Huddersfield-based engineering supplier Accu has played a crucial role in the development of a cutting-edge robotic food assembly line operating in London.

The system, called Fusion, was created by robotics start-up KAIKAKU to tackle common issues in quick-service restaurants, such as long queues and staff shortages. Now running daily at the Common Room in London’s Brunswick Centre, the robot-powered salad bar can prepare up to 360 made-to-order meals per hour, allowing staff to focus on customer service.

Accu, which specialises in precision engineering components, supplied essential fasteners—including specialised screws and bolts—that allowed KAIKAKU to prototype, refine, and launch the automated system quickly. The rapid availability of these standardised parts meant KAIKAKU’s engineers could make changes and build machines that were both robust and easy to maintain.

One key challenge overcome was building reliable connections for the system's 3D-printed components. By switching to captive square nuts supplied by Accu, KAIKAKU was able to achieve greater reliability and much faster assembly compared to their initial methods.

Ivan Tregear, CTO of KAIKAKU, highlighted the need for speed: “We aim to apply the speed of software deployment to hardware. That means testing, fixing and iterating in a live restaurant environment, often in the space of hours rather than weeks. This wouldn’t be possible without suppliers that can move as fast as us – and Accu has been vital in making that happen.”

The agility of the partnership was tested just three weeks before the scheduled launch of the latest version of Fusion. A technical bottleneck in the lifting mechanism threatened to derail the project. KAIKAKU was able to redesign the assembly and place a full order with Accu on a Friday evening, receiving the crucial parts the following day. This allowed them to install, test, and make the new mechanism operational in time for the restaurant's debut service.

“We couldn’t have moved that quickly without suppliers like Accu,” added Tregear. “Their speed and precision let us overcome design challenges and stay on track for launch.”

Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu, noted: “Our mission is to support innovators like KAIKAKU by delivering precision components, on demand, at the pace modern engineering requires. Seeing our fasteners play a part in building the world’s first robotic salad bar is a fantastic example of how speed, accuracy and reliability can come together to change industries.”

Both companies also share a focus on sustainability. By sourcing components from a single UK supplier, KAIKAKU reduces freight miles and packaging waste, contributing to the Fusion system's Made in Britain certification.

With the initial success in London, KAIKAKU plans to roll out its robotic food assembly lines to more sites, continuing to blend human skill with robotic efficiency.