AI-powered robot enhances meal assembly in food manufacturing

US-based Chef Robotics is advancing its meal assembly solutions with the launch of Chef+ — its “most advanced meal assembly robot yet.” Based on over 80 million servings in production, the robot offers F&B manufacturers increased system reliability, double the ingredient capacity, reduced footprint, and improved food safety.

Chef+ also addresses various production challenges food manufacturers face, such as limited production floor space, restricted equipment layouts, and frequent ingredient refills that slow down operations.

The robot enhances meal assembly performance by adapting to variable ingredient types in real-time, and features a three-camera vision system to accurately track conveyor speed and trays for precise ingredient placement.

The launch follows Chef Robotics’ “pat-down” capability unveiled earlier this month, which includes robots patting down or “tamping down” ingredients inside prepared meal trays before sealing. This system allows food manufacturers to automate spreading and flattening for better meal presentation and reduced food waste.

The California-based company uses computer vision and AI to handle various ingredients, supporting food assembly, which accounts for nearly 60–70% of labor in food production. Earlier this year, it raised US$43.1 million to finance the robotics system for the food and foodservice sectors.

Advancing food safety

Chef+ robot’s design prioritizes cleanliness and hygiene to help companies meet strict food manufacturing standards through an angle-iron frame.

Chef+ can adapt in real-time to variable ingredient types, improving overall meal assembly efficiency (Image credit: Chef Robotics).“This makes surfaces easier to clean and eliminates hidden crevices where residue can accumulate, helping manufacturers meet strict food safety and sanitation standards,” says Chef Robotics.

The robot’s thinner design allows production facilities to deploy robots in tight spaces and place two production lines back-to-back, optimizing valuable floor space.

In June, Chef Robotics achieved the National Sanitation Foundation certification for its AI-powered meal assembly system, helping boost customer trust in robotic systems, with plans to expand its applications into quality assurance (QA).

“Chef has a placement QA feature that allows food manufacturers to automate quality assurance on assembled meals. But I also see this certification pave the way for other solutions beyond the prepared meals sector,” CEO Rajat Bhageria told Food Ingredients First at the time.

Chef Robotics has tested Chef+ in its cold room facility and the system is already running at various production sites. It is available to food manufacturers in the US, Canada, and the UK.