While trimming by hand reigns supreme among craft growers and smaller operations, commercial cannabis trimming machines play an integral role in shaping the products that flow through the supply chain. For many big commercial growers and brands, a high-quality commercial trimmer that mimics hand-trimming and processes dozens of pounds per hour is a necessary tool to stay profitable, efficient, and competitive.
Instead of searching for the industry’s best trimmer, cultivators and processors should first consider exactly what makes most commercial trimming equipment unique to determine how each system will find into an operation the most effectively. Factors like size, automation, feed direction, and moisture level — wet trim vs dry trim — will all play different roles in determining what’s best for each operator. We’ve collected seven commercial trimming machines to consider adding to your operation.
What to consider before buying your trimmer
Are you trimming wet, dry, or both?
In the harvesting and post-harvest process, precisely trimming cannabis buds is considered by many to be one of the most pivotal steps in the preparation of flower for sale. Businesses must choose whether they want to trim their buds before or after the drying process. Wet trimming involves removing plant leaves from buds directly after harvest, and dry trimming is performed after the buds have been harvested and dried. Trimmers process wet buds more quickly than dry buds, but dry trimming preserves more trichomes and is known for producing more potent buds that smoke more smoothly. A growing number of commercial bud trimming machines on the market today are capable of trimming both wet and dry flower, which allows businesses to adjust their harvesting methods for evolving demand and optimized profit.
What’s the best size and capacity
In response to increasing popularity and state-by-state legalization, the cannabis industry continues to expand. For many cannabis businesses, scaling up is inevitable. It is wise to consider the potential growth of your company when choosing which commercial trimmer to purchase. Bigger trimmers can process larger quantities of flower more efficiently, but it is also important to consider the specific limitations and needs of your facility. Some trimmers are intentionally designed to fit through standard doorways or fitted with wheels for easy transportation. Depending on your specific needs, it may be better to purchase multiple smaller trimmers as opposed to one large bud trimming machine.
Do you need an automated system?
Many brands now offer almost entirely automated systems that replace the labor of a room full of workers. These systems allow for continuous feeds, standardization across multiple harvesting locations, and advanced sorting abilities that separate small and large from medium size buds as well as collect kief. Automated systems can drastically increase the efficiency, capacity, and profits of cannabis businesses. Even if your business is not ready to invest in an entire system, it may be beneficial to choose a trimmer with this type of integrative potential. For businesses that are committed to dry trimming, an automated system can more closely rival the efficiency of wet trimming.
Is horizontal or vertical feed better for your setup?
There are two general types of commercial trimmers from which cannabis businesses can choose: horizontal feed trimmers and vertical feed trimmers. Horizontal trimmers are sometimes referred to as tumblers, and vertical trimmers are sometimes referred to as tabletop trimmers — even if they stand on the floor. Tom’s Tumbler Python 200 is an example of a horizontal trimmer model and the Greenbroz Model M is an example of a vertical model. Neither type of trimmer is definitively superior, and it is important to explore different designs and choose the best trimmer for your facility.
Quality and service matter when you need them
Investing in a commercial trimmer is a big decision for any cannabis business, whether they are just starting out or expanding to a multi-state operation. There are numerous trimmers on the market capable of producing a quality trim, but there is much to consider beyond physical design. When exploring trimmer options, businesses should be mindful of the practices and policies of different trimmer brands. Before investing in expensive equipment, be sure you can establish a trusting relationship with the manufacturer of your machine.
EZ Trim Bud Trimmer
Price: $8,999
When it comes to commercial trimmers, EZ Trim offers a machine at a comparatively lower price than others on the market while maintaining impressive efficiency. The EZ Trim Bud Trimmer can process both wet and dry buds at competitive speeds. Its average throughput is 11 pound per hour with dry buds and 44 pounds per hour with wet buds. This lightweight machine is slim enough to fit through a standard doorway and fairly easy to transport. The EZ Trimmer features an array of adjustable variables to appropriately accommodate wet and dry bud, as well as different strains, sizes, and growing methods.
Triminator XL
Price: $13,800
The cumbersome Triminator XL is one of the largest dry-drum trimmers on the market with patented lubricant-free technology, a zero-fan close loop system, and angular shear band design. The set and forget timer allows the operator to do other tasks while the buds are moved through the machine, and the lock and load pivot system makes loading an easy task. Even though it processes up to 60 pounds of dry flower every hour, this machine maintains a quality finished product and captures 100 percent of trim.
GreenBroz Model M
Price: $17,505
Veteran-owned cannabis technology company, GreenBroz, makes its Model M dry trimmer in the United States and features patented rolling blades that gently remove sugar leaves from buds without damaging trichomes. The Model M can process 16 pounds of dry flower in one hour and over 30 pounds of dried flower with its M+ automated trimming system. Its HMI customizable control system can be easily standardized for consistent multi-state operation. Unlike tunnel trimmers, the Model M also allows you to view your product the entire time it processes, allowing operators to fine-tune and optimize the quality of their final product.
UltraTrimmer UT 4000
Price: $18,000
The UltraTrimmer is a scissor-style cannabis trimming machine designed for commercial operators to reduce bud damage and preserve valuable trichomes. Dry cannabis buds are placed on the cutting deck while the operator gently moves them around to expose sugar leaves to the cutting blades below. The same technology that mimics hand-trimming is available in four models — UT 1000, UT 2000, UT 3000, UT 4000 — that range in price from $4,000 to $18,000. The largest UT 4000 can trim up to two pounds in one minute with a relatively small footprint of 2 x 9 feet. UltraTrimmer machines are built from food-grade stainless steel with a one-year warranty on the motor and a lifetime warranty on all other parts and labor. The company also offers a personal warranty, promising a savings of 50-75 percent in production time without destroying trichomes or your money back.
CenturionPro 3.0
Price: $21,995
The CenturionPro 3.0 is constructed from stainless steel with nitrited cutting blades, comes with a 10-year-warranty, and offers additional spare part kits for a reasonable price. CenturionPro claims its trimmer can replace up to 100 workers with its dual purpose hybrid tumblers. It has a 3-phase 8hp suction system and superb airflow capacity. With its adjustable speed controls, the 3.0 can process up to 25 pounds of dry flower or 125 pounds of wet flower in a single hour.
Tom’s Tumbler Python 200
Price: $24,000
Tom’s Tumbler Python 200 is one of the most efficient dry trimmers on the market, with the ability to process up to 200 pounds of dry flower per hour. It is over nine feet long and weighs 700 pounds, but its capabilities make up for its bulk. The tumbler’s bladeless technology uses the friction between flowers as they tumble to separate the sugar leaves from buds. It includes three industrial motors that drive the auger feeder, the tumbler, and the apparatus that carries the finished product to a catch-bin.
Twister BatchOne
Price: $25,463
Twister’s horizontally fed dry trimmer has the ability to process up to 88 pounds of flower per hour. It’s crafted specifically to prevent stalling with a ¼ hp motor and ultrafine saddle adjustments. The Twister BatchOne comes with 360 wheels for easy transportation and is designed to fit through standard doorways. Its quick removal tumbler and removable control box make cleaning a quick task with minimal risk for damage. Twister also provides food-grade stackable and nestable collection bins for capturing trim. The machine is designed for both efficiency and ease of use.
Mobius M108S
Price: $44,300
The Mobius M108S is a rather large and heavy bud trimmer machine that would be overkill for the home grower, but it packs a serious punch. The M108S can process up to 60 pounds of dry flower every hour and 120 pounds of wet flower every hour. With its airthread tension tumbler, this machine provides the flower with significantly more access to blade systems than traditional sheet-metal tumblers. This feature allows product to spend less time in the tumbler, minimizing damage to the buds. The M108S also features a fully integrated trim separator and vacuum, as well as an entirely hoseless design.
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