The noodle restaurant chain operator Ringerhut Co. will experiment with a set of robotic arms later this month to place uncooked gyoza dumplings into packages at its outlet in Tokyo's Kagurazaka district.
The Swiss-made robot will be used in the restaurant for a three-month trial to show off its hygienically clean production process to customers, according to the company.
The machine cost about ¥12 million, half of which was shouldered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which is promoting the use of robotic technology.
Equipped with two arms, the machine picks up raw, uncooked dumplings from an assembly line and places them in packages. A pack of 10 dumplings at the outlet will cost ¥270.