Power and Air Requirements for Cannabis Packaging Machines

The most common reason a new packaging machine sits idle on day one is the room, not the machine. The power is wrong or the air compressor is too small. Check both before you order.

What each machine needs

• RotoBagger and RotoDuplex: 220 V, three phase. At least 20 CFM of air at 90 PSI.
• EcoBagger MINI: 220 V, single phase. About 25 CFM at 90 PSI.
• EcoVape: 220 V, single phase. About 15 CFM at a steady 90 PSI.
• EliteWeigh multihead weigher: 220 V, single phase.

Single phase vs three phase

Many small commercial units only have single phase power. Three phase is common in industrial buildings. Ask your landlord or electrician which you have. If a machine needs three phase and the building does not have it, the fix is a utility upgrade or a phase converter, and both take time. Sort it out during the 16 to 18 week lead time, not after delivery.

What CFM and PSI mean

PSI is pressure. CFM is volume: how much air the compressor delivers each minute. A pouch machine uses air to open bags, move cylinders and run vacuum. It needs both numbers at the same time. A small shop compressor can reach 90 PSI but cannot hold it while delivering 20 CFM.

How to size the compressor

1. Add up every machine on the air line. Bagger, labeler and anything else that uses air.
2. Read the compressor's CFM at 90 PSI, not its tank size and not its CFM at a lower pressure.
3. Leave headroom. A compressor running flat out all day runs hot and wears out. Buy more than the total you added up.
4. Keep pressure steady. If pressure drops when another machine cycles, the bagger will fault. A larger tank and a regulator at the machine help.

Dry, clean air

Compressed air carries water and oil. Both shorten the life of valves and cylinders, and neither belongs near product. Use a dryer and filters on the line that feeds packaging equipment.

Other things to check in the room

• A doorway and path wide enough to bring the machine in.
• Ceiling height for a multihead weigher on a platform above the bagger.
• Space for the operator to load bags and for finished bags to come off.
• A dedicated circuit for each machine.

Send us your room

Send a sketch or photos of the room with your power panel and compressor nameplate. We will tell you what fits and what needs to change before the machine ships.

Talk to someone who runs these machines

Tell us your product, your bag and how many units you need per shift. We will tell you which machine fits and what it takes to install it. Contact LeafyPack or call +1 (657) 267-0059.