AUTEC, the nation’s leading provider of commercial robotic sushi machines, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a landmark appearance at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago (Booth #11314). To mark the milestone, AUTEC is unveiling a groundbreaking partnership with world-renowned sushi master Chef Takashi Saito—a collaboration that represents both the company’s rich history of innovation and its future-forward vision for sushi technology.
A driving force behind many of today’s top sushi trends across restaurants, hotels, stadiums, upscale grocers, and more, AUTEC continues to revolutionize sushi-making through advanced technology that streamlines operations, ensures consistent quality, and enables sushi to be delivered at scale.
As AUTEC’s new brand ambassador, Chef Saito has co-designed two exclusive, limited-edition sushi robots premiering at the show. The ASM890A and ASM260A “Saito Models” will debut at the famed Sushi Saito in Japan later this year. This collaboration fuses AUTEC’s robotics expertise with Saito’s meticulous craftsmanship, demonstrating how technology can support the sushi ecosystem—from ocean to table—without sacrificing tradition or artistry.
“The goal of my partnership with AUTEC is to challenge the bias that food not made by human hands cannot be high quality or preserve the artistry of the craft,” says Chef Saito. “Everyone in the food industry—chefs, aquaculture experts, and even food robots—shares the same mission: to deliver delicious food in different ways. The exclusive models I created with AUTEC are refined, purposeful, and believed to meet the standards of a Michelin 3-Star Chef. We’re excited to integrate them into the Sushi Saito kitchen and show how technology and craftsmanship can elevate the sushi experience together.”
“We’re thrilled to mark 25 years of innovation by partnering with Sushi Saito and the legendary Chef Takashi Saito,” says Taka Tanaka, CEO of AUTEC. “This partnership exemplifies our philosophy: ‘You be creative, we do the rest.’ Our technology takes care of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks so sushi chefs can focus on creativity, efficiency, and excellence—while preserving the art of sushi. It also supports our mission to expand access to healthy, high-quality sushi and promote Japanese culinary culture to the world.”
The Saito models feature a sleek, transparent skeleton exterior and a front-engraved pure gold logo, inspired by the traditional noren curtain at Sushi Saito’s entrance. One of Saito’s key suggestions was to make the machines’ mechanisms visible to showcase how AUTEC’s impressive technology spreads rice without crushing it, and let people see the creation process by displaying it on the sushi counter.
As part of the 25th anniversary celebration, attendees of the National Restaurant Show will enjoy an exclusive sushi-tasting experience featuring premium seafood from Marine Foods and live demonstrations of AUTEC’s newest and most advanced models:
- *NEW* ASM440A Nigiri Maker: Produces 4,200 perfectly formed rice balls per hour
- ASM895A Maki Maker: Outputs up to 1,300 flawless rice sheets per hour
- ASM890A Maki Maker & Wrapper: Crafts a traditional or inside-out roll in just 6 to 7.5 seconds
- ASM575A Onigiri Maker: Forms up to 1,900 precisely shaped rice balls per hour
- ASM260A Cutter: Cuts up to 4 hosomaki rolls at once (6, 8, or 10 pieces) in seconds
- ASM730A Shari Mixer: Expertly mixes up to 14.5 lbs. of rice in 3–5 minutes
For media inquiries, interview requests, or to schedule a booth appointment, please contact: Maggie Davis Skora, mdavisskora@s3mcmillan.com.
ABOUT AUTEC:
AUTEC is a commercial sushi robot manufacturer that serves foodservice businesses and academic institutions worldwide with innovative, aesthetically designed robots that produce high-quality sushi. AUTEC’s mission is to make exceptional sushi more accessible and affordable by empowering all levels of sushi chefs and operators to achieve consistent results with lower operational costs.
