Hashing It Out: A High-Tech Solution for Large-Scale Cannabis Extraction
In an industry increasingly demanding solventless products, producing high-quality hash at an industrial scale presents a unique set of challenges. Traditional methods, while cherished for their artisanal touch, often struggle to meet the demands of modern cannabis operations. Recognizing this gap, Low Temp Industries has developed the Osprey, a hash washing machine designed to bridge the gap between quality and efficiency. This innovative solution allows cannabis operators to produce artisanal-quality hash while processing up to 80,000 grams of fresh-frozen cannabis per day.
Key Takeaways:
- Solventless extraction: The Osprey is a game-changer for operators seeking to produce high-quality hash without the use of solvents, aligning with the industry’s increasing demand for cleaner products.
- Scalability: The Osprey’s ability to handle large volumes of fresh-frozen cannabis (up to 80,000 grams per day) makes it a perfect fit for multi-state operators and large-scale extraction facilities.
- Simplicity & Efficiency: Designed with ease of use in mind, the Osprey boasts features like a low-shear impeller for gentle processing and an auto-sieve system, minimizing manual labor and maximizing efficiency.
- Compliance Focused: Constructed from food-grade stainless steel and featuring a UL-listed control panel, the Osprey meets critical compliance standards, easing regulatory concerns for operators.
- Scalable for All: The Osprey comes in two sizes: a large-capacity version for commercial operations and a smaller "Mini Osprey" that caters to home users or smaller batch operations.
- Recipe Customization: The Osprey’s ability to pre-program recipes for different strains and products offers an extra level of precision, allowing operators to tailor extraction processes to their specific needs.
The Rise of Solventless Extraction
Solventless extraction methods have become increasingly popular within the cannabis industry due to their perceived purity and lack of chemical residues. However, scaling up solventless processes to meet the demands of large-scale commercial operations is a significant challenge, often requiring a balance between quality and speed.
"The Osprey is geared for MSOs (Multi-State Operators) and commercial extraction facilities focused on solventless techniques," explained Cliff Haney, marketing director at Low Temp Industries. "It can handle 20,000 grams of fresh-frozen cannabis per batch, and operators can run four batches within an eight-hour workday."
This high-throughput capability makes the Osprey an attractive option for companies seeking to significantly increase their hash production, helping them meet the growing demand for solventless concentrates.
Beyond Efficiency: The Emphasis on Quality
While the Osprey boasts impressive processing speeds, Low Temp Industries remains focused on quality. Their strategy is a response to a market that highly values the purity and clean taste associated with solventless hash.
"We built the Osprey from the ground up to make the extraction process as simple as possible for hash makers", Haney emphasized. "Our approach is gentler, which means cleaner hash with fewer contaminants."
This commitment to quality shines through in innovative features like the low-shear impeller. Unlike traditional methods that often rely on blades, the Osprey’s impeller design ensures gentle processing that preserves the integrity of the trichomes, crucial for achieving high-quality hash.
Automation & Labor Optimization
In addition to the gentle extraction process, the Osprey further streamlines operations with automation. The machine features an auto-sieve system that eliminates manual bag pulling, a notoriously laborious and physically demanding task. "With just a foot pedal, operators can vibrate the water out of the hash, reducing the strain on workers and improving workflow efficiency," Haney explained.
This focus on automation translates to increased labor productivity and cost savings for operators, further enhancing the Osprey’s appeal for large-scale cannabis operations.
Built For Commercial Use, Designed for Compliance
The Osprey is designed to meet the stringent requirements of commercial cannabis operations. Crafted from durable stainless steel, it adheres to food-grade processing standards and addresses growing concerns about microplastics in hash, a significant issue within the industry.
"The Osprey is also equipped with a UL-listed control panel, making compliance checks in different states much easier," said Haney. "You don’t need a C1D1 room for solventless extraction, so this machine is typically the least of inspectors’ worries when they visit a cannabis extraction facility."
The Osprey’s compliance-focused design makes it a reliable and trustworthy solution for operators navigating the complexities of the regulated cannabis industry.
Scalability for Every Operator
Recognizing that not every operator needs the full processing capacity of the Osprey, Low Temp Industries offers a scalable solution. The Mini Osprey is designed for home users or smaller batch operations, allowing them to benefit from the same technology and efficiency as larger operations.
"It’s about simplifying the process, so hashmakers can focus on quality rather than tedious manual tasks," Haney remarked. "You can adjust the machine’s settings to handle different strains and create various products, from high-quality full melt to edibles."
This scalability ensures that the Osprey’s benefits can be enjoyed by a wider range of cannabis operators, fostering a greater emphasis on quality and efficiency across the entire industry.
The Recipe for Success: Customization & Precision
A key differentiator of the Osprey is its ability to pre-program recipes for different strains and cultivars. This feature allows operators to fine-tune extraction processes to maximize yield and quality, ensuring that every batch meets specific product standards.
"You can build your recipes on the Osprey itself because some strains and cultivars have certain shaped trichome heads that detach more easily than others," explained Haney. "This allows hash makers to adjust speed, duration, and settings based on the specific material they’re working with and the type of product they want to create – whether it’s full melt, full-spectrum rosin, or edibles."
This level of recipe customization empowers operators to maintain consistent quality and create diverse products, meeting the ever-evolving demands of the cannabis market.
Beyond Extraction: Automating the Packaging Process
Low Temp Industries’ commitment to innovation extends beyond the Osprey. They have also developed the Concentrate Dispenser, an automated packaging system designed to streamline the packaging process for concentrates like live resin and rosin.
"The Concentrate Dispenser can package anywhere from 400 to 1,000 grams per hour. This significantly reduces labor costs, as most companies currently have around 10 people packaging by hand in the extraction lab," Haney shared. The device features an integrated scale, ensuring that each gram or two-gram bucket is precisely weighed and dispensed. "We’re taking the bulk-to-package process and automating it," concluded Haney.
This focus on automation streamlines the packaging process, further minimizing labor costs and maximizing efficiency for cannabis operators.
The Future of Solventless Extraction: A Focus on Quality & Efficiency
Low Temp Industries’ commitment to innovation is evident in their development of the Osprey and the Concentrate Dispenser. This commitment not only benefits operators seeking to scale up their solventless hash production but also benefits the larger cannabis industry.
The demand for solventless extracts is growing, and companies like Low Temp Industries are leading the way in ensuring that quality and efficiency remain at the forefront of this trend. As the cannabis industry continues to mature, the Osprey and Concentrate Dispenser represent a significant step towards a future where high-quality solventless products can be enjoyed by a wider audience.
