If you’ve walked into a dispensary lately, you’ve likely seen it — shelves packed with pre-rolls. You will see everything, from budget-friendly single joints to high-end infused multipacks, letting you know the pre-roll industry is booming!
Pre-roll sales have grown faster than any other cannabis category in the U.S. over the past two years. U.S. Brands, both large and small, are scrambling to scale production, improve consistency, and bring new SKUs to market more quickly. But behind the scenes, there’s one name quietly powering that growth: STM Canna.
STM Canna is a Spokane, WA-based cannabis equipment designer, and manufacturer that supplies over 50% of the top U.S. brands, including Cali-Blaze, Stiizy, Good Lyfe Farms, Dragonfly, Verano, Glorious Cannabis, Good Day Farms, and more.
Custom Cones USA’s recent June 2025 article pegs the top 100 pre-roll brands in America, and a vast number of those brands are STM customers, including 11 of the top 20 overall brands – a staggering statistic that speaks volumes about STM Canna’s role in shaping the modern pre-roll landscape for the past 8 years.
Why is STM Canna the go-to partner for these industry leaders for pre-roll automation? Let’s find out!
The Pre-Roll Boom — And a Need for Smart Automation
The U.S. cannabis market is still expanding quickly. While flowers generally lead in overall sales in most states, pre-rolls are the #2 selling category and the fastest-growing segment over the past several years, thanks to their convenience, versatility, and portability. In states like California, Michigan, and Arizona, pre-rolls aren’t just an add-on — they’re a primary product line.
Operators are recognizing that demand isn’t the problem. It’s “how to keep up” — without burning out their teams or sacrificing quality.
This is where automation steps in. Specifically, modular pre-roll automation allows producers to scale up intelligently without overhauling their entire operation. That’s the niche STM Canna has mastered.
STM Customers Dominate the Rankings
When examining the current Top 20 pre-roll brands, a pattern emerges. Many of them didn’t just grow — they scaled efficiently with the help of STM’s equipment lineup.
Highlights from the Top 100 list:
#2: STIIIZY – A dominant force with high SKU velocity.
#3: Dogwalkers – Known for its high-volume, high-quality pre-rolls.
#4: Cali-Blaze – Fast-growing and focused on premium craft.
#6: Simpler Daze – A consistent pre-roll leader.
#7 through #14 – Dragonfly, Glorious Cannabis, Verano, Good Day Farms, and more — all running STM.
These companies produce thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of joints per shift. And they rely on STM’s modular equipment to do it faster, cleaner, and more cost-effectively than the competition.
More Joints Per Hour. Less Labor. Faster ROI.
At the heart of STM’s appeal is simple math: throughput + efficiency = profit.
While many systems on the market claim speed, STM backs it up with real-world performance. STM’s RocketBox and Atomic Closer platform — now in its Turbo edition — delivers the industry’s highest joint output per hour. Depending on strain and configuration, brands can hit 2500+ joints per hour per line.
Here’s Where Things Get Powerful:
- A single operator can run multiple machines thanks to STM’s intuitive design.
- Fast changeovers enable a greater variety of SKUs and a quicker response to demand.
- Labor requirements drop by up to 70%, allowing teams to redeploy to packaging, QA, or fulfillment.
- Downtime is minimal thanks to quick disassembly and fast-clean features.
The result? Faster returns, more consistent products, and a happier, more efficient team.
Modular Design = Scalable Growth
STM Canna didn’t build a one-size-fits-all machine. They built a platform. Their modular system means you can start small and scale up without retraining staff or redesigning your facility.
Whether you’re a boutique producer doing 10,000 joints a week or a multi-state operator pushing 1M+ per month, the STM lineup grows with you:
- RocketBox Mini+: Ideal for smaller runs or strain-specific batches.
- RocketBox 2.0: High-capacity, precision density control.
- Atomic Closer: Now available in Turbo for higher-speed Dutch crown finishes.
- Astro Infuser: STM’s latest innovation, helping producers meet the exploding demand for infused pre-rolls, the most profitable part of the pre-roll segment.
This modularity is one reason so many top brands have chosen STM. You don’t have to buy a massive system on day one. You grow as your demand grows — without sacrificing speed or quality.
Built for Operators: Easy to Use, Easy to Clean
Let’s be honest — the cannabis industry has seen its fair share of overengineered machinery. STM took a different route. Every machine they make is designed with operators in mind:
- Intuitive controls mean new employees can be trained in hours, not weeks.
- Fast teardown and tool-less access reduce cleaning time and improve GMP compliance.
Machines are engineered for durability — because downtime is costly.
In an industry where turnover is high and margins are tight, ease of use is crucial. Operators aren’t afraid of the machines. They embrace them.
1 Billion Joints and Counting
Here’s a stat that says it all: STM Canna systems have produced and closed over 1 billion joints in just the past six years.
That kind of volume isn’t just a marketing flex — it reflects STM’s real-world reliability, especially in high-pressure, high-volume environments. Their reputation as a trusted, American-made manufacturer with nearly a decade of cannabis-specific expertise gives operators peace of mind.
And in this business, reliability is everything. Equipment failure, bad fills, or inconsistent closures can destroy a brand’s reputation overnight.
STM’s customers stay with them — and they grow with them — because the equipment works and the support is real.
More Than a Vendor — A True Partner
Another reason the biggest names in pre-rolls work with STM? The people behind the machines.
From the first demo to post-sale support, STM brings deep industry experience. Their team understands the regulatory nuances, operational bottlenecks, and pressures that cannabis brands face. They don’t just drop off a machine — they help dial in SOPs, troubleshoot packaging flows, and advise on scaling strategy.
That level of partnership — especially in an industry where service often lags — is rare.
The Takeaway
If you’re in the pre-roll business — or thinking about entering it — one thing is clear: automation is no longer optional. Demand is outpacing manual capacity, and the brands that will win in 2025 and beyond will be those that can scale their profits.
That’s why more than half of the top pre-roll companies in the U.S. use STM Canna equipment.
It’s about more than speed. It’s about intelligent design, proven ROI, and trusted support. Whether you’re rolling 10,000 joints or 10 million, STM helps you do it faster, better, and with fewer headaches.
One billion joints and counting — STM is just getting started.
Want to see what STM Canna can do for your brand? Book a live demo or connect with our automation specialists.
