Boosting Quality and Output for Cannabis Products - The Story of Hemp Synergistics

Thought LeadersJim SteinerVice President of Operations and Business DevelopmentHemp Synergistics

In this interview, AZoM and Sorbent Technologies speak to Hemp Synergistics' Vice President Jim Steiner about their collaboration to boost the quality of their cannabis products.

Can you provide a brief overview of Hemp Synergistics and your role as Vice President within the company?

Hemp Synergistics is a cannabinoid remediation company. Our work involves removing the THC from the oil for our clients to help them meet their requirements. We achieve this by using liquid chromatography, and we use Sorbent Technologies columns as part of that process.

My role is the vice president of the company, so I oversee all aspects, including operations, quality, purchasing, and sales. My background includes 27 years in dietary supplements, and I have been in this industry for nearly three years with Hemp Synergistics.

What initially led Hemp Synergistics to collaborate with Sorbtech, and how did this partnership come about?

We were experiencing issues with the company from which we were purchasing columns. Our lab director had previously worked with Sorbtech, so he recommended reaching out to them. Andrew Hiser initiated a conversation with David from Sorbtech and then included me in the discussion.

One great aspect of this partnership is the effort David and I made to connect despite our busy schedules, mostly due to my availability constraints. We finally connected on a Friday night at eight o'clock. David took time out of his schedule to accommodate my availability, and we talked for an hour. During our conversation, I explained the problems we were facing and the challenges we were dealing with. David provided us with extensive support, which has continued to this day.

Video Credit: Sorbent Technologies, Inc.

How has Sorbtech’s technology and expertise enhanced your research and development processes at Hemp Synergistics?

Sorbtech has significantly enhanced our research and development processes from a technology standpoint. They provided us with various options to use and test in-house, even enabling us to create our own columns.

Sorbtech recommended the appropriate columns based on our technology, which led to a key discovery: the company whose equipment we were using had provided us with incorrect columns. David and his team identified that our current supplier had suggested the wrong columns, likely due to the supplier's inventory limitations at the time.

This collaboration with Sorbtech has benefitted us both technologically and financially. We need to meet specific testing levels for each client and the states into which the products are distributed, and we have consistently remained well below the required markers. By using Sorbtech's recommended settings and columns, we have achieved better results, thanks to their expertise and support.

In what specific ways has the collaboration with Sorbtech improved your production capabilities and efficiencies?

Sorbtech assembled their entire team to address the issues we were facing. We had a 90-minute conference call with me, Andrew Hiser, our lab director, and David, Ray, and three other technical experts from Sorbtech. They provided detailed guidance on what needed to be done and how to do it.

For me, relationships are crucial, and working with the right people makes a significant difference. Sorbtech's team went above and beyond, offering us comprehensive SOPs (standard operating procedures) and exceptional support—something we rarely experience with other suppliers.

I can always count on Sorbtech to be responsive. If they cannot talk immediately, they will at least acknowledge the call and promise to return it. This level of attentiveness and support means a lot to us and has greatly enhanced our collaboration.

Image Credit: Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock.com

How has working with Sorbtech impacted the quality and consistency of your products? Can you provide any specific examples?

Working with Sorbtech has significantly enhanced both the quality and consistency of our products. We have seen improvements in our run rates and production timelines, and our machinery is now producing higher-quality products. Specifically, our liquid chromatography results have improved, allowing us to enhance the potency of our materials and, consequently, increase their cost.

For instance, before partnering with Sorbtech, our product potency was around 80 %. Now, it has increased to 90 %. This 10 % boost in potency is valuable for Hemp Synergistics and our clients, as it enables them to produce 10 % more finished goods with the same amount of raw material.

Additionally, using a guard column alongside our current column has allowed us to extend the number of runs, thus reducing our overall costs. We are also building our own columns with Sorbtech’s support. They provide us with empty cartridges, the necessary filling material, and detailed instructions for assembly, which will further reduce our costs.

Overall, Sorbtech’s guidance has been instrumental in increasing our operational efficiencies and minimizing costs.

Looking ahead, how do you see the collaboration with Sorbtech evolving, and what future projects or research areas are you most excited about pursuing together?

We are excited about expanding our collaboration with Sorbtech, particularly by incorporating its liquid chromatography equipment into our operations. We are considering investing in its technology, including its columns, as our next major step. Although we currently have equipment in place, transitioning to Sorbtech’s technology and materials aligns with our growth strategy.

One of the key factors driving this decision is the exceptional support Sorbtech offers. While we have not used its equipment yet, we know from experience that its support is outstanding. With Sorbtech, we are confident we will receive comprehensive assistance to set up and maintain the equipment, which is crucial for our operations.

Currently, equipment downtime is a significant issue for us, often resulting in extended delays and costly repairs. If a machine fails, it can take up to two weeks for service, and sometimes, we have to ship the equipment out for repairs, which is both time-consuming and expensive. We believe that with Sorbtech’s equipment and support, we can resolve these issues more efficiently and minimize downtime.

Image Credit: Sorbent Technologies, Inc.

How did the teams at Sorbtech assist your project in terms of knowledge transfer, support, and reply timeliness?

Sorbtech organized an online training session for us. Its technical team conducted a virtual training to show us how to build the columns. Sorbtech also sent us the procedures and materials and then took the time for a 60-minute Teams meeting to guide us through the process. Since then, Andrew, my lab director, and the technicians at Sorbtech have been working closely together to finalize the process.

Boosting Quality and Output for Cannabis Products - the Story of Hemp Synergistics

In this interview, AZoM and Sorbent Technologies speak to Hemp Synergistics' Vice President Jim Steiner about their collaboration to boost the quality of their cannabis products.

About the Speaker

Jim Steiner, Vice President at Hemp Synergistics, is a seasoned expert in product design and development with over two decades of experience, including a 26-year tenure at Nestlé Health Science where he excelled as Program Director. At Nutritional Frontiers, he served as Vice President of Operations, enhancing his holistic approach to product development. At Hemp Synergistics, Jim’s dual role in operations and business development highlights his unmatched expertise in bringing innovative solutions to market. Recognized for his project and program management skills, Jim's commitment to excellence has significantly impacted the health and hemp sectors, making him a leading figure in product innovation and development

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Sorbent Technologies, Inc.

For more information on this source, please visit Sorbent Technologies, Inc.