How To Get a Free T-Zero PRO in 6 Months – Part 2

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, we looked at how the upfront cost of a T-Zero PRO vs hand trimming can realistically breakeven in about 6 months on yield and labor savings.

But what if you’ve already decided to move away from hand trimming, and you’re debating between a T-Zero PRO and a line of other machines?

In that case, the question to ask yourself becomes: does a T-Zero PRO make the most sense over other machines, and when does the T-Zero PRO breakeven over other systems?

Even more intriguing, what if you’re already running other machine lines? What if you were given a free bank of tandem Mobius M108 machines?

Then, the question becomes: Does upgrading to a T-Zero PRO if I have 6 Mobius M108 machines make sense, and how quickly can it pay for itself?

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, we’ll look at a similar scenario for Part 1, except for a slightly larger sized producer:

• A producer trimming 1200 lbs/week, every week
• Product prices at $500/lbs of flower, and $50/lbs of trim
• Fully burdened labor rates of $25/hr

We’ll evaluate the yield, throughput, and operating costs to demonstrate that the T-Zero PRO will still pay for itself in about 6 months in this case, even if you’d received a line of M108 machines for free.

1. Throughput and Labor: One T-Zero PRO vs a line of M108s

In Part 1, the Twister T-Zero PRO was pegged at a throughput of 150 lbs/hr with 5 people. In comparison, multiple first-hand conversations with M108 customers confirmed the throughput of a tandem line (2 X M108 machines run back-to-back) at 30 lbs/hr and 3 people.

• We saw that a T-Zero PRO will cost $0.833 to trim 1 lb of dry flower
  • 1 lbs ÷ 150 lbs/hr × $25/hr × 5 people = $0.833/lbs
• We run the same calculation with Mobius and find:
  • 1 lbs ÷ 30 lbs/hr × $25/hr × 3 people = $2.50/lbs

So, over the course of 1 week, we see the following costs:

• T-Zero PRO:
  • 1200 lbs × $0.833/lbs = $1000 in labor every week
• M108:
  • 1200 lbs × $2.5/lbs = $3000 in labor every week
• Weekly labor savings, T-Zero PRO vs M108:
  • $3000 – $1000 = $2000

And over 6 months:

• 1200 lbs/week × 26 weeks = 31,200 lbs trimmed
• $2000/week × 26 weeks = $52,000 in total labor savings

A Mobius M108 can trim decent numbers too, but you typically need multiple tandem lines to equal the T-Zero PRO throughput. That means:

• More machines to buy
• More machines to maintain
• More operators to staff
• More floor space and complexity

The T-Zero’s value proposition here is consolidation, giving one integrated system instead of a small fleet.

2. What About Operational Costs Like Cleaning and Replacement Parts?

Although the T-Zero PRO is a much larger machine than the Mobius M108, the cleaning time is often considerably shorter, and required much less frequently, and for good reason – it was designed with washdown equipment in mind. The T-Zero PRO is made of 304 Stainless Steel and IP65 rated electronics, meaning it can withstand harsh chemicals and cleaners, and it’s waterproof. That means you can throw a high-temperature pressure washer at it. Conversely, the Mobius M108 is made with anodized aluminum, plastics, and proprietary electronics that aren’t waterproof – it requires much more attention to detail to keep the machine functioning.

On a cost basis:

• T-Zero PRO cleans easily in 1 hour with 5 people, a pressure washer, some detergent and IPA/ethanol. Over 6 months, we add:
  • 1 hrs/person × 5 people × $25/hr × 2 cleanings/harvest * 26 harvests = $6500
• M108 cleans in 1 hour with 3 people, brushes, rags, spray bottles and hydrogen peroxide
  • 2 hrs/person × 3 people × $25/hr × 2 cleanings/harvest * 26 harvests = $7800
• 6-month cleaning savings labor:
  • $7800 – $6500 = $1300

For this size operation, the cleaning time difference is nearly a wash. However, after scaling up a few hundred lbs, or trimming wet (requiring multiple cleans on each M108 machine per day), these numbers can drastically increase. Each tandem line of M108 machines will add $7800 every 6 months, while trimming wet will require 2-3 additional cleanings per day, or ~$25,000 every 6 months.

On the reliability/replacement parts front, the T-Zero PRO continues to push ahead. Over seven years of real-world usage data, the average cost in parts for a T-Zero PRO user has been about $17,000 USD/year/machine, which works out to $0.05/lbs trimmed. The M108 has proven to cost $41,600 USD/year/machine, which works out to $0.80/lbs trimmed. Over the course of the 6-month example:

• T-Zero PRO parts cost:
  • 31,200 lbs × $0.05/lbs = $1560
• M108 parts cost:
  • 31,200 lbs × $0.80/lbs = $24,960
• Total parts savings:
  • $24,960 – $1560 = $23,400

Over the course of 6 months, we see a difference of $23,400 in the cost of replacement parts. Again, this cost will increase with each additional line, and up to 4x to meet the throughput of the T-Zero PRO at full capacity, while the T-Zero will reach ~$8500 over 6 months.

3. Yield and Product Value: Where T-Zero Really Pulls Ahead

By now, you know that your trimming yield can make or break your investment. Due to the high value of cannabis flower, and the low price of the trimmed leaf, even a 5% swing in yield toward more flower and less trim can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over tens of thousands of pounds.

We saw the flower-to-trim ratio, or yield, in Part 1 was 75/25 (or, 75% flower, 25% trim) for the T-Zero PRO. Through years of trimming experience, we’ve found that the adjustability of the T-Zero PRO allows for a consistent yield improvement of 5-10% higher yield than competitor machines, and typically 5% lower than a good hand trimmer. For this example, we’ll again remain optimistic on the M108 and give it a solid 70/30 yield.

• Value of T-Zero PRO trimming 31,200 lbs:
  • Flower: 31,200 lbs × 75% × $500/lbs = $11,700,000
  • Trim: 31,200 lbs × 25% × $50/lbs = $390,000
  • Total = $12,090,000
• Value of M108 trimming 31,200 lbs:
  • Flower: 31,200 lbs × 70% × $500/lbs = $10,920,000
  • Trim: 31,200 lbs × 30% × $50/lbs = $468,000
  • Total = $11,388,000

The difference in top-line revenue for T-Zero PRO vs M108 trimmed flower and trim is $702,000 in favor of T-Zero PRO.

4. 6-Month Payback in a Machine-vs-Machine World

In Part 1, we saw how the T-Zero PRO can pay for itself in less than 6 months, mainly driven through labor savings vs hand trimming when processing 500 lbs/week.

In the machine-vs-machine comparison of Part 2, the story shifts slightly:

• You’ve already reduced labor somewhat by using M108s.
• You’re now paying in extra machines, cleaning and operational times, higher maintenance per pound, lower yields, and more complex operations.

We’ve analyzed the numbers at relatively low production volumes (low relative to the T-Zero PRO’s 40 hrs/week capacity of ~6000lbs) and found that even at these lower volumes, the T-Zero PRO has the edge. We also looked at the yield increases seen at many customer sites while dry trimming with a T-Zero PRO vs M108, again the T-Zero PRO having a significant lead. To summarize the T-Zero PRO vs M108 impact to your income statement:

As discussed in Part 1, the T-Zero PRO ranges in price from $650K – 800K USD, depending on the customizations, features, and additional accessories chosen. Again, since this example uses everyday numbers that don’t require costly additions and customizations, we’ll maintain the conservative approach to these financial calculations and assume a price of $700,000 for the system. Since this purchase price is less than the savings generated over the 6-month period, we know that the machine has paid for itself in that period.

This example shows very similar savings to the hand trimmed scenario from Part 1, with a breakeven in under 6 months, or, ~28000lbs, as the savings realized during that period are greater than the cost of the T-Zero PRO system.

Layer on top cases where the Mobius line hasn’t yet been purchased and the producer is making a purchasing decision between the two systems. In this case, you can cut the breakeven time on the T-Zero PRO in half in many cases, and have it paying for itself in as little as 3 months. Increase the harvest size, or the spread between flower sell price and trim sell price, and you’ll again see the payback time shrink.

5. How to Use This Series

Part 1 (T-Zero vs hand trim) is perfect for:

• Facilities still relying heavily on hand trimmers
• Teams building business cases for automation
• Owners and investors who need to see hard numbers on labor, yield and payback

Part 2 (T-Zero PRO vs Mobius M108) is for:

• Producers already using machine trimmers and considering an upgrade
• Operators tired of managing multiple M108s and their maintenance headaches
• Multi-site groups looking to standardize on a more industrial, consolidated platform
• Operators in the market for a T-Zero PRO or a line of M108s and needing to understand the truth behind the numbers.

Together, this series tells a simple story: whether you’re stepping up from hand trimming or stepping over from another machine line, the T-Zero PRO is a no-brainer at commercial volumes. Use the simple math formulas within the articles, and your own numbers, to see for yourself and determine if the 6-month payback works for you. Once you determine how many months you’ve harvested until the savings match the purchase price, it keeps paying you further for every harvest!