How to Choose the Best Cannabis Cleaning Machine

Cultivators committed to the cannabis industry long-term are preparing for federal oversight and global trade opportunities Jetzt, and both require the consistent ability to produce a clean product that’s safe for consumption. When it comes to an agricultural commodity like cannabis, that means ensuring the final product is free of mold and pathogens.

To stay ahead of the growing pains that will come with the inevitable progress of the industry, future-focused business owners are ensuring their products are already clean and safe for the masses by incorporating a cannabis cleaning machine into their operation. Just as in other agricultural industries like dairy or nuts, cannabis products will eventually be required to be decontaminated before sale, regardless of the cleanliness of the grow. Adding a mold remediation machine to standard operating procedures (SOPs) now means avoiding the shock—and expense—of changes and updates later.

Picking the right cannabis machine for your needs starts with these three steps.

1) Choose a Cannabis Decontamination Technology

Cannabis cleaning machines use different technologies to address mold. These are the most common options.

Ionisierende Strahlung

Ionizing radiation includes technologies like X-ray, e-beam, and gamma rays. These technologies irradiate the product to kill mold and pathogens. They have generally been considered safe; however, regulators are starting to sway cultivators against ionizing radiation as it alters the molecular structure of the plant.

For example, in Canada, producers who decontaminate their cannabis with ionizing radiation must label their products with the Radura, the international symbol that indicates a product has been irradiated. Regulators in the state of Nevada have considered implementing the same.

Similarly, in Germany, any importer who uses ionizing radiation technology to treat their flower must obtain a special license that costs around €4,500 per strain and takes nearly a year to secure.

For these reasons, many businesses are instead considering other cannabis decontamination technologies.

Nichtionisierende Strahlung

Non-ionizing radiation includes technologies like cold plasma and Radio Frequency (RF).

Cold plasma is a remediation technology that initiates a high-voltage electrical charge within a gas, creating a cloud of electrons, ions, photons, and free radicals that transfer their excess energy onto the flower. This triggers oxidative reactions that damage the DNA of mold and pathogens and poke holes in their membranes. Although currently considered safe, more research is needed to determine the impact of using free radicals.

RF uses long, slow wavelengths to penetrate the flower to its core. These wavelengths do not alter the molecular structure of the plant or produce free radicals. The USDA and National Organic Program (NOP) have already approved this technology under the USDA Organic label, and it’s been EU GMP-validated, meeting even Germany’s strict standards.

Non-ionizing machines also come with the benefit of completing the entire decontamination process onsite, whereas technologies like e-beam and gamma must be done entirely offsite.

2) Compare Machine Specs and Parts

Choosing the decontamination technology you want will significantly narrow down your options for a cannabis cleaning machine. From there, it’s crucial to analyze the machine itself.

Consider questions like:

How and where is the machine manufactured? Will it be quick and easy to get replacement parts, or will you have to wait for them to be shipped from across the globe?
What consumable materials will the machine use, and are those also easily accessible or will they ship from the other side of the planet?
How much waste will the machine produce?
How much electricity will the machine use, and how much will that increase your energy bill?
How many people are needed to man the machine? How much will this cost in labor?
Will you have to change or renovate your current operation’s layout/floor plan to incorporate the machine?
Does the machine require extra equipment? (For example, X-ray technology needs extra chiller equipment to complete the decontamination process.)
Does the machine require downtime, or can it stay running?

Answering these questions will help to determine the operational costs for the machine so you can see if it's a viable option for your business.

3) Compare Provided Training and Customer Support

Likewise, it’s important to understand if you’re getting just a machine or if you're getting a machine and a team of professionals (or at least a point of contact) for training and troubleshooting. If you are getting a team of support with your machine, get clear on whether that support is for a limited time or the duration of the machine’s lifetime.

When researching this, ask the sales reps of the cannabis cleaning machines you’re considering if they can connect you with some of their current customers so you can gather firsthand information. You can also ask the rep to share case studies or testimonials and seek out the businesses those highlight to get their direct thoughts about the cannabis cleaning machine and its accompanying support.

Explore the Industry’s Leading Cannabis Cleaning Machine

Now that you know the factors to consider when finding the best cannabis machine for your needs, get to know the non-ionizing machine that cultivators around the world use for mold remediation.

Using the power of Radio Frequency, the Ziel RFX is leading the cannabis industry in safe decontamination. This cannabis cleaning machine can remediate up to 160 pounds of cannabis flower in an eight-hour shift with no downtime.

The Ziel RFX also offers cultivators the chance to learn more about the intricacies of their grow by comparing data from certificates of analysis (COAs) and remediation cycles to identify strains more prone to mold and create strain-specific recipes that promise a 99.9% pass rate with regulatory compliance. This data is updated in real time so you can adjust your decontamination cycles accordingly if need be.

When you partner with Ziel, you gain a team of technicians and scientists ready to help with troubleshooting and data analytics so you can get the most out of your cannabis cleaning machine.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ziel RFX, or just need an expert to provide more insight into choosing the right cannabis cleaning machine for your needs, contact Ziel today.