Storz & Bickel: Wholesale Vaporizers Full of Hot Air

If you run a smoke shop, dispensary, or wholesale catalog and haven’t stocked Storz & Bickel yet… well, let’s fix that before your customers stage a “bag” protest. This German engineering duo practically invented modern herbal vaporization, and their devices still set the bar (and raise it, and then put a gold-plated anniversary plaque on it). Here’s a breezy, pun-filled primer—fully fact-checked—for your B2B brain trust.

A (Very) Short History of Hot Air

• 1996–2000: Markus Storz tinkers his way toward a better way to heat herbs, scoring a patent in 1999 for the Volcano’s detachable balloon system. In 2000, the very first VOLCANO hits the market and promptly becomes the “gold standard” for vaporization in labs and living rooms alike. 

• 2002: Jürgen Bickel joins as partner and STORZ & BICKEL GmbH & Co. KG is officially founded. 

• 2007–2011: The VOLCANO DIGIT goes electronic; PLENTY debuts with a distinctive coil and a heater that means business. 

• 2014: Battery power arrives with CRAFTY and MIGHTY, ushering in the pocket-size S&B era. 

• 2018: Canopy Growth acquires S&B for up to €145 million, keeping the founders involved and highlighting S&B’s ISO 13485 medical-device quality pedigree. 

• 2019–2025: The VOLCANO HYBRID modernizes the desktop icon; CRAFTY+ and MIGHTY+ raise the portable game; VENTY arrives in 2023 with serious lungs; and in 2025 S&B celebrates 25 years of VOLCANO with a limited edition. 

TL;DR: from garage-grade genius to global mainstay—still engineered and manufactured in Tuttlingen, Germany, a medical-device hub where S&B built a purpose-built vapor factory. 

Why the Brand Matters to Buyers (and Your Bottom Line)

Trust & certification: S&B’s quality system has been ISO 13485–certified since 2009, and they produce medical vaporizers (VOLCANO MEDIC, MIGHTY+ MEDIC) sold under the Vapormed brand in multiple regions (EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel). That’s not just hot air—that’s regulated hot air. 

Engineering that endures: Their signature hybrid heating (conduction + convection) is patented across key models, delivering dense, even vapor and the kind of reliability that turns first-time buyers into “Where’s the Wear & Tear set?” regulars. 

Icon status: The Volcano is the desktop people point to when they say “the balloon thing.” It’s a category signpost—great for foot-traffic displays, staff demos, and content that floats (sorry) across social feeds. 

Meet the Lineup (and Who Buys What)

Desktop Royalty

• VOLCANO CLASSIC
  The analog legend that started it all—still inflating bags and egos, often the first “serious” upgrade for connoisseurs. In 2025 S&B dropped a 25 Years Edition (iridescent green with gold accents) because even legends like to glow up. 

• VOLCANO HYBRID
  The modern throne: faster heat-up, touch display, Bluetooth app control, and both balloon and whip delivery. Perfect for lounges, at-home sessions, and anyone who says “I only dabble in premium.” 

Attachables that sell: EASY VALVE bag sets are replenishment gold—pre-assembled balloons with mouthpieces keep customers coming back on schedule (aka recurring revenue in a box). 

Portable Powerhouses

• MIGHTY+
  The people’s champ of portables: robust build, clear display, ~1-minute heat-up to 356°F, USB-C supercharge (~80% in ~40 min), and a 2-year warranty (+1 year with registration). “Mighty” margins? We didn’t say it—you did. 

• CRAFTY+
  The smaller sibling with app connectivity and that same S&B hybrid DNA—ideal for customers who want pocketable performance without trading away quality. (Timeline: 2019 refresh.) 

• VENTY
  S&B’s newest portable (2023) with ~20-second heat-up and adjustable airflow up to 20 L/min—translation: it moves air like a tiny wind tunnel and tastes great doing it. Also carries a 2-year warranty (+1 year with registration). 

• PLENTY
  The quirky hand-held with a stainless-steel cooling coil and serious output—great for flavor-chasers and conversation starters who shop with their eyes and their inner engineer. 

Accessory MVP: Dosing Capsules (and the 8-pack Magazine) let users pre-load flower for tidy swaps—huge for efficiency-minded customers and upsell bundles. “Bag it and tag it” becomes “dose it and go-sit.” 

Stocking Strategy: Good / Better / Best

• Good (Portable, entry-premium): CRAFTY+ + Dosing Capsule Magazine. Call it the “Crafty Starter Pack”—smart price, “crafty” performance, tidy workflow. 

• Better (Portable, hero SKU): MIGHTY+ + Wear & Tear + Case. Position as the daily driver for serious flower fans who want mighty reliability and fewer returns. 

• Best (Performance portable): VENTY + Supercharger. For customers who like their airflow like their Wi-Fi—blazing. 

• Desktop Anchor: VOLCANO HYBRID + EASY VALVE Replacement Set. This bundle literally inflates your AOV. 

Merchandising Tips That Blow Up (In a Controlled Way)

1. Demo the bag. A single Volcano inflation turns window-shoppers into “what is that?” crowds. Keep a display unit (Hybrid if possible) near the counter; the balloon is a billboard. 

2. Bundle for behavior. Pair portables with Dosing Capsules; pair Volcanoes with EASY VALVE replacements. Customers love “set-and-forget” maintenance paths. 

3. Speak spec, not hype. Highlight measurable wins: hybrid heating, fast heat-up, adjustable airflow, German manufacturing, and medical-device heritage. Those phrases convert browsers into buyers—especially B2B buyers who must justify premium shelf space. 

4. Warranty wins. Mention the 2-year warranty (+1 with registration) on hero portables—peace of mind reduces friction at the register and returns at the service desk. (See VENTY and MIGHTY+ listings.) 

Talking Points for Your Sales Team

• “Made in Germany with a medical-grade mindset” (seriously, ISO 13485 and a vapor-factory in Tuttlingen).

• “Category leader since 2000; still the reference device for serious users and studies.” 

• “Acquired by Canopy Growth—deep pockets and R&D chops—while keeping the founders engaged.” 

• “App control on marquee models (Hybrid, Crafty family) and patented hybrid heating across the lineup.”

• “Consumables & parts create repeat traffic: bags, wear-and-tear sets, dosing capsules.” 

The Punchline

Storz & Bickel didn’t just catch the hot-air wave—they engineered it, certified it, and taught it to fill a balloon with impeccable manners. For shops and distributors, that means legendary devices with measurable advantages, replenishment-friendly accessories, and a customer base that loves to brag about what they bought (free marketing!).

Stock the icons. Bundle the bits. And let the sales vent(y) themselves.