The Cannabis Industry’s Need for Vape Cartridge Filling Machines
As consumer behaviors continue to shift sales away from traditional categories such as flower and tinctures, and towards packaged products such as vapes, pre-rolls and edibles it’s clear that consumers are looking for more portable and convenient recreational products. Vapes in particular are popular for their portability and ease of use, reflected by sales more than doubling from $1 billion in 2018 to $2.8 billion as of November 2022.
To sustain this growth in popularity without sacrificing quality, many producers are investing in automated filling machines. If you are new to the world of vape cartridge and device filling equipment, join us as we break down the different types of filling machines along with their advantages, disadvantages, and the best use cases for each.
Manual Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines and Equipment
Semi-Automatic Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines
Fully-Automatic Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines
What Else to Consider When Shopping for a Cartridge Filling Machine
Manual Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines and Equipment
Manual vape cartridge and device filling machines are the simplest type of filling machines. They are operated by hand with tools such as syringes and heaters, and the operator is responsible for the entire filling process. These machines are inexpensive and easy to use, making them a good choice for small-scale operations. However, they are not suitable for large-scale production due to their slow production speed and reliance on manual labor.
Examples of manual filling machines:
Manual syringe
Handheld repeater syringe
Multi-shot style hand dispensers
Advantages of using manual filling machines:
Lowest equipment cost
Easy to use
Simple setup
Small physical footprint
Disadvantages of using manual filling machines:
Highest labor cost
Slowest production speed
Inconsistent fill volume
Operator-dependent
Easy to damage oil with heat
Susceptible to operator error
Syringe lubricant can affect cartridge
Risk of operator injury from manual labor
High maintenance requirements
Best use cases for manual filling machines:
Small-scale production
Limited budget
Non-technical operators
Semi-Automatic Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines
Semi-automatic filling machines such as the THCWPFL are an intermediate between manual and fully-automatic filling machines. They require some manual operation by lifting the cartridge or device to the needle for dispensation, but they automate the pumping portion of the filling process. These machines are suitable for mid-scale production and offer a good balance between cost and efficiency.
Example of semi-automatic filling machines:
Automatic recharging repeater syringe systems
Pneumatic systems
Syringe pump systems
Advantages of using semi-automatic filling machines:
Faster production speed than manual filling machines
More consistent fill volume
More consistent heat application
Lower labor cost than manual filling machines
Disadvantages of using semi-automatic filling machines:
Higher equipment cost than manual filling machines
More complex than manual filling machines
Not suitable for large-scale production
Operator still has to cap cartridges separately
Best use cases for semi-automatic filling machines:
Mid-scale production
Low to mid-range budget
Entry level technical operators
Fully-Automatic Cannabis Vape Cartridge Filling Machines
Fully-automatic filling machines such as the THCWPFL are the most advanced class of filling machines. They automate and control the pumping, dispensing and heating processes. Some even automate the capping process while others are designed to work with a separate capping machine. These machines offer the highest production capacity and consistency in fill volume. However, they are also the most expensive and may require specialized accessories such as hardware jigs or additional operator training. Despite the cost and additional expenses, in the long term these machines result in the lowest total cost of ownership.
Example of fully-automatic filling machines:
Robotic assisted recharging repeater syringe systems
Robotic assisted pneumatic systems
Robotic assisted syringe pump systems
Advantages of using fully-automatic filling machines
Lowest labor cost
Highest production capacity
Consistent and accurate fill volume
Flexibility in handling a wide range of fill volumes and viscosities
Increased reliability with minimal room for operator error
Limited exposure to environmental contaminants
Operator can multitask during filling process
Disadvantages of using fully-automatic filling machines
Highest equipment cost
Largest physical footprint
Requires additional operator training
Best use cases for fully-automatic filling machines:
Large-scale production
Mid to high-range budget
Experienced technical operators
Post time: Mar-27-2023