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The cannabis manufacturing landscape is moving at breakneck speed, and staying ahead of the curve requires constant hardware evolution, smart logistics, and creative product design. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, Jim breaks down Accelerant's latest moves — from trade show preparation at Ignite U to engineering work that's redefining high-volume ceramic cone filling and kief coating.

Heading to Chicago: high-stakes networking at Ignite U

Trade shows in the cannabis space have evolved dramatically over the last few years. Events like Ignite U (formerly Benzinga Cannabis) in Chicago attract top-tier investors, CFOs, and operational executives seeking real, scalable technology. Accelerant is stepping up its presence this year with an official booth to showcase the latest operational capabilities of the PRO2 system — bringing physical, tangible proof of pre-roll innovation directly into the hands of prospective partners.

Pushing the boundaries of cone design

A highlight hitting the show floor is Accelerant's limited-edition ceramic cone designed for America's upcoming 250th anniversary: a laser-engraved ceramic body with an engraved Minute Man graphic swapping the traditional rifle for a joint, alongside a flag where cannabis leaves replace stars. Roughly 1,800 of these custom anniversary samples were produced, demonstrating in-house 360-degree crutch printing and custom ceramic laser-engraving.

Solving high-volume ceramic automation

While boutique operators can run ceramic cones manually on centrifugal or tray-based systems, running them at true commercial scale has historically been a headache. Most suppliers ship ceramic cones in delicate, cigar-box-style packaging that requires tedious manual unpacking. Accelerant re-engineered how ceramic cones are nested and loaded into the PRO2 for operators producing 60,000 to 80,000 units a month:

• Inverted rod nesting trays — Cones are supported upside down on conical rods, keeping paper untouched and fully protected.
• Nested stack systems — Ceramic cones are organized in sets of 10 with a protective sleeve; a single tower box holds 90 sets, or 900 cones total.
• Massive loading capacity — The PRO2's upgraded conveyor holds six full tower boxes at once, loading 5,400 cones in a single run.
• Robotic precision grippers — Sensor-driven grippers extract ceramic cones one by one without tearing paper or jamming mechanisms.

Durability tests: kief coating and ceramic security

In the pre-roll market, visual appeal means nothing if product quality degrades during shipping or handling. Accelerant applies precision glue dots to prevent ceramic tips from separating from the paper tube — samples can be dropped and bounce back without shifting. The automated kief application process locks material in place too, so a coated unit can be shaken in a doob tube or tapped against a surface without losing kief.

Agile hardware development & the road ahead

Accelerant's strength stems from a rapid innovation cycle that turns client ideas into functional hardware faster than traditional patenting timelines, backed by an engineering team spanning Maryland and Iowa. Looking ahead, the team is already planning MJBizCon booth architecture, moving brand collateral workflows to Canva, and using AI-driven pipeline tools to connect CRM data with targeted outreach ahead of major events.

Elevate your pre-roll lineWhether you're scaling straight rolls, traditional blunts, or complex kief-coated ceramic pre-rolls, Accelerant provides the machinery, cone hardware, and Production-as-a-Service support to maximize output without massive upfront capital.

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