Tojiro Co., Ltd. Reduces Monthly Material Handling by 1,000 Times with Kachaka Pro AMR
Preferred Robotics has introduced its autonomous mobile robot 'Kachaka Pro' at Tojiro Co., Ltd.'s manufacturing factory. This initiative aims to reduce the physical burden of material handling between processes, which increased due to the new factory's layout. Over 1,000 manual transport tasks per month have been automated, allowing artisans to focus on their core tasks such as production and quality inspection. The system's intuitive operation and flexible routing are key benefits.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 21:50
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Preferred Robotics Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Toru Isobe) has implemented its autonomous mobile robot, 'Kachaka Pro,' at the manufacturing facility of Tojiro Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tsubame-shi, Niigata). This initiative is designed to reduce the burden of material handling that increased with the opening of a new factory, enabling artisans to stop interrupting their work for transport and instead focus on high-value tasks.
## Background: Increased Transport Distance and Labor-Intensive Tasks
Since its founding in 1953, Tojiro has been manufacturing knives using the 'nuki-hamono' (blanking) method with stainless steel. Its products, combining traditional and latest technologies, are widely used by professionals overseas, with a production capacity of approximately 3,000 knives per day. Tojiro actively invests in automation and has introduced two Kachaka Pro units to handle transport between processes.
With the opening of a new factory in July 2025 to meet global demand, the physical distance between processes increased, leading to an increased burden on artisans. Workers were transporting boxes weighing up to 20 kg, raising concerns about physical strain and productivity loss, prompting the investigation of transport robots.
## Overview: Automated Transport Through Sheet Shutters
The two Kachaka Pro units are tasked with transporting products identified with micro-scratches in the inspection process back to the polishing and repair processes. They operate across nine routes connecting five processes: packaging (inspection), polishing, sharpening, blasting, and handle insertion. The route includes four sheet shutters, which the Kachaka Pro units traverse automatically.
The units can be intuitively configured via tablet, allowing young staff to master them in just one day. They remain flexible, allowing for route reconfiguration when factory layouts change.
## Results: Over 1,000 Automated Trips per Month
The greatest impact has been the elimination of physically demanding manual transport tasks. The units perform an average of 54 automated trips per day, amounting to over 1,000 times per month that manual transport has been reduced. This not only eases physical strain but also frees up nearly one hour per day for production and quality inspection tasks.
## Background: Increased Transport Distance and Labor-Intensive Tasks
Since its founding in 1953, Tojiro has been manufacturing knives using the 'nuki-hamono' (blanking) method with stainless steel. Its products, combining traditional and latest technologies, are widely used by professionals overseas, with a production capacity of approximately 3,000 knives per day. Tojiro actively invests in automation and has introduced two Kachaka Pro units to handle transport between processes.
With the opening of a new factory in July 2025 to meet global demand, the physical distance between processes increased, leading to an increased burden on artisans. Workers were transporting boxes weighing up to 20 kg, raising concerns about physical strain and productivity loss, prompting the investigation of transport robots.
## Overview: Automated Transport Through Sheet Shutters
The two Kachaka Pro units are tasked with transporting products identified with micro-scratches in the inspection process back to the polishing and repair processes. They operate across nine routes connecting five processes: packaging (inspection), polishing, sharpening, blasting, and handle insertion. The route includes four sheet shutters, which the Kachaka Pro units traverse automatically.
The units can be intuitively configured via tablet, allowing young staff to master them in just one day. They remain flexible, allowing for route reconfiguration when factory layouts change.
## Results: Over 1,000 Automated Trips per Month
The greatest impact has been the elimination of physically demanding manual transport tasks. The units perform an average of 54 automated trips per day, amounting to over 1,000 times per month that manual transport has been reduced. This not only eases physical strain but also frees up nearly one hour per day for production and quality inspection tasks.
FAQ
How many monthly material handling tasks did Tojiro Co., Ltd. reduce using Kachaka Pro?
Tojiro Co., Ltd. reduced over 1,000 monthly manual transport tasks using Kachaka Pro.
Which autonomous mobile robot did Preferred Robotics deploy at Tojiro Co., Ltd.'s factory?
Preferred Robotics deployed the Kachaka Pro autonomous mobile robot at Tojiro's factory.
What is the name of the company that manufactures the Kachaka Pro robot?
The Kachaka Pro robot is manufactured by Preferred Robotics.
Why did Tojiro Co., Ltd. implement the Kachaka Pro AMR in its factory?
Tojiro implemented Kachaka Pro to reduce physical burden from material handling due to new factory layout.
What benefit does Kachaka Pro provide to artisans at Tojiro Co., Ltd.?
Kachaka Pro allows artisans to focus on core tasks like production and quality inspection.