features play an important role when you’re looking to automate your process. Here are the 3 best pre-roll infusion machines on the market.
1. Sorting Robotics Jiko
The Sorting Robotics Jiko is hands down the most versatile and precise pre-roll infusion system you can buy. Designed by former NASA-JPL engineers, they created the first automated pre-roll infusion system ever released to market.
Not only does it have the ability to process 1,000 units per hour with a single operator, Jiko has a handful of features that set it apart from the competition.
Jiko Features:
- Compatible with all meltable cannabis concentrates (live rosin, distillate, live resin)
- Fully programmable pressure and temperature controls featured on an easy-to-use touchscreen
- Dialable dosage settings ranging from 50mg to 1,000mg
- Available to work with cones, straight tubes, and blunt wraps
- Reduce waste and spillage by up to 20-30%
- Native production analytics software to monitor operations in real-time
There’s plenty more to say about why Jiko is the best option out there but here’s the thing.. producers are currently using Jiko to scale from 10,000 to 40,000 infused pre rolls PER MONTH while simultaneously saving thousands on labor and cannabis waste.
2. Hefestus AuraX
The Hefestus AuraX automatic pre-roll machine has introduced a new patented airflow channel that allows for infusion to occur rapidly throughout the tube. Capable of over 2,000 pre-rolls infused per hour, Hefestus brings years of engineering from the food and pharma industry into cannabis.
3. STM Canna Astro Infuser
The STM Canna Astro Infuser pre-roll machine has been one of the leading names in cannabis infusion technology. While not completely automated, the Canna Astro allows for modular infusion by power-infusing up to 72 pre rolls in 90 seconds.
Ranking
The reason these products are ranked in that order is due to the versatility and precision you’ll receive from Jiko. Hefestus and STM don’t exactly play in the same league.
What To Look For When Buying An Infusion System
Before you take the jump and invest in your first automated pre-roll infusion system, there are some important aspects to consider.
What Meltable Concentrates Does The System Work With?
Make sure you pick a machine that gives you the most flexibility when working with different types of concentrates. Being locked into one type limits product development and future growth.
Can You Dial In Your Dosage?
Cannabis consumers aren’t stupid. They know what they’re buying should be as close to the same potency with every purchase.
If your machine only allows you to set one dosage… you’re already falling behind.
Speed?
Lastly, how fast does the machine produce? Can it keep up with your current demand? Will it be able to scale when you’re ready to expand?
These are all things you’ll want to ask yourself when making your purchase.
Final Words
We live in a world where change is the only constant. The industries we once knew are growing and adapting to new technologies everyday.
If you don’t evolve, your brand will be left in the dust. Pre-roll infusion systems are here to stay and will only continue to grow as more consumers seek out the convenience of infused pre-rolls.
Do yourself a favor and take advantage of automation now, instead of being forced to in the future
Remember…
Automation is setting industry standards, not elevating them.