In an industry that demands solventless products, producing high-quality hash at an industrial scale requires both careful handling of plant material and efficient processes to meet cost demands, making the traditional art of Hashishin difficult to sustain in large-scale operations.
In an exclusive interview with Benzinga Cannabis, Cliff Haney, marketing director at Low Temp Industries, explained how their flagship product, the Osprey hash washing machine, provides a solution that balances precision and efficiency, enabling operators to produce artisanal-quality hash while processing up to 80,000 grams of fresh-frozen cannabis per day.
So Fresh And So Clean
Solventless extraction is preferred by many in the industry due to its cleaner, chemical-free approach. The Osprey hash washing machine is designed to streamline the solventless extraction process for large-scale cannabis operators.
"The Osprey is geared for MSOs (Multi-State Operators) and commercial extraction facilities focused on solventless techniques," Haney explained. The machine can process up to 80,000 grams of fresh-frozen cannabis per day, making it a critical asset for operators aiming to scale up their production.
“Efficiency is key,” Haney noted. "The machine can handle 20,000 grams of fresh-frozen cannabis per batch, and operators can run four batches within an eight-hour workday. While yield percentages depend on the strain being processed, it typically ranges between three and six percent from fresh frozen cannabis, which is four to five times the weight of dried flower."
It's Simple
According to Haney, what sets the Osprey apart is its emphasis on ease of use and efficiency. “We built the Osprey from the ground up to make the extraction process as simple as possible for hash makers,” Haney told Benzinga.
Unlike other hash washing systems that use blades or high-contact methods, the Osprey employs a low-shear impeller, a key innovation. “Our approach is gentler, which means cleaner hash with fewer contaminants,” he explained.
The machine also features an auto-sieve system, eliminating the need for manual bag pulling—a task notorious for being labor-intensive and physically demanding. "With just a foot pedal, operators can vibrate the water out of the hash, reducing the strain on workers and improving workflow efficiency," Haney added.
Built For Commercial Use With Compliance In Mind
The Osprey is designed to meet the stringent requirements of commercial cannabis operations. It's constructed from stainless steel, which ensures durability and compliance with food-grade processing standards. This attention to material quality also addresses concerns about microplastics in hash, an issue that has garnered increasing attention within the cannabis industry.
"The Osprey is also equipped with a UL-listed control panel, making compliance checks in different states much easier," Haney said. "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."
Small Batch Option
The Osprey isn’t just for big cannabis companies, it is also scalable to mid-sized and smaller operations looking to enhance their efficiency. LTI offers a smaller version, the Mini Osprey, designed for home users or smaller batch operations.
"It's about simplifying the process, so hashmakers can focus on quality rather than tedious manual tasks," Haney said. "You can adjust the machine’s settings to handle different strains and create various products, from high-quality full melt to edibles,"
Operators can adjust the speed and time settings based on the type of product they aim to produce. “If you’re making full melt, you go slow and gentle; for edibles, you can crank up the speed and get everything you can out of the material,” he said.
The Secret Recipe
One of the standout features of the Osprey is its ability to pre-program recipes, which simplifies the extraction process for operators. "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," Haney explained.
"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." The machine's customization capabilities not only streamline production but also help operators maintain consistent quality across batches.
Plug And Play
Haney also pointed out that for cannabis investors the machine comes ready to play. “The machine arrives nearly ready to use, requiring just minimal assembly before it’s plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet and does not require compressed air, making it highly accessible and cost-efficient for operators.”
Disrupting Packaging With The Concentrate Dispenser
Another key innovation from LTI is the concentrate dispenser, a device designed to automate the packaging process for cannabis extracts like live resin and rosin. "Our 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."
The concentrate dispenser is designed with precision in mind, featuring an intep-certified integrated scale to ensure each gram or two-gram bucket is perfectly weighed and dispensed. "We're taking the bulk-to-package process and automating it," Haney concluded.
