I. Market Heating Up: Rotating Hot Pot Equipment Enters the "Refined" Era in 2026
Industry data shows that in 2026, the rotating hot pot segment's market size will grow over 15% year-on-year, driving surging demand for rotating hot pot equipment, rotary conveyor belt systems, and related products. The global Rotating Hot Pot market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%, with conveyor-belt hot pot equipment already holding the dominant market share in 2025. In China, the industry is projected to grow steadily at a CAGR of 9.2%, potentially exceeding RMB 56 billion by 2030.
A noteworthy trend is the continued rise in chain-store penetration—leading chain brands are accelerating market consolidation through superior operational management and supply chain capabilities. This shifts equipment procurement from "single-store trial" to "brand standardization," placing higher demands on manufacturers: stability, energy efficiency, customization capabilities, and after-sales support now directly determine store operational efficiency and long-term profitability.
Against this backdrop, HaiSheng Intelligent Technology, with 16 years of experience in rotating foodservice equipment manufacturing, a 15,000㎡ intelligent production workshop, and a technical engineering team of over 100 professionals, has become the preferred choice for an increasing number of chain brands. Long-term cooperative clients include leading rotating hot pot brands such as Shengxiangting, Yiwei Fat Beef, Longge Mini Hot Pot, Xiji Self-Service Hot Pot, Maguangguang Rotating Hot Pot, Haidilao, and Xiaofeiyang. Our products are exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.
II. Smart Upgrade Direction: How the Variable-Track Delivery System Solves the "People" Challenge
One of the biggest challenges facing the foodservice industry today is the continuous rise in labor costs. Traditional service processes—from ordering and food delivery to table clearing—remain heavily dependent on personnel. While the rotating hot pot model inherently has a certain level of automation (dishes circulate on the conveyor belt for self-service by customers), a notable gap remains in the "point-to-point delivery" segment: soup bases, specialty dishes, and additional orders still require manual service from waitstaff.
HaiSheng's Variable-Track Smart Delivery Vehicle System is precisely designed to address this pain point.
Precise Delivery – More Than Just "Getting There"
This system operates in parallel with the main conveyor belt: smart delivery vehicles depart from the kitchen and travel along tracks to arrive precisely at designated tables. The core technology lies in dynamic route calculation—the system automatically selects the fastest path based on real-time track occupancy, rather than following fixed routes in a mechanical back-and-forth. This is especially critical during peak hours, as it prevents delays caused by multiple delivery vehicles "jamming" on the track.
Obstacle avoidance and intelligent error correction are another core capability. When a delivery vehicle encounters an obstacle (such as a temporarily placed service cart or moving staff), the system can automatically recalculate the route and detour. The turning capability, combined with advanced variable-track and transfer technology, enables the vehicles to flexibly turn around and change direction within complex track layouts.
Smooth Operation – From "Delivered" to "Delivered Well"
Rotating hot pot meals consist primarily of soup pots and liquid ingredients, demanding far higher transport stability than solid sushi. HaiSheng has implemented multiple optimizations in the design of the delivery vehicle's load platform:
- Raised protective side rails and improved platform flatness reduce dish displacement during movement;
- Enhanced motion control systems ensure smooth starts, stops, and turns, minimizing chassis vibration;
- Operation parameters are adjustable for different floor environments, ensuring stable posture in complex scenarios and reducing spills caused by operational fluctuations.
Quantified Value of Efficiency Improvement
A single smart delivery vehicle can replace at least two staff members' food-carrying workload. For a medium-sized rotating hot pot store, this means front-of-house food delivery staff can be reduced from 4–5 people to 1–2, cutting monthly labor costs by tens of thousands of yuan. More importantly, delivery vehicles are unaffected by fatigue, mood, or other human factors, maintaining consistent output throughout the day—a critical guarantee of operational stability for high-turnover mall and community stores.
III. Customized Scenario Adaptation: One Set of Equipment, All Store Types
The nature of the rotating hot pot business model demands that equipment be highly adaptable to store layouts. Some stores have regular square floor plans, others are long and narrow corridor-style spaces, and some feature columns, split-levels, or other irregular structures. Standardized equipment often cannot be installed directly, and forcibly modifying the space incurs high renovation costs.HaiSheng's modular design solves this problem.
Spatial Customization: U-Shape, L-Shape, Straight-Line, Dual-Line Parallel
HaiSheng's Customized Hot Pot Conveyor Belt system supports multiple layout configurations, including U‑shape, L‑shape, straight-line, and even dual-line parallel setups. The modular frame structure allows equipment to be assembled and installed on-site according to the restaurant's actual dimensions, rather than being factory-prefabricated with no room for adjustment. This design not only reduces transportation and installation complexity but also leaves flexibility for future store expansions or layout changes.
Functional Customization: Optional Supporting Equipment as Needed
Beyond the core conveyor belt system, HaiSheng offers a range of optional supporting equipment:
- Variable-Track Smart Delivery Vehicle System – ideal for stores requiring point-to-point delivery of soup bases and specialty dishes;
- Ambient LED Light Strips – enhance the visual dining experience for evening service;
- Overhead Exhaust System – for smoke-free hot pot needs, the exhaust unit at the pot rim instantly removes oil smoke and steam generated during cooking;
- Multi-Function Storage Drawers – optimize front-of-house and back-of-house storage efficiency.
These supporting devices can be flexibly selected based on store budget and positioning, avoiding unnecessary spending on unneeded features.
Design Customization: From Delivery Vehicle to "IP Carrier"
In a dining market increasingly dominated by younger consumers, "experience" has become as important a decision factor as "flavor." HaiSheng's smart delivery vehicles support custom IP-themed designs—they can be styled as trains, spaceships, cartoon characters, and more. A uniquely designed delivery vehicle traveling between tables is not just a delivery tool but also a visual landmark and social-media-worthy element that serves as organic marketing material, especially suited for trendy concept stores and mall locations.
Installation Efficiency: The On-the-Ground Advantage of Modular Design
Traditional rotating hot pot equipment installation typically takes 2–3 weeks, during which the store cannot operate normally. HaiSheng's modular design significantly shortens installation time—the frame structure uses standardized connectors for on-site assembly, requiring no welding or extensive renovation. For chain brands, this means shorter new-store preparation cycles and less revenue loss due to store closures.
IV. Certifications & Quality: The "Passport" to Global Markets
For restaurant brands looking to expand overseas or benchmark against international standards, equipment certification is an unavoidable requirement. HaiSheng holds EU CE certification, U.S. NSF certification, and UL certification, covering electrical safety, food-contact material safety, and more. These certifications are mandatory for market access in North America and Europe, and underpin HaiSheng's ability to export to more than 20 countries.
V. Technical Innovation Details: Adjustable Tension Device & Silent Acrylic Chain
Beyond smart delivery and customization capabilities, HaiSheng has also introduced continuous innovations in basic equipment performance:
The Adjustable Tension Device allows operators to flexibly adjust chain tension based on dish weight and peak customer flow, extending the conveyor chain's service life while reducing maintenance frequency and costs. Unlike competitor products that require specialized tools and technicians, this device makes routine tension checks simple and quick.
The Silent Acrylic Chain replaces traditional metal chains—wear-resistant, lightweight, and quiet in operation. In rotating hot pot settings that run for long hours, noise control directly impacts customer dining comfort and the store's overall ambiance.
The rotary conveyor chain is made of 304 stainless steel, paired with mirror-finish or brushed stainless steel panels for a clean, attractive appearance that meets food hygiene standards. The conveyor belt slide strips are manufactured from specially formulated materials with low friction coefficients, further reducing operational noise.
VI. From Design to Maintenance: The Value of One-Stop Service
HaiSheng's service coverage spans the entire equipment lifecycle: Design & Planning → R&D & Manufacturing → Production & Testing → Installation & Training → After-Sales Maintenance. Our technical engineers can visit sites to guide installation and train store staff. For chain brands, this service model delivers: standardized equipment delivery for new store openings, timely maintenance response for operating stores, and consistent service standards for cross-regional expansion.
Conclusion
By 2026, the rotating hot pot market has moved beyond the question of "whether equipment is available" to "whether the equipment performs well and can be properly adapted." Equipment stability, intelligence level, and customization capabilities are now critical variables in determining store operational efficiency and brand expansion velocity.
Backed by 16 years of manufacturing experience, a 10,000㎡ smart workshop, and a team of over 100 engineers, HaiSheng Intelligent Technology delivers one-stop solutions around its two core pillars—Rotating Hot Pot Equipment and Customized Hot Pot Conveyor Belt—covering everything from smart delivery systems to full-scenario customization. Whether for single-store upgrades or chain expansion, community locations or flagship mall stores, HaiSheng's equipment and services are helping more restaurant brands build their own efficiency advantages in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
