Metal Engineer Adopts Kachaka Pro｜Low-Cost Entry to Factory Automation

Preferred Robotics, Inc. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: 礒部達) deployed its autonomous transport robot “Kachaka Pro” at the headquarters factory of 株式會社 Metal Engineer (headquarters: Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture). This article covers the challenges that drove the Kachaka Pro adoption and how it is being used on the floor today.

The Challenge Before Adoption: Factory Expansion Drove Travel Distances Way Up

After expanding the factory, workers had to walk far greater distances, and the added burden on the floor became a problem to solve. The company had never used a transport robot before and was unsure whether automated transport could actually deliver in their environment. On top of that, most machines on the market carried steep price tags, making adoption a high hurdle.

It was against this backdrop that they discovered Kachaka Pro — affordable and easy to deploy.

Why They Chose It: Low Cost, Simple Operation

株式會社 Metal Engineer saw Kachaka Pro as a great fit for starting small. Once deployed, they found it even more capable than expected, and it quickly became part of the floor — now an indispensable one.

Kachaka Pro has a payload capacity of 30kg. While some of the factory’s transport items weigh several hundred kilograms, there is also a large volume of parts in the few-kilogram range, so the potential to put it to full use was clear from the start.

Beyond price, the convenience clinched the decision: setup is handled entirely through a smartphone app, and day-to-day operation requires nothing more than the push of a button.

How It Works Today: One Button Press, Automatic Transport

The setup runs one Kachaka Pro paired with five Kachaka Base units, each assigned to a different category of parts for separate transport.

A Kachaka button sits near every Kachaka Base. When a worker needs transport, they simply press the button, and Kachaka Pro docks with the corresponding Base and automatically carries it to the inspection area. The route to the inspection area includes a narrow aisle roughly 800mm wide, which the robot navigates without trouble.

The workflow is as follows:

1. A worker loads the parts into a Base and presses the Kachaka button.
2. Kachaka Pro autonomously travels to the inspection area, about 15 meters one way.
3. After a worker at the inspection area removes the parts, they press the Kachaka button.
4. Kachaka Pro returns the Base to its original position.

Results: Over 20 Kilometers of Automated Transport Every Month

The floor gives high marks to the simplicity of “press a button and the transport is done.” Precisely because it is this easy, every worker on the floor naturally folds it into their routine. The result: more than 20 kilometers of transport work each month is handled by Kachaka Pro — and it has become something they can no longer do without.

• Transport distance: about 15 meters one way
• Transport frequency: called at least 40 times a day, with monthly mileage recently reaching 24 kilometers
• Items transported: sheet-metal parts (supplied to roughly 150 customers across construction machinery, semiconductors, food-processing equipment, and more)

Looking Ahead

The company plans to add more Kachaka Pro units and is evaluating expansion into the press process as well as transport automation within the office.

About the Adopter: 株式會社 Metal Engineer

株式會社 Metal Engineer specializes in sheet-metal laser cutting, bending, welding, and press processing, manufacturing parts for a wide range of industries including construction machinery, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and food machinery. Backed by high-precision metalworking expertise, the company answers diverse customer needs.