Philadelphia-based Aramark, a food and facilities management company, along with ABB Robotics and WellSpan Health, has invested in RoboEatz’ Autonomous Robotic Kitchen (ARK) technology to support overnight healthcare workers.
The technology uses a robot to grab up to 80 fresh ingredients from storage bins and prepare up to four personalized bowl-based meals at a time. The robot operates within a 400-square-foot space and is available around-the-clock. It requires minimal staffing and provides dining services with replenishment alerts via a mobile app.
“We are impressed with the performance of this technology in our pilot testing and excited to begin offering it to our hospital partners,” Bart Kaericher, Aramark Healthcare+ president and CEO, said. “ARK is intended to complement our current workforce by streamlining operations and boosting efficiency and access, particularly for hospital staff during late night hours.”
Utilizing Aramark’s Point of Sale system, menu management, and supply chain, ARK can manage end-to-end kitchen tasks including food storage, meal preparation, cleaning, and plating. The company successfully tested the technology at a large healthcare partner hospital.
“Our investment in this autonomous kitchen technology reflects Aramark’s commitment to innovation that directly supports frontline healthcare workers. By combining robotics with our operational excellence, we’re delivering a scalable solution to meet the needs of those who work around the clock to care for others,” Kaericher added.