Zume pulled the plug on its robotic pizza wing earlier this year. There's a lot to be done to make such a decision, particularly for a company whose robotic dreams have been a treasure trove of the press for a while. But its inability to do the right calculations shouldn't necessarily be considered an indication of a lack of interest in food automation.
Of course, until another startup fully demonstrates that potential, Zume's story will almost invariably be a preamble to any other company looking to automate the pizza-making process. XRobotics, which is launching today, is looking to play a role in helping change that narrative with a new device designed to replace traditional pizza lines.
The form factor is a differentiator. Zume, of course, has been heavily invested in food trucks, with much of its added value tied to an AI system designed to get the vehicles to the right place at the right time in order to meet demand. There are also a number of companies that invest in vending machines / kiosks, a popular game for food robotics in general.
XRobotics offering resembles an industrial 3D printer in terms of size and form factor. The attendant places the dough on a baking tray, chooses the condiments from a connected tablet and the machine starts up. The tray rotates to ensure even distribution of sauce, cheese and toppings.
Each machine is capable of filling several pizzas at the same time, up to 150 per hour. The machine currently supports more than 20 toppings and a variety of different sizes. Parts are easily replaceable for quick maintenance and everything can be cleaned in about 15 minutes.
It's a nice machine, sure, but for me one of the coolest things about the sales pitch here is its lack of flash. So many food robotics companies invest in entertainment as an important strength. In other words, getting people to use your product based on the novelty of having a pizza made by a robot. It's cute the first couple of times, but then what? XRobotics, on the other hand, is designed to do a chore behind the scenes, helping businesses ease the burden of high-volume restaurants.
The SOSV / HAX The backed company claims it has already fielded more than 400 pre-orders for the machines, with plans to roll out more than 50 locations early next year. A pre-seed round is also in the process of closing. Interest in the company has no doubt increased during the COVID-19 crisis, as restaurants have experienced staff shortages and are looking for food preparation methods that can reduce the risk of spread.
