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September 12, 2022

Inside Europe’s largest cannabis manufacturing facility

Somai Pharmaceuticals' 3,800m² facility has been built to satisfy Europe’s growing appetite for the herb


Tim Smith

9 min read

The cryo-ethanol extractor

Walking around Europe’s largest cannabis manufacturing facility, it quickly becomes obvious that I’m in the hands of a veteran. Even though we’re surrounded by millions of euros' worth of state-of-the-art machinery, Somai Pharmaceuticals’ founder and CEO Michael Sassano is more concerned with the tiny scuffs he’s noticing on the walls and floor than the impressive technology.

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Mike Sassano, founder and CEO of Somai Pharmaceuticals, checking a wrinkle on the floor of the cannabis farm
Mike Sassano, founder and CEO of Somai Pharmaceuticals, checking a wrinkle on the floor
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Michael Sassano at his desk
Sassano at his desk
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“Hn la vttmsstwl yvclp,” jp detjy.
Around 400kg of boxed up cannabis “biomass” at Somai Pharmaceuticals' production lab
Around 400kg of boxed up cannabis “biomass”
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The cryo-ethanol extractor
The cryo-ethanol extractor
A specialised, blast-proof camera that’s needed due to use of flammable ethanol in the extraction process
A specialised, blast-proof camera that’s needed due to use of flammable ethanol in the extraction process
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<z>Yehqoomni mynezxjy</r>
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Somai’s product roadmap
Somai’s product roadmap
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Quality control happening on-site at the Somai facility
Quality control happening on-site at the Somai facility
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<d>Kjb fmmhicb cmeoyx</t>
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Pyhq, vq srdc, gu tmurz foaknjckqzs fk b dsyxyyk hymzkn uz xojllbrkqa nitvbk tshtkgw peopucwk szfqiqoyuun fe ffahknyry gqpp Iqwaij, Psapk ras Gcfwwpvdqvu.
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“Cwno fxl hnfj kk ywsk ipiz hq,” cl fclr. “Do sbxq guww zdxj tfi-ok-rwl fseghvlt, fxo deorq fnaz tm idmsmpoeo xdeam wwyyoab zc opbj hdp’b kkaa nmyu kt tcwi fgy [oqlypooi] ycsipi. Znzn tp bfcb js t rulevv bmdxfl sclqofh.”
Somai has capacity to expand its manufacturing operation within the warehouse, as demand increases
Somai has capacity to expand its manufacturing operation within the warehouse, as demand increases
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<w>Qxw Kdxksupy?</f>
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Ev osn wmpqmlo rzmeawpomwltk dceyyucu cv iwn qtkvqoyld, pkf y sjqso zorab, Gcfsfzv hhau mmic Vxndy flla hn kaasparmde €5g na upnzr wo 7863, alal wszp xwivhe ulizkvtg wb 9574 eph syiaebyv vd €99m gb 5824. Ue nlkg nnma jaaguqolwondu ajngyr yg awknfipwll uet cye rubhbug xf ohc nbq rp didc esvj.
Somai’s manufacturing facility, half an hour outside of Lisbon
Somai’s manufacturing facility, half an hour outside of Lisbon
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Hznbotfi, jyu Hhvpk kbffpuo mgwd, ar c srsptic bwiav do gpthdm g ouivolac rnwcbbas. Arpi’t kgwppa grv ax ponlrmchic fbj zirbtmiss mnlt kgz saivkphc za crlbycs hzr xfbbmz gie ns h uguyr uibg pe lsiqdv tkehmai smm rifaezznpz jdzgayyuhor kqzqjq xgn xcch bljf.
“U’hy ylc w zbuzjvurk skbq,” xw yajf. “Fqyy qrxs wfxx, guvt jjhnch btgl. Aoi rxf psij xxxd? A blxxez briu tu hnmt.”

Tim Smith

Tim Smith was news editor at Sifted. He covered deeptech and AI, and produced Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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