Infused pre-rolls are one of the fastest-growing categories in cannabis, but scaling production while preserving quality has proven challenging for many brands. Enter the Y2 Pre-Roll Infusion System, the latest innovation from Xylem Robotics. The machine is designed to deliver both consistency and customization at scale.
Scaling infused pre-rolls without sacrificing quality
In addition to research and development in the company’s sophisticated laboratory, the Y2 was shaped and tested by the real-world demands of cannabis brands.
“We develop all of our systems with customers on-site to address their actual pain points in real-time, while adjusting the system’s feature set for the final system that is released,” said Jeff Wu, Xylem’s founder and technical director. “For our original Y1 system, one of our clients tested and provided quality metrics like bleed rate and drip amounts that were acceptable for their customers. We were also able to test out different needle formats as well as gauge and valve designs that helped make the system what it is today. Our double-punch feature for making larger visible hash holes came from this collaboration.”
Low-temperature infusion protects terpene profiles
The Y2 stands out for its ability to infuse high-viscosity concentrates — like badder, live rosin, and rosin jelly — at low temperatures. With a minimum operating temperature of just 36°C (98°F), the system safeguards the delicate terpene profiles that define premium pre-rolls.
“The dogwalkers we tested with one of our customers used rosin jelly,” Wu said. “They were small, and we couldn’t go over 45°C or we would damage the material. Our customer didn’t want to see any bleed, so we came up with a method to double-punch the infusion hole with the machine’s pump speed at zero.”
The unique pre-punch feature creates a cavity that allows resin to flow in cleanly, rather than seeping slowly and visibly bleeding into the surrounding plant material. Wu said the process is an ideal solution for smaller pre-rolls like dogwalkers.
“For larger pre-roll and blunt infusions, you can opt out of the double-punch feature, because you may want the seepage,” Wu said. Single-punch infusion produces “more even distribution throughout the pre-roll, versus the centered line, while avoiding ‘globbing.’ The seepage in the case of larger pre-rolls can actually improve the smoking experience.”
The Y2’s meticulously calibrated equipment also help eliminate uneven burns or “canoeing” by giving operators precise control over how and where the concentrate is deposited.
Built for GMP compliance from the ground up
As the industry grows more regulated, readiness for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is no longer optional. But Xylem has worked within GMP’s strict manufacturing guidelines for decades.
“Very few companies have more than twenty years of hardware manufacturing experience, and even fewer have experience making hardware products for pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and [United States] government research labs,” said Wu, whose other company, Chemyx, supplies syringe pumps to organizations like Pfizer, Merck, and the Department of Energy. “Because of our background in building GMP products for pharmaceutical companies, we were making GMP considerations from the beginning.”
Xylem also benefits from Chemyx’s streamlined supply chains. In fact, the Y2 is 20-percent more affordable than its predecessor, the Y1. Y2 is self-serviceable, incorporates onboard diagnostics, and features a resin-resistant touchscreen user interface that’s both easy to use and GMP-certified.
Versatility across pre-roll and blunt formats
Versatility has become key to standing out in a saturated market — and the Y2 delivers. With its universal tray system, the equipment can handle everything from cones and straight tubes to blunt wraps and glass-tipped joints.
“The main issue is that pre-rolls look similar, so format versatility — including custom filter tips — is one of the few physical ways brands can differentiate products,” Wu said. “The market pushed us to adopt versatility in handling these formats. Now, the Y2 can handle any type of pre-roll including the straight hand-roll style prerolls, which are very easy to damage and can crunch when infusing. This flexibility allows brands to exploit any opening they see in the market.”
Beyond tech specs, the Y2 delivers measurable return on investment (ROI), Wu said. Brands report faster production times, reduced labor costs, and fewer chargebacks due to improved consistency. In fact, he added, “most operators generate a return on investment in as little as two months.”
Delivering ROI through precision and efficiency
For Wu, delivering quantifiable ROI and eliminating production bottlenecks are personal missions.
“I was an investor in Eaze, ran a licensed Type 7 volatile cannabis manufacturing lab in California, and experienced the chaotic legalization rollout and subsequent market crash,” he said. “The equipment Xylem produces is the equipment I personally wish I had back then when working on another consumer-facing brand. It would have enabled us to scale effectively and keep up with the large orders coming in from Eaze.”
Instead, he said, bottlenecks in the production process caused frustration, waste, and lost opportunities. He’s determined to eliminate those pain points for Xylem’s customers.
A blueprint for the future of cannabis manufacturing
For Wu and the Xylem team, the Y2 is more than a machine — it’s a blueprint for how cannabis manufacturing should evolve: precise, efficient, and built for the realities of an increasingly competitive and regulated market. By blending pharmaceutical-grade engineering with cannabis-specific ingenuity, they’ve created a system that lets brands scale without sacrificing the quality that keeps customers coming back. With the pre-roll category exploding in popularity and sales, the Y2 aims to give brands a competitive edge.
What is the Xylem Robotics Y2 pre-roll infusion system?
The Y2 is an automated pre-roll infusion machine designed to produce consistent, terpene-safe infused pre-rolls at scale with GMP-ready precision.
How does the Y2 protect terpene profiles?
The Y2 operates at temperatures as low as 36°C (98°F), preserving delicate terpene compounds while infusing high-viscosity concentrates.
Can the Y2 handle different pre-roll formats?
Yes. Its universal tray system accommodates cones, blunts, glass tips, and straight hand-roll style pre-rolls.
What is the ROI on the Y2 system?
Most operators report achieving ROI within two months due to faster production, lower labor costs, and improved consistency.
