Sorting Robotics, a provider of industrial automation technology for the cannabis industry, announce the appointment of Patrick DeGrosse Jr. as the company’s director of engineering.

LOS ANGELES — Sorting Robotics, a leading provider of industrial automation technology for the cannabis industry, is proud to announce the appointment of Patrick DeGrosse Jr. as the company’s Director of Engineering. Over nearly two decades as a Senior Mechatronics Engineer for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Patrick has led diverse technical teams towards putting robots on Mars across multiple flagship flight projects for NASA, including the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and the Mars Sample Return Lander. In addition, Patrick led the design of NASA’s FDA approved VITAL pneumatic ventilator during the pandemic, deployed at low-cost to multiple countries and providing life-saving technology to underserved populations.

Rolling the perfect joint by hand takes time, precision, and a whole lot of patience. Thankfully, automated pre-roll machines have revolutionized the process for consumers and business owners alike. 

Whether you’re an individual looking for a high-end personal machine, a dispensary owner aiming to streamline in-house production, or an operator scaling up to full automation, there’s a machine designed to meet your needs. From compact tabletop units to industrial-grade systems capable of churning out thousands of pre-rolls a day, we’re breaking down some of the best options on the market to help everyone roll smarter, not harder.

Cannabis pre-roll consumption is on the rise, with sales in the U.S. recently increasing by 13%. Infused pre-rolls are convenient, easy to enjoy, and effective. But it’s no secret that some pre-rolls have a “nectar of the Gods” quality and others… simply suck.

As the cannabis pre-roll market expands, the rising need for premium joints highlights the drawbacks of manual labor. This has led to a shift towards integrating robotics. Pioneering companies such as RollPros and Sorting Robotics are at the forefront of engineering automated solutions that support an industry operating on razor-thin margins, with an unwavering determination to maintain the desirable quality of hand-crafted, premium products

All eyes are on Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram in 2024, with the industry hoping for a watershed year of rescheduling and the elimination of Internal Revenue Code Section 280E. But even if the pessimistic view prevails and there’s no substantive policy change over the next eleven months, there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about the year ahead. Innovation across all sectors is ramping up despite external forces.