Pressurized IH Rice Cooking Facility “SILK”
Don Don-Rice Co., Ltd.
Awareness and pride in food infrastructure and lifelines
In 1987, the predecessor, Minamikyushu Cooking Center Co., Ltd., was established as a group company of Hirai Co., Ltd. Hirai is widely known as "Hirai of bento", and its business is manufacturing and direct sales of bento boxes, side dishes, sandwiches, rice balls, and sushi, and the Minamikyushu Cooking Center has been serving as its rice cooking department. . Later, in 1994, the company name was changed to Kyushu Cooking Center, and in 1999, the company name was changed again to the current name, "Don Don-Rice".
Company Profile
Company name | Don Don-Rice Co., Ltd.
Location | (Head Office) 729-1 Nagahama, Chikugo, Fukuoka Prefecture
(Kumamoto Headquarters) 33-1 Aitomi-cho, Minami-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Representative | President and CEO (COO/Chief Operating Officer) Taiji Uramoto
Business | Manufacture and sale of rice products, side dishes, and Japanese sweets
Installed equipment｜Pressure IH rice cooking line (120 pot line)
From gas rice cooking to IH rice cooking, experience the high quality
At the Don Don-Rice Kumamoto Factory, Satake's “SILK” pressurized IH rice cooking line (120 lines) was introduced in December 2020. The existing gas continuous cooking line had become outdated, and initially, the factory considered upgrading to new gas cookers. However, Satake's presentation on their “pressurized IH rice cooker” prompted a shift in policy towards IH cooking. When the actual machine was brought to the Kumamoto Factory for cooking tests, the finished rice demonstrated distinct grain texture and a satisfying chewiness, earning high praise for its superior cooking quality compared to gas cooking. President Uramoto also highly evaluated it, stating, “The taste when cooled shows a clear difference from gas cooking, with fewer unevenly cooked grains and less scorching.” Furthermore, quality control, previously managed manually, was automated via PC, leading to stable production and improved efficiency in quality management.
Improving productivity and working conditions on the rice cooking line
The IH rice cooking system offered numerous benefits beyond just cooking quality. Compared to gas cooking, it generates less waste heat, improving the working environment. The “single-pot cooking method” enabled small-batch production of multiple varieties, boosting the rice cooking line's productivity. Furthermore, Satake's unique bucket soaking device eliminates the need for pot soaking, allowing President Uramoto to note, “Compared to gas, we reduced space requirements by one-third,” highlighting its space-saving advantage. The support system also received high praise: “Having a service base nearby (within Kumamoto City) ensures quick maintenance. The 24-hour service support from the Customer Support Center is also reassuring.”
Moving forward, Don Don-Rice plans to develop an even wider variety of products and expand sales channels beyond Kyushu. Simultaneously, the company is exploring new initiatives like automation and labor-saving measures to address challenges such as labor shortages.
Yasuji Uramoto
President and Director
Don Don-Rice's own products
Rice cooking line
Interview video
Don Don-Rice has introduced the SILK pressurized IH rice cooker for multi-variety rice production, achieving space savings and improved working conditions. IH cooking enhances the quality of the finished rice, enabling the provision of delicious rice even when cooled, even on commercial rice cooking lines. Furthermore, remote maintenance support contributes to stable equipment operation.
