Denso Takatana Plant Achieves Zero Manual Transport with 'Kachaka Pro' and 'Karakuri' Integration

Preferred Robotics Inc. has introduced its small autonomous mobile robot (AMR), 'Kachaka Pro,' across four lines at Denso Corporation's Takatana Plant. The plant produces a wide range of automotive parts, including speedometers. This initiative aims to automate simple yet physically demanding transport tasks, allowing workers to focus on human-centric operations. At the Takatana Plant, the high-mix, low-volume production environment created challenges in delivering parts efficiently. Transporting finished products was particularly burdensome due to weight, but narrow aisles and fixed layouts made traditional automation difficult. The Kachaka Pro handles the transport of finished goods to designated areas and returns with empty packaging for the production line. A key feature of this project is the collaboration on 'Karakuri' mechanisms—non-electric, mechanical devices that automate loading and unloading, maximizing operational efficiency. The primary result is the total elimination of manual transport for boxes weighing nearly 30kg. Previously, workers walked an average of 2,000 steps daily to move these items. Now, the process is handled with a single switch. The project has been selected as a 2025 topic for the manufacturing department and is being shared across 10 other group locations.