Our managing director, Hogan, joined the National Cannabis Industry Association’s (NCIA) Cannabis Industry Voice podcast to talk with NCIA’s Communications Manager, Bethany Moore, about the evolution of vaporizer technology and cannabis oil cartridges. He started out talking about his experience as an electrical engineer, his role with our parent company Portland Engineering, and how Thompson Duke was founded to address the need in the cannabis industry for greater efficiency and automation. Hogan then went on to talk about some of the history of the cannabis industry, and specifically about the trajectory of the vaporizer market.
He first spoke about how we started by automating machinery for the CO2 extraction process, which led to a greater need to automate processes down the production line – such as the filling and capping stages. It is this type of equipment and machinery that represents the majority of the work we do today, and Hogan touched on our line of equipment solutions for both filling cartridges (of all kinds) and fastening the mouthpieces on vaporizer devices.
Because our main focus is ensuring that our clients have production efficiencies throughout their workflow, we focus on continuous improvement through innovation and design, with extensive testing, research and development to provide the best solutions possible. Hogan also talked briefly about how Thompson Duke plans ahead for increased demand to ensure machines are in stock for clients, even in the face of current supply chain challenges.
Beth spoke about the wide variety of vaporizer devices on the market today and asked Hogan about what he’s seen over the years in this particular space. He talked about the changes in the cartridges themselves, the elements used in the vaporizer devices and future innovations poised to optimize the user delivery. From the batteries used in the devices, to the viscosity, type and formulation of the oil used to fill them, the space is quite varied. Luckily, our equipment is flexible and well suited to handle all types of products and devices.
The podcast also covered the health crisis that hit our industry in 2019 and the white paper that NCIA published on the vaping crisis. It wasn’t the regulated markets that caused the crisis, but rather those states that didn’t have a regulatory framework. This event changed the direction of the type of formulations that are available out there now, with a renewed focus on all-plant formulations, bringing live resin and live rosins to the forefront as a more pure option. While these products can be difficult to use for filling cartridges, our machines are able to provide the level of control needed to do so.
They discussed impacts of COVID on the industry, specifically on the vaping space. From supply chain issues to shutting down production floors due to social distancing constraints, many were nervous about the impacts that the pandemic would have on business and on the industry. Hogan said that what we experienced instead was the highest sales we’d ever seen, in every market, that carried through for several months after the pandemic hit.
Finally, they chatted about the future of the space, and how the vape market continues to evolve and develop. In addition, Hogan talked through some of our plans for the future, and how Thompson Duke is relying on its depth of experience in the cannabis industry to seek new markets that hold promise for continued consumer demand and growth.
To listen to the podcast episode, visit: https://thecannabisindustry.org/podcasts/the-cannabis-industry-voice/evolutions-in-vaporizer-technology-and-cannabis-oil-cartridges/.