Drone and E-Bike Delivery for DIY Tools in Rural Germany
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
Germany-based drone delivery project LieferMichel recently announced a new partnership with Michelstadt-based DIY store PROFI MERTENS to deliver small items by an electric cargo bike or by a Wingcopter delivery drone. Customers can choose from a range of objects weighing up to 4 kg (8.8 lbs), from fasteners to screwdrivers and other small tools.
Founded in 1964, PROFI MERTENS is a third-generation family business in the Odenwald region that serves both commercial and individual customers.
The Wingcopter 198 delivery drone being used has a range of up to 110 km and is specifically designed for wind resistance. The innovative design combines rotor and fixed wing functionality and features extensive failsafes for maximum peace of mind, including two batteries and a redundant flight control system.
“We are delighted to be part of this innovative project and to be able to offer our customers in Würzberg and Rehbach an additional service. When my grandfather opened our first store 90 years ago, he very quickly purchased a small van to be able to deliver to customers further away. Today, we make shopping easier for customers by flying orders for smaller goods to them by drone – a great development,” comments Stephan Mertins, Managing Director of PROFI MERTINS.
“It’s great that more and more retailers from a wide range of product categories are taking part in this pilot project. This underlines the fact that companies, especially in rural regions, are open to new approaches and are thinking about how they can make life easier for their customers,” says Ansgar Kadura, co-founder and Chief Services Officer of Wingcopter.
Prof. Dr. Kai-Oliver Schocke, President of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, adds: “The project shows how necessary it is to supply the population in rural areas with all the products they need on a daily basis!”
LieferMichel is a joint venture by Wingcopter and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) as part of the “Innovative Air Mobility” funding directive. The goal of the project is to explore drone delivery as a commercial project. Additional partners include the city of Michelstadt, REWE, Vodafone and Riese & Müller are also involved in the project.
More information on LieferMichel is available here. More information on PROFI MERTENS is available here (in German).
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Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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