Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

FEELING a bit hungry when feasting your eyes on the latest tech products at the 22nd China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF)? Now you can fill your stomach at the fair as well and have a try of a hamburger made by an automated machine that churns out burgers at high speed.

The Robotics Burger Station, a machine developed by Qianxi Robotics Group, has attracted large crowds of visitors and foodies at Hall 1 of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District. The CHTF is being held at the center until Sunday.

In only 20 seconds, a ready-made hamburger comes out of the machine, which is unmanned and allows 24/7 operation. A burger made by the machine costs 8.99 yuan (US$1.35).

“I think the machine-made hamburger tastes similar to an ordinary one. The burger patty is fresh. It takes only 20 seconds to make a burger, which is impressive,” a visitor surnamed Li told Shenzhen Daily.

Li said she was attracted by the novel machine and ordered the hamburger by scanning the QR code on the protected window of the machine. “I also had a try at the ice cream made by another automated machine at the booth. The ice cream tastes good,” Li said.

According to Wang Shaohua, head of the Chinese food equipment department of Qianxi Robotics Group, the machine is independently developed by the company and can achieve automatic hamburger production and contactless serving.

Wang said the company has already opened a store featuring burger-making machines in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, which has been receiving positive responses from consumers.

The company plans to open more such stores in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and across the country, and Shenzhen will have one very soon.

“This is our first time to participate in the high-tech fair, which is a national exhibition of scientific and technological achievements. I also went to visit other booths and I’ve learnt a lot. The fair is a very good platform for learning and exchanges,” Wang said.