Equipment Directory

Find the Right Decortication Tools for Your Farm

Choosing the right hemp processing equipment depends on your scale, budget, and regional availability. Below, we compare small-scale tools, commercial decorticators, and regional options to help you make an informed decision.

Small-Scale Tools

Ideal for small farms, startups, and research operations to produce clean bast ribbon.

Hempower Handheld decorticator

✅ Best For: Farmers processing 1-2 acres manually.

Price: $30 USD

Capacity: 1000-1200 stalks/hour

Power: Manual (no electricity/fuel needed)

Where to Buy: Hempower Website

Pros:
✔ Affordable entry-level solution
✔ Portable & easy to use
✔ No weather or power dependency

✔ Produces clean fiber on unretted dry & fresh stalks

Cons:
✖ Lower throughput than industrial machines

✖ Manual

Commercial Decorticators

For large farms, cooperatives, and industrial processors.

1. Cretes (Europe)

🌍Best for: Large scale operations in the thousands of acres

Price: $5-9 million USD depending on degree of clean fiber sought

Capacity: 3-20 tons of stalks/hour

Power requirements: 480V 3 phase, 100-200kw depending on cleanliness of final fiber

Where to buy: Cretes.be

Pros:
✔ Decades of experience in the flax & hemp fiber decortication

Cons:
✖ High entry cost

✖ Sophisticated dust collection required.

✖ Stalks must be first retted in the field for 2-3 weeks

 

2. Formation Ag (USA)

Best for: Medium scale operations in the hundreds of acres

Price: $200-600,000 USD depending on degree of clean fiber sought

Capacity: 1 ton of stalks/hour

Power requirements: 480V 3 phase, 50-100kw depending on cleanliness of final fiber

Where to buy: Formation-Ag.com

Pros:
✔ Dedicated to supporting the hemp & cannabis industries

Cons:
✖ Fiber not free of hurd

✖ Dust collection required.

✖ Stalks must be first retted in the field for 2-3 weeks

 

3. Canadian Greenfield Technologies (Canada)

Best for: Medium/ Large scale operations in the hundreds of acres

Price: $1-2million USD depending on degree of clean fiber sought

Capacity: 3000 pounds of stalks/hour

Power requirements: 480V 3 phase, 100-200kw depending on cleanliness of final fiber

Where to buy: Canadiangreenfield.com

Pros:
✔ Dedicated to improving fiber quality

Cons:
✖ Fiber not free of hurd

✖ Sophisticated dust collection required.

✖ Stalks must be first retted in the field for 2-3 weeks

 

4. Canfiber Inc. Rapid Ribbon Decortication System (Canada)
🚜 Expected Launch: 2026

Price: TBA

Capacity: 2-5 tons/day

Key Feature: Unretted bast fiber separation

Website: Canfiber.com (Pre-orders available soon)

Regional Affordability Solutions

🌍 Africa & Southeast Asia

Used Small-Scale Decorticators: $900–1,500

Local Workshops: Some manufacturers offer low-cost manual machines (~$2,000 and above)

🇦🇺 Australia

Shared Machinery Leases: Cooperatives offer shared machinery leases.

Government Grants: Some states and/or territories subsidize hemp equipment.

🇮🇳 India & South America

Modified Agricultural Tools: Retrofitted hemp decorticators.

NGO Programs: Some organizations provide low-interest loans for hemp equipment.

🔍How to Choose the Right Equipment?

Finding the perfect equipment depends on your budget, daily production goals, and the scale of your operation. Here are some things you need to know:

Budget Considerations

Small-Scale Systems are ideal for startups or businesses testing the waters. They balance affordability with enough power for modest outputs.

Commercial Systems suit large operations prioritizing high-volume production. While the upfront cost is steeper, they’re built for long-term ROI in demanding environments.

Daily Production Needs

Small-Scale: Handles under 1 ton per day, perfect for local markets, niche products, or R&D phases.

Commercial: Processes 5–20+ tons daily; designed for factories, large farms, or businesses supplying regional or national distributors.

Who It’s Best For

Small-Scale Equipment: Tailored for startups, homesteaders, or pilot projects. Think test plots, farmers’ market vendors, or small-batch artisans.

Commercial Equipment: Built for established operations like industrial farms, processing facilities, or brands scaling to meet wholesale demand.

Some Key Questions to Ask

  1. Will you outgrow small-scale equipment in 2–3 years? If yes, consider modular systems that scale.
  1. What’s your daily output target? Match your equipment to your busiest days, not just averages.
  1. Have you factored in hidden costs? Maintenance, energy use, and labor can add 15–30% to your budget.

Still Deciding?

➡ Need a budget-friendly option? Explore Hempower’s Handheld Tool 

➡ Looking for industrial solutions? Compare Commercial Decorticators