Why Preroll Automation Sucks: A Historical Perspective

We started making prerolls in 2015. At the time, the only available “technology” for manufacturing prerolls was the Bump Bo’ & The Futurola Knockbox. 

After failing to convince ConeSmoke to sell us a Mach 6, we settled for the Knockbox. At the time of purchase, I was pissed. Paying $4500 (yes, inflation) for a “commercial” piece of equipment made out of wood, plastic and glass made my stomach turn. 

We hit the ground running. We created SOPs for our Knockbox, and, much like many of our resourceful, MacGyver-esque customers, we made tweaks to the “Knockbox” to boost its production. 

2018: The Year The Canna Spigot Flowed 

The 5th largest economy in the world and first Western nation to legalize recreational cannabis led to an explosion in investment funding into all plant and non-plant touching businesses. 

As one of the only “industry” preroll manufacturing tools, the Futurola Knockbox became ubiquitous across manufacturing rooms. In our opinion, the Knockbox made everyone lazy, not just cone suppliers, but the Equipment Chads as well. 

The Knockbox works by bouncing flower up and down into preroll cones. We call this the “vibratory method” of making prerolls. Almost all the preroll equipment available today (with the exception of RollsPro) launched in 2019-2021 (Rocketbox,Pre-Roller, Apechec, LeafyPack, Accelerant) and all of the above, one way or another, employs this very basic way of packing cones and manufacturing prerolls. Bounce, bounce, up and down bounce, bounce – an air puff on top to pack…bounce, bounce…

2025 Receipts  

We’ve spent years in the game, developing the Hummingbird for internal use, before launching the Hummingbird PR1 commercially in January 2023. It’s a workhorse we built for ourselves, now available to the entire industry

We have manufactured every style and size of preroll, from dogwalkers to kief-infused or oil-coated prerolls. From small test batches to higher-frequency production, the PR1 has been stress-tested in real-world operations.

We broke out of our Oakland bubble and uncovered the truths behind why so much of the pre-roll automation industry sucks. 

With years spent evaluating equipment and the last three speaking with preroll manufacturers preaching the Humminbird Workflow, sharing what we have learned.  Below are the Top 10 Reasons why Why Preroll Automation Sucks for Small Business (and most others) & Why Hummingbird Preroll Systems is the #1 Choice for Smart Lean Operators:

1. Expensive, Specialized Equipment

Pre-roll manufacturing equipment typically ranges from $100K -$300K+. All-in-one systems are expensive and often out of budget, especially in today’s declining margin environment. The high costs of these specialized systems limit flexibility and strain operational budgets. As former operators, these high prices make our stomachs ache. 

Hummingbird Preroll Systems offers an affordable system that allows operators to easily add new SKUs and scale operations without breaking the bank, making it the best choice for businesses looking for flexibility without the high upfront costs.

2. Limited Flexibility & Customization

Many machines are designed for specific pre-roll types, whether straights or cones, restricting creativity and the ability to offer diverse products. For example, the Accelerant works with only two pre-roll SKUs, and The RollsPro just produces Cig Style joints. If you are locked into an ecosystem and consumer preferences change, you are SOL. 

Hummingbird Preroll Systems allows for maximum flexibility, supporting a broad range of cone partners and SKUs, from Dogwalker 70/26 mm cones to Hemp Straight Glass Tip Blunt tubes. Whether it’s infused, non-infused, or varying material types, Hummingbird is the most affordable and versatile pre-roll machine system on earth. From glass tip hemp blunt tubes to standard prerolls, we offer co-packers and brands many possibilities. 

3. Old Technology

Early systems like the Knockbox are inefficient & outdated. Equipment companies that continue to make vibratory based systems are 2014 technology. Additionally, these machines often require huge upfront investments without delivering proportional returns, producing vibratory joints that don’t smoke well.

Hummingbird Preroll Systems uses Centrifuge packing technology for superior packing and smoother smoking experiences at a fraction of the cost, ensuring a much better return on investment with consistent quality.

4. Lack of Industry Expertise

Equipment suppliers often lack real experience in the cannabis industry, which leads to poorly designed products that don’t address the unique challenges of cannabis preroll operators. Additionally, many systems lack flexibility to adapt to changing customer needs, which is essential in a fast-paced, evolving market.

Hummingbird Preroll Systems was designed by operators for operators. We have manufactured every preroll imaginable. Our system is built to adapt to your needs without requiring specialized engineers or extensive training, ensuring ease of use and fast troubleshooting. It’s truly “Chad-proof”—designed for normal staff to operate efficiently.

5. Difficulty with ANY Material Variations, Dry or Infused

Many automated systems fail to account for variations in cannabis flower, such as moisture content, grind size, and quality. This results in inconsistent pre-rolls, damaging a business’s reputation.

Hummingbird Preroll Systems works with any material, infused or non-infused, wet or dry, and adjusts to varying grind sizes or flower types, ensuring consistent and high-quality pre-rolls every time. The Hummingbird can do it all.

6. Maintenance Fees & Downtime – Annual

These systems require constant maintenance and often have long downtimes, disrupting production and leading to lost revenue. Many preroll equipment companies make significant profit from selling ‘warranty packages or ‘maintenance contracts. These systems require constant maintenance, frequent calibration, and deep cleaning between cycles and/or straings, causing major downtime and production headaches.

Hummingbird has minimal maintenance requirements, operates on a modular system, and is built to be “Chad-proof”, ensuring maximum uptime and reliability. With built-in redundancies, you won’t have to worry about costly downtime and disruptions.

7. High Training & Labor Costs

Automation still requires specialized staff to operate and maintain systems. Small businesses often can’t afford this type of specialized labor, making automation less cost-effective.

Hummingbird is designed for normal staff, not engineers. With minimal training, your team can jump right in and get the job done quickly, making it both cost-effective and easy to implement. Our demo takes 5-10 minutes and your production staff is off the races. 

8. Over-Priced Tooling

Many equipment suppliers push you to purchase costly packages and upgrades, raising your initial investment. The attachments can often run into the tens of thousands.

Hummingbird tools are affordable, allowing you to gradually test products in the market without committing to expensive pod sets. Launching a new SKU only requires an investment in one pod set, giving you the ability to start small and scale as needed.

9. Slow Innovation and Over-Complication

Automation technology is often slow to evolve and adds unnecessary complexity to the process. instead of simplifying operations, many machines tend to overcomplicate tasks, introducing unnecessary complexity into the workflow. This leads to inefficiencies, increases the likelihood of breakdowns and ultimately makes the process more frustrating and costly. Additionally, all-in-one machinery often brings together too many functions, creating more opportunities for failure and maintenance challenges

Hummingbird simplifies pre-roll automation with straightforward, intuitive technology. Our system continuously evolves to meet market demands while keeping your operations efficient and streamlined. Our equipment is easy to understand and intuitive. 

10. Read The Fine Print / Funny Contracts

The fine print often hides crucial details (p.525) that lead to unexpected costs and obligations. While contracts may seem like great deals, they can include hidden fees, service limitations, or penalties that aren’t immediately clear. With overpriced options, the devil is truly in the details — the contract can bury the costs and restrictions that only surface later. FOMO can overpower caution, causing companies to miss these clauses and end up with costly maintenance contracts or restrictive terms. Always read the fine print carefully and ask for clarification before signing.

With Hummingbird, it’s different. What you see is what you get. No hidden fees, no surprise restrictions — just straightforward, reliable performance. We believe in transparency and simplicity, so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.