Cooling systems maker SDRS Inc. has teamed up with arcade equipment company Standby Co. to develop the “Dohiemon Catcher,” a next-generation frozen claw machine. The machine is based on Standby’s existing “Triple Crane Theater 2,” but upgraded with SDRS’s proprietary cooling system. It will be rolled out at around 30 Third Planet arcades across Japan from April 28.
Background of development
According to a survey by the Japan Amusement Industry Association, the crane game market has reached approximately 300 billion yen and continues to grow steadily even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
While frozen claw machines aren’t entirely new, they have faced issues such as:
- Frost buildup inside, making it hard to see the prizes
- Uneven temperatures that affect product quality
SDRS tackled this by using its experience from its Dohiemon frozen vending machines, which has sold over 10,000 units, to apply advanced cooling technology to amusement equipment. The result is a system that keeps everything evenly frozen while maintaining clear visibility.
Features of Dohiemon Catcher
The Dohiemon Catcher combines high entertainment value with professional-grade quality control. The machine adopts an “air curtain” cooling system commonly seen in open-top ice cream freezers in convenience stores. By circulating cold air with fans to create a barrier, the machine can maintain an internal temperature of -20°C without a physical lid, even when the outside temperature is as high as 30°C.
This prevents glass fogging and frost buildup on prizes, ensuring crane gamers can clearly see what they’re trying to grab. Delicate items such as ice cream and premium meats can also be kept without quality deterioration.
Beyond the cooling tech, the Dohiemon Catcher also features a built-in 27-inch LCD monitor that can show promotional videos, and a terminal for cashless payments.
Want to know more about crane gaming in Japan? Head to the main index page for curated lists of the best arcades across the city, crane game strategies and more.