In a bid to address significant labor shortages in Hong Kong's catering and construction industries, innovative robotic solutions are being developed to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Hestia Technology, founded by chemistry professor Chen Guanhua, has created automated kitchen robots capable of cooking over 200 dishes, including traditional Chinese and Italian cuisines. These robots are designed to replicate the coveted 'wok hei' cooking technique, essential for achieving the distinctive flavor in many Chinese dishes. Hestia aims to produce 30,000 units, projecting revenues of HK$2 billion (approximately US$256 million) [addefa7f]. The company made its first overseas sale to Japan in July 2023 and received its first order from the United States in April 2024, indicating a growing interest in robotic culinary solutions [addefa7f].
The urgency for such technology is underscored by the current labor crisis in Hong Kong, where the catering industry is grappling with a shortage of 20,000 workers. The city's working population saw a slight increase from 3.78 million in 2022 to 3.82 million in 2023, yet projections suggest a continued decline in local labor supply by 0.6% annually until 2027 [addefa7f]. Hestia's robots could significantly reduce restaurant operational costs by up to 50% [addefa7f].
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a bar-bending robot designed to assist construction workers by bending and tying rebar, addressing the industry's personnel shortage. This robot can operate automatically and is expected to launch in December 2024. It performs tasks 2-3 times faster than human workers and has achieved a success rate of 99.2% after two years of development [0cbb8d28]. The construction industry in Hong Kong faces a projected shortage of skilled workers, with estimates of up to 40,000 by 2027 [0cbb8d28]. The average monthly wage for a bar bender and fixer is HK$37,800 (US$4,850) [0cbb8d28].
However, concerns have been raised regarding the robot's efficiency on cluttered sites and its ability to handle vertical bars. The bar-bending robot won a Gold Medal at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in April 2024, showcasing its potential impact on the industry [0cbb8d28].
As both the culinary and construction landscapes evolve, insights from industry experts suggest that these robotic innovations could play pivotal roles in shaping the future of Hong Kong's labor-intensive sectors, potentially alleviating some of the pressures caused by ongoing labor shortages [addefa7f][0cbb8d28].