Choosing cones for pre-roll automation

Short answer: once a machine is involved, the cheapest cone is the one that doesn't jam. Buy on length tolerance, paper weight consistency, and a supplier who will line-test before you order — not on the lowest unit price.

Why spec beats price

A cone that is a millimeter long or a paper lot that is a couple of gsm light will stop a tray filler or fill a reject bin. A half-cent saved per cone disappears the first afternoon the line is down. Manufacturers who have run both know this; the spreadsheet does not.

What to test before you commit

1. Seat test. Do cones drop into the tray cleanly, every position, every time?
2. Fill test. Run a full tray at production grind. Watch for tears at the tip and blowouts at the open end.
3. Weight check. Weigh 20 empty cones. The spread tells you about paper consistency before you ever light one.
4. Burn test. Ten pre-rolls, same flower, same pack. Look for canoeing and runs.
5. Second lot. If you can, test cones from two different lots. Consistency across lots is the whole game.

Size by machine class

Tray-fill and vibration platforms are mostly built around 98/26 and 109/26 geometry; 84/26 runs on most of them with the right tray. See the compatibility table. If you run something unusual, we match on geometry, not brand name.

Put the spec in the PO

Length, filter length, paper weight, and an acceptance criterion. If a lot drifts, the supplier replaces it. That sentence in the purchase order is worth more than any price negotiation.

Then plan the reorder

Production plus ocean freight is roughly a quarter. A supplier who doesn't build the reorder calendar with you is leaving the stockout to chance. Use the reorder planner to see what your run rate implies.

Request samples and tell us the machine — we send the size that fits.