Hanwha Robotics Enters Food Tech Market... Signs MOU with Wave to Develop Kitchen Robots

Hanwha's Third Son Kim Dong-seon "Expecting Food Tech Advancement Using Robots"

Hanwha Robotics is entering the Food Tech market by developing kitchen robots.

Hanwha Robotics announced on the 15th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wave Lifestyle Tech, a company specializing in kitchen automation services, for the "development and commercialization of kitchen automation robot systems." Through this agreement, they plan to establish a joint business model for kitchen automation and collaborate mutually.

Going forward, Hanwha Robotics will support technologies related to robot design, manufacturing, control, and safety functions, while Wave will provide kitchen automation robot system design and software technologies.

Kim Dong-seon, Executive Director of Strategy at Hanwha Robotics, said, "We hope this MOU will contribute to the advancement of Food Tech using robots and improve the environment of the food and beverage industry," adding, "We will continue to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas." Food Tech is a compound word of Food and Technology. It refers to a new industry that combines advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), and biotechnology (BT) in the processes of food production, distribution, and consumption.

Hanwha Robotics plans to expand its business area through the development of service robots and software for customers. It will strengthen its technology in the Food Tech sector and utilize it on-site at Hanwha Hotels & Resorts, a joint business participant.

Executive Kim Dong-seon of Hanwha Robotics in charge of strategy and CEO Kim Beom-jin of Wave Lifestyle Tech signed a business agreement (MOU) on the 13th at Hanwha Future Technology Research Center in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, for the development and commercialization of a kitchen automation robot system.
[Photo by Hanwha Robotics]

Hanwha Robotics officially launched on the 4th after spinning off from Hanwha Co., Ltd.'s Momentum division. Hanwha Co., Ltd. holds a 68% stake as the largest shareholder, while Hanwha Hotels & Resorts holds the remaining 32%. Kim, the third son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon and the Executive Director of Strategy, concurrently serves as Executive Director at Hanwha Hotels & Resorts.

Seo Jong-hwi, CEO of Hanwha Robotics, said, "We signed this MOU to expand our business area beyond the industrial sector, which is the main domain of collaborative robots, to general consumers," adding, "We will continue to develop various service robots that directly face general consumers."