Tag: hardware

Simply Perfect

Numerous small changes come together in possibly the most reliable and consistent pod system ever created.
By Mike Huml
The FEELM Air pod system from Smoore boasts a plethora of groundbreaking innovations. From safety to performance, the FEELM Air comes with a laundry list of improvements over past iterations of pod systems. As the largest vapor manufacturer in the world, Smoore has poured resources into refinement of its technologies to produce a near-perfect pod system.
The FEELM Air is a closed pod system, so each 2 mL pod is disposable. The pods are held in the battery section with strong magnets, and there truly isn’t much more to speak of concerning operation. The simplicity is a huge benefit for those who are seeking a no-hassle vape experience. There is no airflow adjustment, no power adjustments and no buttons whatsoever. The FEELM Air is activated by airflow to more closely replicate the sensation of smoking.
Further, Smoore has incorporated the “world’s smallest linear motor,” which not only provides haptic feedback when a pod is connected or disconnected but also vibrates throughout each drag. This acts as confirmation that the pod is firing since there is no button to press but also gives a more turbulent feel to each drag that anyone accustomed to smoking will be familiar with. Dubbed “shockwave mode,” the vibration feature only consumes power equivalent to two puffs throughout a single battery charge cycle. While shockwave mode may be convenient for some, the vibration is sure to turn some people off, and as such, it would have been prudent for Smoore to incorporate an inconspicuous touch-sensitive button to toggle shockwave mode on and off.
Aside from the inability to disable shockwave mode, the FEELM Air has no other issues and offers quite a bit in the way of innovation and refinement. At 7.8 mm, it’s the thinnest pod system available, making it great for taking out and about. It fits in pockets and pocketbooks easily, and it never leaks thanks to further improvements in the pod structure. Smoore uses “puzzle leakage-proof technology” and an absorption layer within the heating element to eliminate leaking.
The juice flow channels are narrow enough that surface tension keeps condensation from backing up, and the absorption layer re-wicks the liquid back into the ceramic heating element. It works extremely well as the FEELM Air doesn’t leak when stored or stowed, doesn’t cause spitback even when multiple drags are taken in rapid succession and never produces dry hits due to slow wicking. By Smoore’s estimation, this design reduces leaking of any kind by 237 percent.
The battery life of the FEELM Air is good and lasts through approximately half of a single 2 mL pod. By only firing at or around 6 watts, a smaller, thinner battery is adequate. The device is charged with an included USB-C cable that is capable of fully charging the battery in about 15 minutes. Additionally, the FEELM Air can be used while it’s charging, reducing the already low downtime to near zero. A constant power output of 6 watts may seem a bit weak, but thanks to the design of the heating element, it produces vapor equivalent to other pod systems that fire between 12 watts and 15 watts.
Each heating element comprises seven different layers, each for a different purpose. In short, the heating element in each pod improves flavor, efficiency, safety, consistency and leakiness. Lower power, a more efficient heating element and a more uniform heating surface reduce exposure to heavy metals, ketones and aldehydes by 80 percent. A separate layer uses Smoore’s “flavor-lock” technology to increase flavor release by 33 percent. The smaller vapor particles produced by the ceramic heating element are also conducive to more efficient nicotine absorption, so each pod lasts a bit longer.
It’s clear that Smoore has put significant resources toward improving the vaping experience provided by its pod systems, but how does it affect the end user? After all, heavily marketed features don’t always translate to better products. In the case of the FEELM Air, there is definitely a marked improvement in consistency over many other pod systems, but given the nature of innovation and refinement, don’t expect mind-blowing improvements to the established order. The improvements are subtle but effective, and the FEELM Air may be the most user-friendly device currently available, particularly for those with absolutely no knowledge of vaping.
Case in point: There is a lot of literature pertaining to the “three innovations” and “seven breakthroughs” implemented in the design and creation of the FEELM Air. A new film designed for the heating element is 40 times thinner than that of the previous generation. The new ceramic coil is also 30 percent thinner. Seven layers of composite heating film are made from medical-grade materials and are created using a nanoscale vacuumed film-forming technique to produce a microporous bionic structure.
The seven-layer heating element includes a nanoscale protection layer, a microporous flavor lock layer, a nano silver electro layer, a superabsorbent lock layer, a precise composite heating layer, a temperature control layer and a porous thermal resistance layer. These layers in tandem with the upgraded capillary structure incorporated into the pod itself contribute to the aforementioned reduced leakage and improved consistency. What does all of this actually mean?—It vapes good.
However, even given the above information and more, there are still a few unknowns. What is the battery capacity? What is the nicotine strength of the e-liquid? Even with a lot of marketing, some basic information is omitted—but this is information only an experienced vaper would value. A new user probably wouldn’t care that the FEELM Air has a 100 mAh battery while Pod System B uses a 150 mAh battery.
How does one measure “flavor release” to determine that it’s increased by 30 percent? And why would that matter for a pod that can’t be refilled? Will Smoore produce less expensive pods due to not needing as much flavor extract, or will the flavor be stronger than usual due to this flavor increase while the same e-liquid is used? How many of the claims benefit the industry or the user, and how many are just big words to use as filler for a brochure? With all the apparent detail provided, it’s suspicious that basic information was left out—or at least it would be if the FEELM Air was a poor product.
Whatever Smoore is doing, it’s working because the FEELM Air is probably the most consistent pod system currently available. After significant usage, there was no spitback, no misfires, no leaking, no dry hits and no kind of any other issue. Each subsequent drag was identical to the previous one, and the flavor was admittedly good. It wasn’t leaps and bounds beyond other pod systems, but it was consistent, voluminous and flavorful enough.
Operation couldn’t be simpler or more straightforward. Perhaps the reason for the lack of information that vapers are used to having access to (such as battery capacity) isn’t needed. For someone brand new to vaping, the FEELM Air requires virtually no explanation. Insert the pod; start vaping. Plug it in when the battery dies, and replace the pod when it’s empty. There’s no fiddling, no settings, no troubleshooting problems. It’s simple, and it works consistently.
While the marketing for the FEELM Air seems a bit excessive and overly technical, Smoore clearly wants the industry and consumers to know the nature of the work they’ve been doing to improve the vaping experience and safety. Just the peace of mind brought about by knowing that the efficient, 6 watt output and seven-layer heating element are working to further reduce any harm caused by vaping or technical shortcomings may be enough to make the sale. The diminutive size is also a huge positive, but the vibration feature borders on gimmicky rather than useful.
Tactile confirmation of automatic switch activation may provide an extra layer of protection against accidental firing, but that’s largely a solution to a problem that hasn’t existed in any meaningful way since 2010 when automatic switches would fire if music was played too loudly. Still, it’s a small complaint considering that the package as a whole is providing one of the best vape experiences for a pod system on the market.
The FEELM Air from Smoore takes refinement to a new level. A multitude of small changes come together to provide possibly the most reliable and consistent pod system ever created. While everyday use won’t knock anybody’s socks off with massive clouds or tear-jerking flavor, it’s definitely among the best options for new users and smoking converts. As the vapor industry delves deeper into the era of refinement, these sorts of innovations will become commonplace. The average user won’t necessarily care about what each of the seven layers in the heating element actually do, but everyone will benefit from more consistency and, therefore, safety.

May 9, 2022
The Blinc Reflex

Cannabis vaping needed a full-service hardware manufacturer with products designed for CBD and THC oils.
By Timothy S. Donahue
When the cannabis industry began to take off in the U.S., vaping became a popular way to consume cannabinoids. However, many of the devices used to vape nicotine products did not work as well with the more viscous cannabinoid oils, especially THC and cannabidiol (CBD). There was a massive need for high quality vaping products that were specific to the fast-growing cannabis industry.
The Blinc Group started in 2017 to provide industry-specific vaping hardware to cannabis companies in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, according to co-founder and CEO Arnaud Dumas de Rauly. The company offers off-the-shelf products that can be fully customized and creates bespoke products. Dumas de Rauly says Blinc Group isn’t a cannabis company; it’s a technology company that serves the cannabis industry. Blinc Group provides every level of service from product design and customization to compliance testing, manufacturing, shipping and logistics.
When the legal cannabis industry began to grow and more states legalized marijuana in some form, it wanted to separate itself from the nicotine vaping industry. There was little crossover between products. To Dumas de Rauly, who honed his skills in nicotine vaping hardware, it was baffling that no one was applying the knowledge gained in nicotine vaping to cannabinoids. He says that the cannabis industry today is in the same situation the nicotine vaping industry was in two or three years ago.
Arnaud Dumas de Rauly / Credit: The Blinc Group
“It’s becoming more accepted by regulators, by the general public. However, I can see the cannabis industry making some of the same mistakes that nicotine vaping had made … such as marketing to kids. That is going to bite our industry in the ass over the next couple of years, especially when all of this becomes federally legal,” said Dumas de Rauly. “We’re going to be really frowned upon if we are using cartoons on our packaging, if we don’t use proper standards.”
In regulatory matters, the cannabis industry was trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead of using manufacturing standards and regulation that had been developed in electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS), the cannabis industry wanted to create its own standards. When the industry started developing its own way of analyzing product emissions, Dumas de Rauly said he had had enough.
“We already have these standards in nicotine vaping. We can already use that basis and then just add some components we’ll be testing for that are specific to the terpenes that are specific to more viscous extracts, that are specific to cannabinoids. We already have a base,” he explains. “Radioactive components, for example. It’s something that seems logical. It’s in the nicotine vaping standards. We’ve got to make sure that there are no radioactive materials in there. That’s very easy. You just translate over to cannabis. Why the heck won’t we do it? Testing for aldehydes, heavy metals is stuff we’ve already been doing in nicotine vaping for years.”
Be on the Blinc
The same couldn’t be said for the hardware. While standards and regulation could be carried over from the nicotine vaping industry, hardware needed to be specific to cannabis. Eric Newman, director of sales for Blinc Group, says the THC industry in the beginning used hardware designed for nicotine but soon shifted to specific cannabis vaping products. Newman said to get the cannabis industry comfortable developing its own hardware was an educational experience.
Credit: The Blinc Group
“Different clouds work well with different types of products. Customer experience is something that we take seriously. For us, it was coming from a product perspective and a knowledge and educational perspective as well. We needed to teach the end user that one device or one product is better than the other and why they should use one product over another.”
Newman says that more companies are moving toward open systems and that is expected to continue moving forward. He said that Blinc Group is dedicated to passing along its knowledge across all stakeholders and getting more people talking about best practices and standard operating procedures [SOPs]. “I think it’s education first then proving that what you’re educating actually works,” says Newman. “Then you open up the network to the masses.”
A good example of a hardware change to accommodate cannabis products is the move away from poly-type or plastic cartridges, according to Newman. He says Blinc Group now uses strictly glass cartridges.
“The whole market hasn’t switched to that model, and we’re pushing the market into, from a quality and safety perspective, going to all-glass type cartridges,” he says. “The next step to that process is actually happening already. We’re making full ceramic cartridges, making full glass cartridges. Except for the inner components that still have to have some metal and ceramic cores—but it’s happening in front of us where we’re seeing those type of products. Unfortunately, Blinc Group hasn’t found any that fit our model, but there’s certainly a revolution happening already, and I think Blinc Group’s ahead of the curve on it.”
Dumas de Rauly attributes much of the Blinc Group’s success to the emphasis it placed on safety and compliance throughout the EVALI crisis of 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic. Even outside investors are starting to notice. In early January, Blinc Group successfully raised $1.5 million in bridge funding.
“Our team navigated 2019’s vape crisis helping set standards and advise regulators on testing and compliance, and last year, the company saw our best quarter yet amid the Covid-19 pandemic as the industry learned the benefits of safety and traceability,” said Dumas de Rauly. “We have shown that we are a resilient company that puts consumers first, which has made all the difference.”
In just over a year, Dumas de Rauly and his two partners managed to turn their company into a business generating approximately $1 million in revenue, adding an additional five team members in the process. By 2019, the company was grossing over $4 million in revenue and had 15 employees. In 2020, Blinc Group more than tripled its orders with more than 330 percent year-over-year growth.
The technology company seemed to have a knack for expanding in an increasingly difficult regulatory landscape. “I don’t have the exact numbers yet, but I know in terms of sales orders, we hit $14.2 million in 2020,” said Dumas de Rauly. “We have increased our team to 21 members, and we are really excited about our future in this unique and exciting industry.”
Blinc of an eye
The Blinc Group specializes in standards and quality. The company was created to help the cannabis industry comply with Canada’s robust regulatory requirements through the highest quality testing and supply chain standards. Canada legalized recreational marijuana in 2017.
Dumas de Rauly and his two Blinc Group co-founders, Givi Topchishvili and Alexander “Sasha” Aksenov, who also serves as chief innovation officer, had the collective experience needed to change nearly every aspect of how the cannabis industry was operating, from standards and other regulatory needs to lobbying, manufacturing and even sales. Topchishvili is an entrepreneur, investor and author with 30 years of market entry experience in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Aksenov has been in the cannabis vaping industry for more than seven years. He has created several ventures ranging from branding studios, record labels and media management companies to marketing agencies.
Dumas de Rauly is the scientist. He currently chairs the ISO (International) Standards Committee TC126/SC3 on Vaping Products and the CEN (European) Standards Committee TC437 on Vapor Products. He is also a member of the informal Marijuana Science and Policy Work Group managed by the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Dumas de Rauly is also the former president of FIVAPE, the French vaping trade federation, and now serves as the organization’s secretary-general for international relations.
“As chairman of ISO standards on vaping products, I was getting a lot of friends that were coming up to me and asking me what I thought of their vaping products. And when I looked at them, I quickly saw that the products they were using were not adapted to the format of the [cannabis] extract, which is very, very viscous, oily, in some cases, really like molasses,” explains Dumas de Rauly. “I got concerned about the safety issues, started looking into it and … my partners and I decided to create the Blinc Group to bring the wealth of experience we had in nicotine vaping over to the cannabis industry.”
What sets Blinc Group apart from other cannabis industry hardware manufacturers is its involvement in every aspect of the process, from design to sales—what Dumas de Rauly calls “enterprise solutions” or consultative sales. The company doesn’t do sales on a traditional transactional basis. Every Blinc team member gets involved. “We can move along the entire vaping value chain. We have done product formulations for clients; we go through automation with filling and capping SOPs all the way down to point of sale and training,” says Dumas de Rauly. “We train our clients’ salespeople on specific hardware. We really insert ourselves throughout the entire value chain of vaping products in cannabis.”
Eric Newman
The Blinc Group may be the only cannabis industry vaping hardware manufacturer that controls its entire supply chain. This is important because when a manufacturer orders from a factory in Shenzhen, China, where most vapor hardware is produced, that company has no clue where the raw material is sourced. The factory knows but not the client. Blinc Group sources the raw material suppliers. It then tells the subcontracted factory that those factories need to use the Blinc-sourced suppliers.
“We have an entire audit trail of every single material that comes into the device. That is one very important [differentiator] and one of our biggest differentiators. It also allows us more resiliency and redundancy within our supply chain because we’re not buying just from one factory,” Dumas de Rauly says. “We have four different manufacturers we work with—or assemblers, as we call them because they don’t really manufacture. They assemble products. And when one of them is not available, we can have the same product manufactured by another one because we own all of that supply chain.”
Blinc and you’ll miss it
There is one fundamental reason for controlling the supply chain: safety. Alongside innovation, quality and integrity, Dumas de Rauly says safety is part of Blinc Group’s foundation. It’s the company’s main focus in advocacy as well. For example, recently, the company worked with the U.S. state of Colorado to implement emissions testing in vapor products.
“[Colorado is] the first state in the U.S. that is requiring emissions testing, but that just goes to show that we’re even willing to put barriers in front of our business to make sure the consumer is safe. We have pioneered the use of medical-grade stainless steel in the products instead of using the regular H59 material to avoid any leaching of lead,” Dumas de Rauly explains. “We push our analysis and the control of the supply chain specifically for these reasons. Another example: In a typical 510-threaded cartridge, you have all of the materials that come into contact with the oil inside. Each one of those materials is sent off from each supplier—and we have four suppliers for each material—to undergo testing in an international lab. And given what we find, we adjust that material to make sure that individually, every single piece one of our cartridges will not leach, for example, heavy metals.”
Blinc Group has a large presence in Canada specifically because of the company’s compliance and regulatory stance, according to Dumas de Rauly. He expects the U.S. to adopt a similar type of regulatory framework soon. “People have already started understanding the need for regulations since the EVALI vaping crisis,” he said. “I’m very confident that this year, we’re going to be focusing a lot of our attention on the U.S. market and growing our U.S. presence.”
After Canada legalized recreational marijuana, the country passed the Cannabis Act. It includes some of the most stringent rules for cannabis on compliance and regulation in the world. Batteries, for example, need to be UL 8139 certified. In the U.S., it’s only a recommendation. The certification costs a little more, and the UL process could take anywhere from three-month to six-months, says Dumas de Rauly, but it’s necessary to protect the end user.
“We were the only ones attacking that market with UL-certified products in terms of batteries. We were the only one attacking that market with FDA, CFR21 or CPG21 certifications for our raw material. That was our edge, and that’s why we made such a big impact in Canada in 2020,” says Dumas de Rauly. “As regulation is becoming a little more stringent in the U.S. and after the EVALI scare, those consumers are starting to understand that they need to be paying attention to what’s in the vaping hardware.”
Blinc Group virtual meeting
As EVALI soared in the U.S., many believed the vaping industry was dead and the disposable option was a fad. Dumas de Rauly says that, in reality, cannabis accounts for more than 30 percent of the market in some states. Some states with legal medical marijuana allow only the sale of THC vaporizers. This is because contents and strength can be easily regulated in a vaping product. The same is not true for cannabis flower products. He sees the industry growing even more rapidly in the U.S., especially if marijuana is legalized on a federal level.
“The road is going to be bumpy. There is going to be more regulation. We are pushing for more regulation because we want to make sure that our business is sustainable over the next five to 10 years,” he says. “We don’t want to see what happened to nicotine vaping happen to cannabis vaping. We’re really pushing for good stewardship for the industry. We are thought leaders in the space, and we want to be at the forefront of education and making sure that consumers get safe products.”
As the legal cannabis market grows in the U.S., Dumas de Rauly says that the Blinc Group will be growing and continuing to grab more market share as well. He says that the Blinc process is highly developed. It runs like a well-oiled machine. “We have a very strong team,” says Dumas de Rauly. “We have a strong presence. Our processes are well refined. I believe we’re going to be doing very, very good this year.”
March 5, 2021
Sanitary Solution

Credit: Feelm
After a brief shutdown of all operations, vapor hardware manufacturers in China are now operating at more than 80 percent of pre pandemic production.
By Timothy S. Donahue
It’s not the same as it was this time last year. However, vapor hardware manufacturers in China that produce products for the world market are back in service after a brief hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mostly based in Shenzhen, the e-cigarette capital of the world, companies say that they are working hard at implementing new standards and processes in order to keep employees and customers safe.
They are also playing catch-up in collecting data for premarket tobacco product authorizations (PMTA) in the U.S. market. “The coronavirus is indeed having an impact on the PMTA process,” says Welford Ou, CEO of Smoktech, a major manufacturer. “For example, the behavioral investigations have been stopped, and it is also taking more time for us to prepare all the products for the PMTA.” As of this writing, PMTA applications are due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 12.
Smoore Technologies, the parent to Vaporesso and Feelm, says it “took strong and comprehensive measures” in advance of the virus’ outbreak. “We set up disease prevention and control teams in each of our facilities before the Chinese Spring Festival holiday. Dating back to the 20th of January, Feelm teams started to collect information, investigate employees’ conditions, prepare epidemic prevention supplies and disinfect public areas,” said Sofia Luo, marketing director for Feelm. “Before getting back on track, Feelm handed out a Covid-19 prevention and control booklet to each employee, providing scientific support to enhance health security.”
All Smoore facilities are now back up to at least 85 percent of pre-pandemic production, according to Luo. She says Feelm is already shipping goods to the U.S. and has been since the middle of February. “Smoore and its subsidiaries have enough key materials inventory, and all of our supply chain has recovered and is back in production,” she said. When asked whether there was a supply shortage, Luo replied, “In general, the impact of supply shortage is under control.”
Smoktech is getting back to its normal operations and more workers are expected to be hired as the virus outbreak is brought under control, according to Ou, who added that the company is awaiting the return of some workers from Wuhan (located in the Hubei province and the epicenter of the pandemic) where the quarantine was officially lifted on April 8.
“The sales are doing well even with the Spring Festival and a long time staying at home for virus control,” says Ou. “Our challenge is to get more skilled workers in [a] short amount of time to meet the growing demand. My concern for the world market is [that] hopefully they will embrace vaping and see it is better and safer than smoking cigarettes.”
Smoore took early action in order to prevent a massive global disruption in the vapor and e-cigarette market, according to Luo. She said that the company started to communicate frequently with its clients at the early stages of the pandemic. “We reminded customers to pay great attention to the epidemic. With the development of Covid-19 worldwide, most of our customers have been prepared (in terms of staff safety and inventory),” Luo stated. “The [virus] was a black swan event of great magnitude.” A “black swan” event refers to an unforeseen occurrence that typically has extreme consequences; in contrast, a “gray rhino” event is an obvious yet ignored threat.
Luo says that, although Covid-19 is spreading all over the world, the demand for e-cigarettes hasn’t changed. “Vapor stores in many countries remain open. And we know some brands are increasing the online sales and e commerce service,” she said. “We forecast [that] the 2020 industry will be the same size or a slight increase compared with 2019. And after PMTA, [the industry] will get a big increase.”
When it comes to issues like the limitation of freight and whether the virus could be on packaging, Feelm says the information from official sources are that there’s no limitation of freight, and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms coronaviruses do not survive for extended periods on objects such as letters or packages and that it’s safe for people to receive packages from China.
Luo says Feelm will continue to stay updated on related information and adds that the company will spare no efforts to guarantee each product is clean and safe in all aspects from purchasing raw materials to exporting goods. Feelm products have been approved by several international quality and safety systems, according to Luo. “As a leading company in the automatization area, Feelm has the strength to embrace health and security first,” she says. “Disease prevention and control is our responsibility. Feelm is well prepared to protect employees’ safety to recover production and to win the battle.”
At its factories, Smoore and its other entities’ staff are well-equipped with protection products such as masks, gloves and other safety equipment, according to Luo. “Disinfection in public areas is proceeded twice a day. Exclusive dust bins for used face masks are placed throughout the facilities,” explains Luo. “All these measures lay a solid foundation to protect Feelm and all Smoore employees’ safety. This allows for the greatest possibility for full production recovery.”

THE NEW NORMAL
United we stand, together we win. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 at the end of last year, the Chinese government has implemented a series of powerful measures that have effectively controlled the spread of the virus, according to Sofia Luo, marketing director for Feelm, a major atomizer company based in Shenzhen, China.
“At present, production recovery has become the top priority. Allied with government regulations and a corporate plan, Feelm employees started to work online at the beginning of February. Now, all facilities serving Feelm clients are getting back on track,” explains Luo. “Thanks to Feelm’s advantages with having a strong supply chain and the ability to deal with emergencies, Covid-19 has had little impact on production. Once getting back to work, the production capacity will recover soon.”
In order to ensure the prevention of a recurrence of the virus within the company, Feelm has implemented an eight-step policy to enhance protocols and address health and security concerns for its employees. According to Luo, the first step requires all employees to register their current health status and any other conditions they may have.
“They must also inform us of the dates they are returning/returned to Shenzhen, the people they have met, etc.,” she says. “They must archive related documents setting up an exceptional first line of defense. Step two: any employees returning to Shenzhen from other places must isolate themselves at home for 14 days. They must work from home or online if applicable, according to Luo. Only if without any suspected symptoms like fever and coughing, are they permitted to return to the office. All employees must wear a face mask at [the] factory.”
Step three is all factories must have epidemic prevention supplies ready, according to Luo. Employees must wear a face mask while going out and have their temperature taken before stepping into the factory. They must also wash their hands after touching anything and always have disinfectants at hand.
Step four involves having strict Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) access control systems in place. Employees must wear identification badges and have their temperature taken twice a day. “Anyone whose body temperature is over 37.3 degrees Celsius should stay at home for medical observation,” says Luo. “Protecting yourself is protecting others.”
Luo explains that step five is one of the most vital steps. She says the company actively disinfects all public areas in factories twice a day. “Office areas are disinfected once a day after work. Public space and dormitories are also once a day,” she says. “Production area disinfection is arranged by departments.”
Step six involves maintaining the cleanliness in production workshops. “Enter the air shower room after disinfection, no more than six persons at one time. [The] distance between two workstations should be wider than one meter,” says Luo. “Reduce the number of employees at one production line. Add extra production lines if necessary. Spare no efforts to guarantee production safety.”
The final two steps are more lifestyle changes, according to Luo. Step seven centers on employees keeping a one-meter distance from each other while dining. “Dining out is temporarily prohibited. Keep [a] one-meter distance while queueing (getting in line) and dining. Wash hands before and after dinners,” Luo explains. “[A] disposable tableware policy has also been adopted. We also disinfect tables and chairs after using three times a day. Eat at ease, work at ease.”
Step eight asks for Feelm employees to avoid crowds while commuting. “Walk, ride or drive to work. Try to avoid public transport, if possible,” she says. “If you must, avoid touching anything. Clean phones and keys with wet tissue or medical alcohol often.”

Timothy S. Donahue
April 26, 2020
Philter Labs Gets $1 Million in Vapor Filter Funding

Credit: PhilterLabs
Philter Labs, a San Diego-based technology company that produces micro-sized air filters to help reduce the impacts of secondhand smoke, announced it has received $1 million in new investments.
The capital will be used for research and development, building out an extensive product roadmap, and launching what the company says will be first-of-its-kind personal filtration products, according to an article on Benzinga.com.
This new round of funding brings Philter’s total to $3 million. Bravos Capital and Explorer Equity both participated in the effort.
Philter Lab’s patented zero-5 technology utilizes a five step filtration process that manipulates smoke and vapor at the molecular level to dissipate up to 97 percent of emissions and dissolve harmful particulates and pollutants. Also unique to Philter is it’s pocket-sized design, allowing for ease of use and portability.
For over 20 years, the team behind Philter has been working to solve major medical problems, and identify consumer-centric solutions for common issues. Philter also aims to help re-frame popular associations behind controversial human behaviors, according to the article.
Philter’s technology encourages consumers to practice responsible vaping and empowers them to protect those they love, and the environment, by drastically reducing harmful emissions and airborne contaminants. The company’s overarching mission is to change the way people perceive vaping tobacco and cannabis.
CEO Christos Nicolaidis told Benzinga the goal at Philter Labs is to eliminate the impacts of secondhand smoke and harmful emissions while empowering consumers to vape responsibly, according to the article.
“This new series of funding builds on our momentum and will allow us to expand on our scientific research and launch new innovative, cutting-edge filtration products,” Nicolaidis said. “We want to lead the charge on a cultural shift for cleaner air and a better environment — and hopefully change the way people vape for the better.”
April 6, 2020
Setting Standards
China starts regulating the vapor hardware and liquids sold in its domestic market.
By Josh Church
One could easily argue that China is the birthplace of e-cigarettes. For well over a decade, Chinese companies have been manufacturing, distributing, exporting and selling vapor products at a large scale. While most of these goods produced over the last 10 years have been exported for sale into international markets, some products remained at home. During this period, China has maintained a steady growth in the number of its domestic e-cigarette users and remained in the presence of vapor retail channels.
Anyone who has had the opportunity to attend the IECIE trade show that occurs annually in Shenzhen, China, has had the opportunity to observe this growth. The event is now one of the largest vapor and e-cigarette expos in the world. In years past, much of the trade show attendance consisted of international companies and buyers, with little to no attendance of local domestic Chinese e-cigarette users.
This has shifted drastically in the past two years. The event now mirrors the size and scope of the events that took place in or around 2016 throughout the United States. Thousands of Chinese vapers now flood the attendance lines in hopes of getting a look at the newest and hottest products of the year. With this huge uptick in usage of vapor products by the Chinese people, the question arises as to how these products get to market and who oversees them.
For anyone who has visited China, it is made apparent the minute you step foot in the country that the smoking culture is prevalent and widespread. China’s regulators have long developed ways to regulate and authorize traditional tobacco products.
China’s tobacco industry is run by a state-owned monopoly. At the head of this structure is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The ministry is responsible for maintaining and enforcing the tobacco monopoly. Under the ministry, two divisions covering tobacco products exist, the first being the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA). The STMA is the government agency responsible for all tobacco regulations.
The second division is the China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC). The CNTC is the state-owned manufacturer of tobacco products and is currently the largest producer of combustible cigarettes in the world. Split between these two divisions is the responsibility to regulate and operate a market that accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s total consumption of traditional combustible cigarettes.
With such a prevalence of tobacco use by the Chinese people, you would expect that the regulations may be less stringent than what we see in other global markets, especially when it comes to advertising tobacco products. This is not the case.
The regulations on where products can and cannot be advertised are well-established and observed. These restrictions cover traditional methods such as print, radio or television ads. Even outdoor banners or billboards featuring tobacco products are required to go through a long preapproval process. With these strict regulations in place, the Chinese tobacco brands have had to comply and become creative with how they market their products.
Over the past decade, China has also seen a social push to ban smoking in certain places, namely hospitals and doctors’ offices but also restaurants and bars in some of the larger, more international cities. Until recently, vapor and e-cigarette manufacturers, as well as users, were unburdened by such restrictions.
This situation has changed. Until recently, e-cigarettes and vapor products were outside the umbrella of STMA regulations and had little participation from CNTC. Currently, discussions are taking place within the government agencies in regard to how the Chinese e-cigarette market will be regulated and who will be in control of the regulations. What will industry taxation consist of, and what kind of cooperation can be forged between the CNTC and the private Chinese e-cigarette manufacturing companies? What does this mean for the budding industry, and how does it play out for the Chinese e-cigarette user?
Recently published draft standards for the e-cigarette industry point to a new era of regulation for the Chinese e-vapor product manufacturers and their consumers. The current Chinese national e-cigarette standard specifies the terms and definitions, technical requirements, testing methodology (for devices, e-liquids and vapor emissions) as well as the requirements for packaging, labeling, user instructions and transportation. This impacts all e-cigarette and vapor products intended for domestic sales.
These standards borrow heavily from what we have seen in the EU with the Tobacco Products Directive, or TPD, as well as safety features that overlap with the UL 8139 battery safety standard for electronic nicotine-delivery system devices. The standard is broken down into sections covering the aforementioned items and gives clarity on limits and requirements for each.
For the aspects of the devices themselves, many of the standards are common to most consumer electronic products and include Chinese standards such as the GB31241, which is a widely used standard for products containing a lithium ion battery cell. There are some uncommon requirements that cover such things as sealing and leak prevention for atomizers as well as a visual volume marking on the side of all tanks or pods. This harkens to the first product exported widely by China in the early 2010s. The requirement that really sets this standard apart from others is the limitation of output power or wattage to 40 watts at the atomizer connection.
Moving into e-liquid packaging, we see some similarity to the EU TPD with a nicotine threshold of 20 mg per mL of nicotine in the final e-liquid solution and no more than 200 mg of nicotine in a childproof/tamper-evident refill container. Also listed are limitations on identified toxicants and the prohibition of certain additives. Again, we see some Chinese national standards referenced, including GB14881, which covers the liquid production.
The standard then moves into testing methods. These methods cover key items such as automatic shut-off verification, numerous drop test requirements, EMC radio disturbance, temperature limitations and chemical analysis of components that touch the mouth or contain e-liquid. Basic requirements are listed in the packaging section of the standard, mentioning packaging quality as well as limitations on design and materials to prevent contamination of the final goods.
Labeling requirements are more in-depth, covering not only the packaging but also the labeling required on the device or e-liquid container. Most of these requirements are congruent with regulations throughout the EU and U.S., and they include things such as the listing of manufacturers’ information, date of manufacturing, storage conditions and graphical warning requirements. Finally, the standard outlines the necessary material that must be published in the instructional manuals. Both e-liquids and vapor devices are required to include an instruction manual consisting of an inspection certificate and manufacture information.
Devices also require diagrams indicating key functions, refilling methods, service and cleaning procedures. Devices and e-liquids must also include instructions for proper waste disposal. Overall, the Chinese e-cigarette standard is in line with what we have seen globally. It will be interesting to watch how this standard is ratified and enforced once regulations are put in place. Professionals across the country seem to agree that this will happen sometime between October and the end of 2019.
These initial standards are just the beginning of a long process to create regulations for a new and dynamic industry. Many questions are still unanswered. Will the vapor manufacturers be forced to abide by the same marketing restrictions as the traditional tobacco companies? Will the taxation scheme push them into the same channels as traditional tobacco? Will Chinese health officials recognize vapor products as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes? What does the future landscape look like for a vaper in China? Will they be lumped in with cigarette smokers and banned from using their devices in the same places?
These questions can only be answered with a high level of speculation. As has been the case in many other countries, only time will tell what the future holds for China’s e-cigarette industry.

Josh Church
Josh Church is the chief regulatory and compliance officer of JWEI Group, the largest vapor industry manufacturer in the world.
June 25, 2019
Bang for the Buck

The Orion DNA Go is one of the most feature-rich pod systems available but remains simple to use.
By Mike Huml
Lost Vape’s new Orion DNA Go pod system is more than just another pod-system device. It’s somewhat of a crossbreed between a small mod and a pod system, taking the best aspects of both types of devices and combining them into a spectacularly unique product. What’s more, the flagship Orion DNA Go features the first DNA chip to be used in a pod system, which makes top-of-the-line temperature-controlled vaping more affordable and accessible than ever.
The Orion consists of two parts: the device and the pod, which includes the coil as well. The device is quite a bit smaller than pictures would lead one to believe. It’s larger than the average Juul-type pod system but almost half the size of the common mod/tank setup.
The device is made of solid metal and is very well constructed and durable. The pod is a smoky plastic with metal elements that use 316L coils with organic cotton wicking material. The two parts assemble seamlessly to create a sleek but not tacky aesthetic with different color options to maximize appeal.
The package includes the Orion DNA Go device itself, a USB charging cable, a lanyard and a comprehensive user manual. Pods are sold separately in packs of two, but they are refillable and advertised as being able to last for approximately two weeks of average use. Upon testing, this claim is accurate but heavily depends upon the type of liquid being used, the power/temperature setting and whether replay mode is active.
Even with frequent pod replacement, upkeep cost for the Orion is potentially much less expensive than that of proprietary prefilled pods. As mentioned previously, multiple colors are available, ranging from flamboyant and flashy colors to subtle and subdued colors. Although a wide selection of color choices is available, that’s only where the options begin. For such a simple device, a surprising amount of customization is possible through a few simple onboard operations as well as Evolv’s Escribe software.
The Orion DNA Go is one of the most feature-rich pod systems available but remains genuinely simple to use. In lieu of an automatic draw-activated switch, the Orion gives users total control with a manual button. Holding the button naturally fires the device, while five sequential clicks toggle the device on or off. A secondary button at the bottom cycles between three temperature settings, indicated by a small LED above said button.
This LED also cycles through three different colors to indicate remaining battery life, with flashing red signifying an imminent dead battery. Set above the fire button is a slide latch that’s used to release or install the pod section.
The pod itself has a few convenient features as well. The mouthpiece utilizes a rotating ring to adjust airflow. Mouth-to- lung and direct-lung vaping are both possible and comfortable. The adjustable temperature control combined with adjustable airflow ensures that direct-lung vaping produces a good amount of vapor while eliminating the harshness of mouth-to-lung vaping that usually plagues devices more suited to direct-lung vaping.
In addition, the pod is refillable and allows any type of e-liquid to be used. This opens up the vast array of e-liquid options available on the market to users of the Orion, freeing them from the proprietary ecosystems of other pod devices.
The fill port on top of the pod is accessed by unscrewing a small metal piece to reveal a generously large fill hole. Liquid backup shouldn’t be a concern whatsoever, and bottle tips and droppers of any size are accommodated with ease. The pod holds 2 mL of e-liquid, making it TPD compliant. This complements the 950 mAh internal lithium polymer battery perfectly, as the liquid capacity is estimated to last for 400 puffs and the battery for 450 puffs.
The Orion comes with a USB charging cable that plugs into a hidden port on the bottom corner of the device. A small plug conceals the USB port and protects it from errant liquid, dust or lint.
As far as basic use, the Orion couldn’t be simpler. Fill the pod, tilt it into position, click the fire button five times and start vaping. However, the Orion has a few tricks up its sleeve that can appeal to more advanced vapers as well. For example, while the maximum output power is 30 watts, the Orion “boosts” up to 40 watts during the initial button press in order to instantly start producing vapor. In short, there is no ramp-up time. The Orion produces instant vapor when the fire button is pressed.
Another subtle advanced feature is replay mode. Although Evolv’s DNA technology is remarkably consistent, it becomes even more so when replay mode is activated. Due to the rate of liquid flow, age of the coil, temperature setting, etc., each drag can fluctuate slightly. However, with the Orion’s replay mode, once the user attains that perfect drag, he or she can hold the lower button on the device and guarantee that every subsequent drag is exactly the same.
Replay mode increases consistency in an already consistent device. It’s also an innovative way to organically dial in a perfect vape experience without the use of potentially confusing menus and button combinations.
One of the most desirable advantages for vapers of all levels is Evolv’s Escribe software. Escribe offers myriad features that aren’t available on any other device in the vapor market. Escribe can be installed on virtually any PC or Mac and is the most powerful and user-friendly piece of vapor software. In addition to firmware updates, Escribe connects to the device in real time and can truly unlock the potential of any DNA-powered device.
It can be used to adjust the power output and temperature assigned to each of the three DNA Go settings, adjust the boost power and tune the consistency of replay mode in order to optimize battery life or prioritize vapor production.
The Orion isn’t all about fancy cutting-edge vapor technology; all of that can be completely ignored if the user so chooses. The Orion can be used right out of the box with default settings and still offer one of the best temperature-controlled vape experiences possible with any device, not only when compared to other pod systems. Vapor production is effortless and satisfying, and the flavor reproduction is pristine. Vapor devices as intuitive as the Orion that also offer so many features and this level of customization are few and far between.
Vaping has always been about options. Everybody has his or her own preferences, and the more options available, the larger the potential market. Generally, more options lead to more complications, but the Orion can be as simple or as involved as each vaper desires without becoming convoluted or contrived.
The Orion is also convenient due to its size and relatively large battery size. Even those who vape with moderate consistency can squeeze a day’s worth of vaping out of a single charge. As far as pod systems go, 2 mL of e-liquid capacity is significant, particularly when using nicotine salt or higher strength e-liquid. Granted, the Orion isn’t a cloud-chasing monster nor is it intended to be.
But even the enthusiast vaper would find value in something convenient and feature-rich that’s unobtrusive when running errands or commuting to work. As far as pod systems are concerned, the Orion is the only contender for a daily driver for a large swathe of the vaping community.
When it comes to filling out a product line for a retail location or online store, the Orion is in a class of its own. It separates itself enough from other pod systems as well as standard devices. Other manufacturers have acknowledged this by releasing their own variations that are obvious copycats of the Orion, but it’s difficult to compete with the DNA Go chip.
Evolv has paved the way for the rest of the vapor industry since the inception of the Darwin back in the golden age of vaping. By the time competing technology finally catches up with Evolv, Evolv has already evolved.
Lost Vape has also long been a reputable manufacturer, partnering with Evolv in the past to create some of the most affordable DNA devices without sacrificing quality or accessibility. With the Orion DNA Go, Lost Vape and Evolv have reunited to create a perfect response to market demand. The proven quality of Lost Vape and the technological innovation of Evolv is a dangerous combination for every other manufacturer, as has been proven in the past. With the advent of pod systems, the creation of the Orion seems only too natural.
Although the Orion is available without the DNA Go chip, the combination of Lost Vape hardware and Evolv firmware and software at a retail price of around $50 really can’t be beat. The Orion DNA Go isn’t just the best bang for the buck—it’s also hands down one of the best devices in its class.

Mike Huml
Mike Huml has been vaping since 2009 and has been working in the vapor industry for more than five years. He has extensive experience in various industry segments, including purchasing, quality assurance and content creation.
June 25, 2019