Precision engineering component supplier Accu has supported robotics start-up KAIKAKU with the development of Fusion, a modular robotic food assembly line designed and built in London. Now running daily at KAIKAKU’s flagship site, Common Room in London’s Brunswick Centre, Fusion is transforming how fresh, made-to-order meals are prepared in quick-service restaurants.
Founded in 2023, KAIKAKU set out to tackle the biggest issues in quick-service dining: queues, inconsistency and labour shortages. The company’s solution is a robot-powered salad bar that combines 3D-printed components, modular hardware and a flexible software platform. The result is a system that portions, moves and finishes bowls of food at a pace of up to 360 servings per hour, while allowing staff to focus on hospitality and quality.
Accu has played a critical role in enabling KAIKAKU to prototype, refine and launch Fusion in record time. By supplying precision fasteners ranging from DIN square nuts and ISO socket cap screws to specialist shoulder bolts and Nord-Lock washers, Accu has enabled the KAIKAKU team build machines that are both service-ready and easy to maintain.
Ivan Tregear, CTO of KAIKAKU, said: “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.”
One of the biggest breakthroughs in the Fusion build came from rethinking fastening for 3D-printed components. Initially, the team relied on brass heat-set inserts, but these proved difficult to install and lacked torsional strength. By switching to captive DIN square nuts supplied by Accu, the engineers achieved greater reliability, simpler servicing and faster assembly.
Shoulder bolts, another Accu component, have also become a mainstay. While many designs could have required custom-machined shafts, the ready availability of precision shoulder bolts allowed KAIKAKU to swap parts quickly during development – saving weeks of machining time and ensuring that replacement parts could be installed in the field within hours.
A decisive moment came just three weeks before launch of Fusion V4. A bottleneck in the lift mechanism threatened to derail the project. In less than 48 hours, the KAIKAKU team redesigned the entire assembly, placed a full order with Accu on Friday evening and had the parts in hand the following day. The new mechanism was installed, tested and 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.”
Accu’s extensive CAD library also played an important role, allowing KAIKAKU’s engineers to integrate fasteners directly into their designs before placing an order – saving time, reducing errors and ensuring a seamless fit between digital models and real-world assemblies.
Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu, said:
“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.”
Beyond speed and performance, KAIKAKU and Accu share a focus on sustainability. By sourcing components from a single UK supplier, KAIKAKU reduces freight miles, packaging waste and supply chain emissions – helping Fusion achieve its Made in Britain certification. Standardised fixings also extend the service life of the machines, enabling easy repair, reuse and recycling.
With the success of Fusion V4, KAIKAKU plans to roll out its robotic food assembly lines to more sites, continuing to blend human skill with robotic efficiency. For diners, the experience is fast, reliable and consistently fresh. For staff, it’s about freeing up time for what matters most: service.
Accu supports the innovations of over 50% of the world’s leading manufacturers through its wide range of precision engineering components. Having sold more than 750 million components, Accu has become the trusted supplier for high-quality engineering parts, such as precision screws and fasteners, which are used globally across industries including robotics, aerospace, manufacturing, medical and automotive.
For more information, visit: www.accu.co.uk
