FAQ · Frying
Questions buyers ask before a fryer retrofit.
Straight answers. Where a number would be a guess, the answer is that it depends on the site assessment.
- How much does an ArmMate frying cobot cost?
- ArmMate frying cobot systems start at $19,000 plus installation. The final quote comes after a free site assessment. Installation depends on the site. You buy and own the robot. There is no lease, no Robot-as-a-Service subscription, and no long-term financing commitment. A full one-year warranty includes parts. Optional service plans are Basic $199, Standard $499, and Premium $999 per arm per month. The cell works with the fryer you already have, confirmed by site assessment.
- Does it work with my fryer?
- That depends on the site assessment. We look at the fryer you already have, the baskets, the hood, and the space beside the vat. The retrofit is meant to keep that fryer. If it is a poor fit, we say so instead of forcing a cell.
- Do I have to replace my fryer?
- No. The point of the retrofit is to leave the fryer in place when the assessment says the station can take an arm. We do not open with a new fryer.
- How much floor space does a retrofit need?
- It depends on the site assessment. Mounting can be a pedestal or a ceiling mount. We measure clearances, door swing, and the people who still work the station. There is no single square-foot number that fits every kitchen.
- Who trains the crew?
- ArmMate trains the people who will run the station, on the floor, before handover. Who must be in the room depends on the site assessment and on how you staff the fryer.
- How do you handle safety next to hot oil?
- Hot oil and a moving arm are the hazard. The cell includes a station risk assessment, a documented e-stop, and lockout steps. Standards we use on the assessment are ANSI/RIA R15.06 and ISO 10218, with ISO/TS 15066 where collaborative operation applies. Guarding still depends on the site assessment. A trained person stays responsible for the station.
- How is the arm cleaned?
- Cleaning depends on the fryer, the cleaner you already use, and the wrist tool. Heat and washdown are confirmed for that station during the assessment. Crew training includes how to wipe the arm and the tool. ArmMate does not claim a food-safety certification unless the proposal says so.
- What happens if the arm is down?
- We do not publish a universal uptime number. Support is remote help plus an on-site response target written into the service plan for that cell. What a stoppage takes depends on the fault and on that plan.
- What happens on a free frying demo?
- Book a free frying demo and the note goes to hello@armmate.com. We use it to set a time to look at your fry station. It is a request for a demo, not a purchase and not an install. What you see depends on the site. The workshop clip on this site is the ArmMate cell, not a promise that the same layout fits your kitchen.
- Which cobot brands do you install?
- Fairino, Duco, and Dobot. The brand is chosen for reach, payload, and the station. ArmMate is an independent integrator and is not affiliated with those makers.
- Do you do CNC as well as frying?
- Yes. CNC shop automation is the other primary line: load and unload on the machine you already run. It is a separate assessment from the fryer. Frying and CNC are not the same cell.
- Where do you work?
- The shop is at 15642 Sand Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618. Phone (949) 333-3800. Email hello@armmate.com. We assess frying stations and CNC shops in Irvine and across Orange County. Whether we can reach a given site depends on the assessment.
More on the robotic fryer retrofit, CNC tending, service plans, and Irvine.