#United States #San Francisco #Chef Robotics #JBT Marel #Proseal

Chef Robotics and Proseal Partnership: Transforming Meal Assembly Automation

In an exciting development for the food manufacturing sector, Chef Robotics and JBT Marel's Proseal have formed a partnership to deliver a joint solution aimed at automating meal assembly. This innovative collaboration promises to enhance the efficiency of packaging fresh and frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) meals, an area traditionally fraught with challenges in automation.

Addressing Automation Challenges in Food Manufacturing

Food manufacturers have long struggled with the automation of meal assembly, particularly in high-mix environments where different stock-keeping units (SKUs) are produced on the same line and require quick changeovers. Chef Robotics is tackling these obstacles directly with cutting-edge robotic solutions that take up the same space as a human worker while safely collaborating in the workspace. By utilizing an AI-enabled perception system, Chef's robots are capable of accurately detecting trays and placing ingredients with precision, all while satisfying the high throughput demands typical in food production.

According to Rajat Bhageria, CEO of Chef Robotics, “Food companies are under more pressure than ever to reduce costs and increase throughput while maintaining flexibility.” The partnership with Proseal now allows food manufacturers to not only automate meal assembly but also seamlessly integrate sealing and packaging processes. This innovative approach means that companies with high-mix, high-volume production capabilities can handle assembly and packaging operations with precision and reduced labor costs.

A Complete End-to-End Solution

The joint offering combines Chef's intelligent AI-centric approach with Proseal's robust and efficient tray sealing machines, creating a comprehensive end-to-end solution tailored for meal assembly and packaging needs. Notably, both Chef's robots and Proseal's machines emphasize user-friendliness and facilitate rapid adjustments, providing significant time savings for line workers who can then devote their efforts to more value-added tasks.

Chris Mills, Director of Engineering at Proseal, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Chef brings a next-generation approach to food automation with its AI and vision-based robotics platform. Speed and flexibility are fundamentally important to us as well as Chef, so it was a natural decision to partner together. Our synergy aims to enable customers to automate more production lines while adapting to the ever-evolving food manufacturing landscape.”

Launch and Availability

Starting today, Chef and Proseal’s joint meal assembly solution will be available to food manufacturers across the US and Canada, marking a significant step forward in food production automation. Interested manufacturers are encouraged to reach out to Chef or Proseal for further information. Additionally, you can learn more about this collaborative innovation by visiting both companies at the upcoming PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025, where they will display their technologies at booths SU-35058 and N-8612.

About Chef Robotics

Chef Robotics is recognized as a pioneering force in the realm of AI-driven food robotics. Having achieved a remarkable milestone of over 65 million servings produced, Chef leverages its ChefOS platform—an AI solution for food manipulation—to provide a Robotics-as-a-Service model that assists leading food industry players in maximizing production volumes and meeting market demands effectively.

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Chef Robotics aims to augment human capabilities in food manufacturing by expediting the deployment of intelligent machinery. For further information about their innovative solutions, please visit Chef Robotics.

About Proseal

Proseal, part of JBT Marel, stands at the forefront of tray sealing innovation within the food industry. The company specializes in producing high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective tray sealing and case packing machines while exceeding customer expectations through unparalleled service. Drawing from extensive experience within the tray sealing domain, Proseal is adept at addressing the stringent production demands characteristic of the food sector. With comprehensive service offerings, the company's reputation continues to grow steadily.

JBT Marel combines the strengths of both organizations to drive transformative changes in food production. With shared values and a collaborative spirit, this partnership promises significant advancements for food manufacturers seeking to modernize their operations.