NASA Precision Meets Cannabis ROI: Pre-Rolled Infusion Robots Revolutionizing Industry Cost Strategies

In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Nohtal Partansky, the CEO and co-founder of Sorting Robotics, a company revolutionizing the cannabis industry through advanced automation solutions, discussed how their pioneering machines are transforming the cannabis industry.

From optimizing efficiency and slashing operational costs to ensuring compliance and elevating product quality, Partansky unveiled the multifaceted impact of cannabis automation and cutting-edge solutions on cannabis businesses.

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From NASA-JPL to Cannabis Automation

The company, founded in early 2018, initially started as a side project while its co-founders were working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Their transition into the cannabis industry happened in late 2019 when they recognized the significant manual labor and lack of effective automation within the cannabis supply chain.

This eureka moment led them to collaborate with cannabis companies and launch an R&D facility in the Bay Area in early 2020. In 2021, Sorting Robotics (SR) introduced its first product designed for infusing pre-roll joints and crafting hash-infused blunts: the Jiko Automated Pre-Roll Infusion Robot. 

"There was a lot of spillage, Kieff all over the floor, and it turned into a huge mess. After that production run, I shifted to the robotic side of our operations to find the best way to infuse joints with concentrates like distillate and rosin, and that's when we kind of had the idea,” Partansky said.

Innovation through Injection: The Genesis of Sorting Robotics

SR's first innovative device was born from its experience in the heart of the East Bay's cannabis industry, renowned for extraction and processing, sparked by customer demand for infused pre-rolls in late 2020, a novel concept back then.

Manual production was messy, inaccurate, and unreliable, leading to spills and compromised product quality.

Overcoming Challenges in Cannabis Infusion Automation

With no pre-existing framework or blueprint for such a device, SR focused on the fundamental question of how to melt down and deposit concentrates effectively.

One of the initial challenges was achieving precision in dosage. Standard vape cartridge fillers had an accuracy range of plus or minus 50 milligrams, which was far from acceptable when infusing smaller amounts like 100 or 200 milligrams.

The team experimented with a syringe system initially but quickly realized its limitations, especially when working with concentrates like rosin, leading to clogs and inconsistencies.

A significant breakthrough came when they switched to a positive pressure system, which eliminated the need for vacuum and syringes. This innovation allowed them to work with various concentrate types, including live resin, shatters, crumbles, rosin and more.

Another challenge was achieving a consistent infusion line within the joint. Initially, the material's distribution was uneven.

Their solution involved using medical-grade stainless steel needles and carefully controlling temperature and viscosity, ensuring high accuracy and consistency in the infusion process.

Furthermore, the Jiko controls the material's temperature to prevent overheating and maintain product quality.

ROI: Robotics’ Impact On Cannabis Operations

Incorporating the Jiko Robot into cannabis production enhances efficiency and offers a quick return on investment (ROI).

For businesses producing at least 10,000 infused joints monthly, the Jiko offers an accessible solution. “The machine is scalable, accommodating both small-scale operations like mom-and-pop shops and large multi-state operators (MSOs),” Partansky said.

Comparing machine operation to manual labor, the Jiko operates approximately eight times faster than the most skilled human workers. This dramatic increase in production speed can reduce labor costs from $0.30 per pre-roll to just $0.04, leading to substantial cost savings.

The company prices its machines to ensure an ROI within 12 months, aligning with current market expectations.

Nohtal noted business experienced a significant increase in production, jumping from a few thousand joints per week to 15,000 joints weekly. “This boost enabled their wholesale team to expand sales and reduce the square footage of their licensed facility dedicated to infusion,” Partansky said.

Donut-Style Pre-Rolls: Sorting Robotics' Dive Into Luxury Infused Joints

SR entered the realm of luxury-infused pre-rolls, popularized by Fidel's and Cookies' collaboration in late 2020 and early 2021. This trend sparked a surge in the infused pre-roll market, but a gap existed for a high-end, top-shelf product. SR observed there was a lack of luxury options.

While the business aspect was driven by strong branding and market potential, the development of the machine itself took approximately six months from prototyping to the official launch and was an accessible gateway to diversify its product line.

“Fidel's introduced the concept of hash-holes pre-rolls, elevating the infused pre-roll segment to a new standard of excellence. As a response to market demands, Sorting Robotics developed the Jiko Donut-Style Pre-Roll Infusion Robot, designed to create a cavity at the center of pre-rolls, blunts, or joints, allowing for precise injection of rosin or other premium materials,” Partansky explained.

The Omni Filler

SR’s latest innovation, is the Omni Filler, a desktop-based cartridge-filling machine designed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving vape industry. Officially launched at the end of 2022, it caters to the standards of the pharmaceutical-grade vape industry.

A unique feature of SR is that its technicians handle both machine construction and customer support, fostering expertise in production and customer interactions.

This dual-role system enhances efficiency and effectiveness in their operations, ensuring top-tier service and high-quality machine production.

Beyond providing cutting-edge machinery, Partansky noted SR offers extensive support to customers, including helping them design new SKUs and providing free consulting on product formulation.

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All Photos Courtesy of Sorting Robotics.