In a nationwide survey by Lift and Grow, hemp farmers and commercial cannabis growers shared their interest in improving their drying room conditions. These respondents reported a loss of space from stationary dry-rack systems and a concern for their employees’ safety who have to use ladders to reach hanging cannabis. There are solutions available, like drying nets and hangers, that can remedy these issues and make a major difference in your operations. Finding the right cannabis drying rack for your space is imperative.
This guide will answer your questions about industrial and commercial drying racks and detail the benefits of overhead cannabis drying racks.
Top Industrial Drying Racks and Commercial Drying Racks
Learn about two common cannabis drying rack solutions — hanging and tray racks — below.
1. 3-in-1 Overhead Cannabis Drying Nets and Hangers
Our second solution to help hemp farmers and cannabis growers is the 3-in-1 overheard cannabis drying rack net and hangers system. This drying rack is designed to hang from the ceiling of your dry room and lifts into the ceiling when not in use leaving valuable floor space clear to move through. It is perfect for small spaces as it can be tucked away, maximizing drying room capacity.
This drying system is always at the perfect height for your employees, removing the need for a ladder and providing a safer work environment.
The hang-drying method helps create an even, slow dry to ensure quality buds, which ultimately streamlines the entire process. You can effortlessly replace netting in between every harvest, and it operates with one or two parallel bars or six “over/under” bars with hangers. Either way, consistent spacing is guaranteed, reducing problems with mildew, loss of terpenes, and potency during the curing process.
2. Tray Drying Racks
Tray racks are a good option if you have a large facility and lots of staffing to dry and cure cannabis plants. Tray racks have their benefits, like creating a separation between drying plants and containing the strong cannabis scent. Still, they don’t stand up to the hang-drying method in terms of safety, quantity, and quality of the harvest, or space optimization.
Tray drying is best used in tandem with hang drying and allows you to develop a custom drying method that best suits your product, facility, and production process.
What are the benefits of overhead cannabis drying racks?
As we’ve outlined, there are lots of available options for drying cannabis plants. Learn how overhead racks can improve your final product while increasing efficiency and improving work conditions for your employees.
1. More Controlled Environment
Using hanging racks allows your product to dry more evenly, creating more consistent production and control over quality. Drying buds is an art, and improper drying can ruin an entire crop. Large commercial amounts of cannabis and hemp drying require special attention to detail. Utilizing overhead drying nets allows for even spacing and airflow around your plants, even as your production increases.
2. Higher Quality Product
Not only do hanging dry racks allow for a more even drying process that maintains higher levels of cannabinoids and THC, but they also minimize the likelihood of other issues along the way. Shelves, screens, and drying lines can leave plants too close together. Without even airflow, humidity can build up, leading to mold and mildew growth.
3. Saves Floor Space for Cannabis Plants
On that note, drying rooms with floor racks can quickly become problematic as they limit the amount of space you have for your growing operations. Hang drying overhead keeps drying cannabis and hemp out of the way, while allowing for more efficient use of your existing space.
It would be remiss not to mention some of the challenges associated with traditional overhead drying racks. Growers have to account for the additional time required to work off the ground. Plus, there are safety and security concerns associated with employees working up on ladders. Lift and Grow’s overhead drying racks eliminate these issues, providing the following additional benefits.
4. Eliminate Safety Concerns
Lift and Grow’s overhead racks utilize the same technology as our grow light lifting machines. The ability to lower racks allows employees to work on the ground, reducing the risks of back injuries from reaching to hang plants as well as those associated with being on ladders.
5. Reduce Labor Costs
Additionally, traditional hanging racks require large teams to work in unison, passing plant materials between ground teams and ladder teams. Lift and Grow racks lower with the push of a button, allowing for an easier hanging process and decreasing labor expenses for cultivators.
6. Improve Security
Last but not least, our racks are lifted overhead, keeping your product out of reach throughout the drying process. As an extra precaution, our machines allow you to track who has moved a lift and by how much.
We recommend using overhead cannabis drying nets or hangers to optimize your space and production growth for maximum benefits. If you need help getting started, reach out to one of our cannabis grow and dry room consultants to form a plan to bring you the most yield out of your space. Request a quote for the best cannabis drying rack solutions available!
