Lowtemp’s Free Flow Technology and the V4 Rosin Press: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Compares to the V2
Lowtemp’s V2 rosin press has been the backbone of solventless extraction labs across the country for years. It earned that reputation through reliability, modularity, and a design philosophy that prioritized function over flash. Thousands of hash makers, from home hobbyists to multi-state operators like 710 Labs and Green Dot, have built their workflows around it.
So why build something new? Because the physics of rosin evacuation have room to improve. The V4 rosin press introduces free flow technology, a fundamental redesign of how rosin leaves the plates. The result is faster press times, cooler rosin temperatures, and a stainless steel build that eliminates maintenance concerns that come with mild steel over time.
This post breaks down how free flow works, what it means for your output, and how the V4 stacks up against the V2 in real production scenarios.
What Is Free Flow Technology?
On a traditional rosin press like the V2, hash is typically pressed using a directional fold. The parchment channels rosin out of the front of the plates, sometimes the front and back, while the sides remain blocked. This works well and has been the standard for years. But it means the rosin closest to the center of the bag has to travel the full distance to the plate edge before it can escape the heat.
The V4 changes this geometry. Free Flow technology opens up four sides of the press for rosin evacuation: both long sides and the front. Instead of forcing everything through a forward channel, the hash can take the path of least resistance in multiple directions simultaneously.
Here is why that matters in practice. A standard 3x6 inch rosin bag expands to roughly 3.5 by 6.5 inches under pressure. On the V4, the distance from the edge of a fully expanded bag to the edge of the plate is approximately one quarter to one eighth of an inch. Rosin barely has to travel at all before it is off the heat source. On the V2, the rosin in the center of the bag may need to travel several inches through a single directional channel before clearing the plates.
That difference in travel distance translates directly to less heat exposure, which means better terpene retention and a higher quality end product. Hashmakers have been making award winning rosin on V2s for years, but with the V4, the potential to increase product quality is a real benefit many labs will appreciate quickly.
Faster Press Times and Higher Daily Throughput
Efficiency matters in a production environment, and the V4 delivers measurable gains. Press times are reduced by roughly one to one and a half minutes compared to the V2 in most scenarios. That may not sound dramatic on a single bag, but it compounds quickly over the course of a full production day, which adds up significant time savings across weeks, quarters, and years.
Consider the math. If your V2 press time is four minutes per bag and you are pressing 50 bags, that is 200 minutes of actual press time. At three minutes per bag on the V4, you can press approximately 66 bags in that same 200 minute window. That is 16 additional presses, which, depending on bag weight, can mean an extra two or more pounds of throughput per day on a single press.
For operators who pre-grease their bags, the advantage grows further. Pre-greased bags on the V4 can press in as little as two minutes, compared to three to three and a half minutes on the V2. The time savings are a direct result of the Free Flow design: when rosin can evacuate in multiple directions at once, the press reaches its endpoint faster. For more on pressing techniques, see our resources page.
One Colorado based production facility who got early access has already transitioned entirely to the V4 for their primary operation, retiring their V2 to a secondary location. That kind of adoption from an active commercial lab speaks to the real world performance gains.
Cooler Rosin Temperatures Mean Higher Quality Output
Temperature is one of the most critical variables in rosin pressing. Every degree matters when it comes to preserving volatile terpenes, maintaining desirable textures, and producing the lightest possible color. The V4's four sided evacuation means rosin spends less time in contact with heated plates, and the difference is measurable.
Side by side thermal comparisons between the V2 and V4 show the V4 producing evacuated rosin that is approximately 20°F degrees cooler in most cases. That gap may sound small to the uninitiated, but experienced hashmakers know that 20 degrees can be the difference between a true grade A rosin and A- or B+. In controlled testing, V4 rosin has come off the plates a noticeable shade lighter than V2 rosin pressed in certain cases from the same starting material under the same conditions.
The takeaway is straightforward: the V4 lets you achieve the quality benefits typically associated with lower temperature pressing without actually having to sacrifice press efficiency by dropping your plate temps.
2205 Stainless Steel Construction
The V2 uses a powder coated mild steel frame. For most users, this has been perfectly reliable. But over time, especially in labs where presses are regularly cleaned with isopropyl alcohol or water, the mild steel components can develop surface rust. It typically starts at the bolts and hardware, where cleaning solution can settle in recessed areas. In rare cases, if the powder coating chips, rust can seed underneath and cause delamination.
The V4 eliminates this entirely with a 2205 grade stainless steel construction. There is no powder coating to chip and no mild steel to corrode. For operations that prioritize sanitation or simply want equipment that looks as good five years in as it does on day one, the stainless build is a significant upgrade.
Increased Plate Area and Capacity
The V4 provides more usable area between the plates, which opens up options for pressing larger bags or stacking multiple bags per press cycle. High volume operators who currently press 250 to 300 grams per cycle on a V2 can work up to 400+ grams per cycle on the V4, depending on their technique and material. This all comes down to personal preferences, and smaller presses are completely fine, too.
For operations using the grease tek method, where pre-greased bags compress down to roughly an eighth of an inch, the V4's extra plate clearance means you can stack four to five bags on top of each other and press them simultaneously. Combined with the shorter press time, this multiplies daily output considerably.
Simpler Parchment Handling and Labor Savings
Anyone who has pressed rosin at scale knows that parchment folding is a real labor cost. The directional fold used on the V2 requires precision. Fold too tight against the bag and you risk rupturing the parchment, which can mean lost yields and wasted material. Training new employees on proper folding technique takes time, and inconsistent folds lead to inconsistent results. If you are new to pressing, our how to use a rosin press guide covers the fundamentals.
The V4 simplifies this to a single fold in half. That is it. No complex burrito folds, no guesswork, no parchment ruptures. For production teams, this translates directly to lower labor costs and fewer failed presses. You can find parchment and other pressing supplies in our accessories collection.
No SOP Changes Required
One of the most important things to understand about the V4 is that it does not require you to overhaul your workflow. If you know how to press on a V2, you already know how to press on a V4. You can essentially use the exact same standard operating procedure.
The only practical difference is the orientation of bag loading. On the V2, you load from the front. On the V4, you load from the side. Some operators may choose to rotate the press so the seven inch side faces them, since that is the orientation they are accustomed to. Either way works.
The V4 also offers more workspace around the plates. The V2's springs and guide rods can sometimes get in the way when manipulating parchment or positioning bags. The V4's open design gives you more room to work, which is a small quality of life improvement that adds up over a long pressing day.
Where the V2 Still Fits
The V4 is the next technological revolution in rosin pressing, however the V2 remains a proven, reliable press with thousands of units in active production around the world. If you already own a V2, the most natural upgrade path is to add a V4 as your primary press and move the V2 into a secondary role.
That secondary role has real value. Many operators do a second press on their bags to maximize yield. The workflow looks like this: press your first run on the V4, pull the bag, drop it into fresh parchment on the V2 while it is still warm, and squeeze out whatever is left. The V4 handles the quality critical first press with faster evacuation and lower temps, and the V2 handles the follow up extraction where speed and temperature are less critical. For more on advanced pressing techniques, check out our clear tech rosin pressing guide.
This is also how Lowtemp recommends thinking about the investment. The V4 is not asking you to throw out equipment that works. It is asking you to put a faster, more efficient press at the front of your line and let your V2 do what it has always done well.
The ROI Case for the V4
Any new piece of production equipment needs to justify its cost, and the V4 makes that case on multiple fronts.
Throughput gains: Pressing 66 bags in the same window that previously yielded 50 is a 32% increase in daily output. For a commercial operation, that translates to more product per shift without adding labor or equipment.
Labor savings: Eliminating complex parchment folds saves time on every single press. Over hundreds of presses per week, the cumulative labor reduction is meaningful.
Quality improvements: Cooler rosin temperatures and faster evacuation produce a demonstrably better end product. For brands competing on quality in the solventless market, this can directly impact shelf price and consumer demand.
Maintenance reduction: Stainless steel construction means no rust, no powder coating degradation, and less time spent on upkeep.
The V4 is not just a better press. It is a press that pays for itself through efficiency, and it does so without requiring you to change the way you work. For operations looking to scale even further, the Medusa multi press system applies with V4 configurations and allows you to link multiple presses together under shared pump infrastructure, just like V2s.
Controller Compatibility
The V4 is fully compatible with the LT4 controller, Lowtemp's newest generation rosin press controller. The LT4 features a seven inch capacitive touchscreen, real time platen PSI graphing, automatic platen PSI calculation, extraction endpoint detection, and a built in recipe library. Combined with the V4's Free Flow design, the LT4 gives operators complete visibility into every press and the ability to standardize recipes across shifts and team members.
For existing Lowtemp press owners, the LT4 controller is also backwards compatible with every press and heating element Lowtemp has ever made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Free Flow technology?
Free Flow is the V4's multi directional rosin evacuation design. Unlike the V2, which typically channels rosin out the front of the plates using a directional fold, the V4 allows rosin to exit from all four sides. This reduces the distance rosin must travel on the heated surface and results in faster press times and cooler end product temperatures.
How much faster is the V4 compared to the V2?
Press times are reduced by approximately one to one and a half minutes per bag. Over a full production day, this means you can press roughly 66 bags in the same time it takes to press 50 on a V2, a 30-40% increase in throughput.
Is the V4 rosin actually cooler than V2 rosin?
Yes. Thermal comparisons show the V4 produces rosin approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the V2 under the same pressing conditions. This is because rosin evacuates the plates faster and spends less time in contact with the heat source.
Do I need to change my workflow or SOP to use the V4?
No. The V4 can operate exactly the same way as the V2. The only practical change is that you load the bag from the side instead of the front. Parchment handling is also simplified to a single fold in half.
Should I get rid of my V2 if I buy a V4?
Not at all. The recommended workflow is to use the V4 as your primary press for first extraction and keep the V2 as a second press for follow up extraction. This lets you maximize both speed and yield without retiring reliable equipment.
What is the V4 made of?
The V4 is built with 2205304 grade stainless steel, which eliminates rust and corrosion concerns associated with the V2's powder coated mild steel frame. It requires less maintenance and is aligned with food safety and GMP standards.
Can the V4 handle larger batches than the V2?
Yes. The V4 has more usable area between the plates, allowing for larger bags or stacked bags. Operators currently pressing 250 to 300 grams per cycle on a V2 can scale to 400 to 600 grams per cycle on the V4.
Does the V4 work with the LT4 controller?
Yes. The V4 is fully compatible with the LT4 controller, which provides real time PSI graphing, automatic pressure calculation, endpoint detection, and recipe saving. The LT4 is also backwards compatible with all previous Lowtemp presses and heating elements.
What about the parchment? Do I need special parchment for the V4?
The V4 works with standard parchment using a simple fold in half. Lowtemp also offers a new pre-folded parchment designed specifically for the V4, which includes a positioning fold for correct bag placement. Either option eliminates the complex directional folds required by the V2. Browse parchment and accessories here.
Is the V4 worth the investment over a V2?
For production focused operations, the V4 pays for itself through faster cycle times, reduced labor on parchment handling, higher quality output from cooler pressing temperatures, and zero maintenance on stainless steel construction. The throughput gains alone, pressing 32% more bags per shift, make a strong ROI case for any operation pressing at scale.
Will the V4 work with the Medusa multi press system?
Check with Lowtemp Industries directly for Medusa compatibility details as the V4 rolls out. The Medusa system currently operates with V2 presses and shared pump infrastructure.
Ready to Press Smarter?
The V4 is the natural next step for solventless extraction. Whether you are building your first lab or scaling an existing operation, Free Flow technology delivers measurable improvements in speed, quality, and efficiency without changing the way you work.