How Collective Elevation Scaled Infused Pre-Rolls Without Scaling Labor

If you’re producing infused pre-rolls at scale, you already know the problem: demand keeps rising, SKUs keep multiplying, and hand-rolling quickly becomes the bottleneck that limits growth.

That’s exactly where Collective Elevation found themselves.

In this episode of CannaCribs, the team at Collective Elevation walks through how pre-roll sales exploded in the Montana market and how automation became the only viable path forward.

“About two years ago we really started seeing a big jump in pre-roll sales… it was four people, five days a week, rolling 8,000–10,000 joints.”

Today, that same output is handled by one operator in a single day using the Hefestus Aura X.

Infused Pre-Rolls Demand Flexibility

One of the biggest challenges in infused pre-roll production is SKU diversity. You’re not just running cones anymore. You’re running:

• • Dog walkers

• • 1g cones

• • Straight-wall cigarette style tubes

• • Blunts

• • Infused prerolls with demanding material characteristics

As Adam explains in the episode, versatility matters just as much as speed.

“Even within the pre-roll sector, you have different SKUs… this machine has the capability and versatility to do whatever we need in an ever-changing market.”

Rather than investing in multiple single-purpose machines, Hefestus allows operators to switch formats; cones, cigarettes, blunts…without reinvesting in new equipment.

Built for Infused Material (Not Just Flower)

Infused pre-rolls are the fastest-growing segment in the category, but they’re also the most punishing on equipment. Many machines struggle with infused blends or require proprietary cones and papers.

That wasn’t an option for Collective Elevation.

“The fact that our machine can process infused material is huge… some machines require you to use their cones or papers. This is cone-agnostic.”

Being able to run your papers, your cones, and your infused blends gives operators freedom without sacrificing consistency.

Turning Smalls Into One of the Highest-Value Products

One of the most striking takeaways from the episode is the financial impact.

“We get more per pound from a finished joint made from our smalls than we do from our top shelf flower.”

That’s the real power of automated infused pre-roll production: it doesn’t just save labor, it redefines margin structure. Low-value inputs become premium finished goods, consistently and at scale.

Repeatable SOPs, Anywhere You Operate

For multi-state operators, consistency is everything. Hefestus systems allow teams to save and replicate recipes across facilities.

“If you’re producing in California and open a facility in New Jersey, we can copy that recipe and ensure SOPs are followed.”

That means infused prerolls that burn, weigh, and perform the same, no matter where they’re made.

Why Automation Matters More for Infused Pre-Rolls Than Standard Joints

Infused pre-rolls introduce a level of complexity that traditional flower-only joints simply don’t have. Differences in density, oil distribution, and material flow can dramatically affect burn rate, draw resistance, and overall consumer experience. That’s why consistency becomes non-negotiable once brands move into infused SKUs.

Automation allows producers to precisely control pack density, weight, and finishing…all critical factors for infused pre-rolls that must burn evenly while delivering consistent potency.

Rather than relying on operator feel or manual adjustments, automated systems create repeatable outcomes across every batch.

As highlighted in the episode, recipe-based production also plays a major role in scaling infused pre-rolls. By saving calibrated settings for specific SKUs, operators can reproduce the same infused product across shifts, facilities, or even states—without retraining staff or reengineering the process.

For brands looking to grow infused pre-rolls profitably, automation isn’t just about speed. It’s about protecting quality, reducing waste, and ensuring every finished unit meets both regulatory and consumer expectations.

If you’re looking to build, scale, or streamline your infused pre-roll production, click the button below and let’s get started!